SS Harold O. Wilson

Summary

SS Harold O. Wilson was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Harold O. Wilson, who was lost at sea while he was an oiler on SS Flora MacDonald, that was torpedoed by German submarine U-126, 30 May 1943, off Sierra Leone.

A locomotive being unloaded from Harold O. Wilson on 3 November 1945
History
United States
NameHarold O. Wilson
NamesakeHarold O. Wilson
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2396
BuilderJ.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia
Cost$803,647[1]
Yard number181
Way number5
Laid down12 December 1944
Launched12 January 1945
Sponsored byMrs. J.S. Bragdon
Completed24 January 1945
Identification
FateSold for commercial use, 20 June 1947
United States
NameNorth Beacon
OperatorNortheastern Steamship Corp.
Acquired20 June 1947
FateSold, April 1955
United States
NameTexmar
OperatorBethlehem Steel
AcquiredApril 1955
FateWrecked and sold for scrapping, January 1961
General characteristics [2]
Class and type
Tonnage
Displacement
Length
  • 441 feet 6 inches (135 m) oa
  • 416 feet (127 m) pp
  • 427 feet (130 m) lwl
Beam57 feet (17 m)
Draft27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m)
Installed power
  • 2 × Oil fired 450 °F (232 °C) boilers, operating at 220 psi (1,500 kPa)
  • 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Propulsion
Speed11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 562,608 cubic feet (15,931 m3) (grain)
  • 499,573 cubic feet (14,146 m3) (bale)
Complement
Armament

Construction edit

Harold O. Wilson was laid down on 12 December 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2396, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; she was sponsored by Mrs. J.S. Bragdon, and launched on 12 January 1945.[3][1]

History edit

On 3 November 1945, one of the first US locomotives for the French railroad system was unloaded from Harold O. Wilson in Marseille.[4]

She was allocated to the United States Navigation Company, on 24 January 1945. On 20 June 1947, she was sold to Northeastern Steamship Corp., and renamed North Beacon. In April 1955, she was sold to Bethlehem Steel, and renamed Texmar. In January 1961, she was wrecked and sold for scrapping.[5][6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c MARCOM.
  2. ^ Davies 2004, p. 23.
  3. ^ J.A. Brunswick 2010.
  4. ^ "SC 216515 Marseille, France. One of the first U.S. locomotives for the French railroad system is unloaded from the Liberty ship HAROLD O. WILSON, on November 3, 1945". public2.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  5. ^ Liberty Ships.
  6. ^ MARAD.

Bibliography edit

  • "Jones Construction, Brunswick GA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  • "Liberty Ships – World War II". Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  • Maritime Administration. "Harold O. Wilson". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  • "SS Harold O. Wilson". Retrieved 18 November 2017.