SS John Ringling

Summary

SS John Ringling was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after John Ringling, an American entrepreneur who is the best known of the seven Ringling brothers, five of whom merged the Barnum & Bailey Circus with their own Ringling Bros World's Greatest Shows. In addition to owning and managing many of the largest circuses in the United States, he was also a rancher, a real estate developer and art collector.

History
United States
NameJohn Ringling
NamesakeJohn Ringling
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorLuckenbach Steamship Co., Ltd.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2494
Awarded23 April 1943
BuilderSt. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida[2]
Cost$1,001,188[1]
Yard number58
Way number4
Laid down1 August 1944
Launched10 September 1944
Sponsored byIda Loraina Wihelmina North
Completed23 September 1944
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 Ringling was laid down on 1 August 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2494, by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida; she was sponsored by Ida Loraina Wihelmina North, the sister of the namesake, and was launched on 10 September 1944.[2][1]

History edit

She was allocated to the Luckenbach Steamship Co., Ltd., on 23 September 1944. On 3 September 1948, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, Texas. She was sold for scrapping, 22 February 1972, to Andy Equipment, Inc., for $39,333. She was removed from the fleet, 16 March 1972.[4]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "St. John's River Shipbuilding, Jacksonville FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  • Maritime Administration. "John Ringling". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  • "SS John Ringling". Retrieved 30 January 2020.