SS M. E. Comerford

Summary

SS M. E. Comerford was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Michael Comerford, owner of Comerford Theatres, a chain of some of the first movie theaters in Pennsylvania and New York.

History
United States
NameM. E. Comerford
NamesakeMichael Comerford
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2390
BuilderJ.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia
Cost$806,170[1]
Yard number175
Way number5
Laid down10 November 1944
Launched12 December 1944
Sponsored byMrs. M.E. Comerford
Completed20 December 1944
Identification
Fate
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

M. E. Comerford was laid down on 10 November 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2390, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; she was sponsored by Mrs. M.E. Comerford, widow of the namesake, and launched on 12 December 1944.[3][1]

History edit

She was allocated to Merchants & Miners Transportation Company, on 20 December 1944. On 8 October 1948, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in the Suisun Bay Group. On 21 August 1952, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in Olympia, Washington. On 5 April 1954, she was withdrawn to be load with grain as part of the "Grain Program – 1954". She returned loaded with grain on 17 April 1954. On 19 May 1957, she was withdrawn to have the grain unloaded. She returned to the fleet empty on 25 May 1957. On 12 January 1971, she was sold for $87,000, to Zidell Exploration Co., Ltd., for scrapping. She was removed from the fleet on 16 January 1970.[4][5]

References edit

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. "M. E. Comerford". 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 M. E. Comerford". Retrieved 18 November 2017.