SS John H. B. Latrobe

Summary

SS John H. B. Latrobe was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after John H. B. Latrobe, an American lawyer and inventor. He invented the Latrobe Stove, also known as the "Baltimore Heater", a coal fired parlor heater made of cast iron that fit into fireplaces as an insert.

History
United States
NameJohn H. B. Latrobe
NamesakeJohn H. B. Latrobe
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorCalmar Steamship Corp.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 52
Awarded14 March 1941
BuilderBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland[2]
Cost$1,075,921[1]
Yard number2039
Way number5
Laid down19 May 1942
Launched13 July 1942
Sponsored byMiss Doreen Frances Almond
Completed28 July 1942
Identification
Fate
General characteristics [3]
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

John H. B. Latrobe was laid down on 19 May 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 52, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; she was sponsored by Miss Doreen Frances Almond, the daughter of H.L. Almond technical representative of the British Ministry of War Transport, and was launched on 13 July 1942.[2][1]

History edit

She was allocated to Calmar Steamship Corp., on 28 July 1942. On 8 October 1947, she was Laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 14 May 1952, she was laid up in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, California. She was sold for nontransportation use on 15 April 1969, to Zidell Explorations, Inc. She was withdrawn from the fleet on 1 May 1969.[4]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  • Maritime Administration. "John H. B. Latrobe". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  • "SS John H. B. Latrobe". Retrieved 2 March 2020.