SS John Walker

Summary

SS John Walker was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after John Walker, a representative of the House of Burgesses. He was in the Continental Army, serving in 1777 as an aide-de-camp to General George Washington, holding the rank of colonel. In 1780, he was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He then studied law. When William Grayson died in 1790, Walker was appointed to the United States Senate to serve from March 31 to November 9.

History
United States
NameJohn Walker
NamesakeJohn Walker
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorUnited Fruit Co.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 305
Awarded1 May 1941
BuilderBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland[2]
Cost$1,088,696[1]
Yard number2055
Way number15
Laid down1 June 1942
Launched22 July 1942
Sponsored byMrs. Arthur J. Williams
Completed30 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 Walker was laid down on 1 June 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 305, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; she was sponsored by Mrs. Arthur J. Williams, the wife of the assistant secretary for MARCOM, and was launched on 22 July 1942.[2][1]

History edit

She was allocated to United Fruit Co., on 30 July 1942. On 11 March 1946, she was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 14 March 1961, she was sold for scrapping to Schiavone Bonomo Corp., for $56,411. She was removed from the fleet on 17 April 1961.[4]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  • Maritime Administration. "John Walker". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  • "SS John Walker". Retrieved 5 March 2020.