SS Nicholas Biddle

Summary

SS Nicholas Biddle was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Nicholas Biddle, an American financier who served as the third and last president of the Second Bank of the United States. He also served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. He is best known for his role in the Bank War.

History
United States
NameNicholas Biddle
NamesakeNicholas Biddle
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorInternational Freighting Corp.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 917
Awarded1 January 1942
BuilderBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland[2]
Cost$1,045,728[1]
Yard number2067
Way number7
Laid down11 August 1942
Launched22 September 1942
Sponsored byMrs. R.E. Anderson
Completed30 September 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

Nicholas Biddle was laid down on 11 August 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 917, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; she was sponsored by Mrs. R.E. Anderson, the wife of MARCOM's director of finance, and was launched on 22 September 1942.[2][1]

History edit

She was allocated to Seas Shipping Co., Inc., on 30 September 1942. On 15 December 1948, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, Texas. On 15 March 1962, she was sold for scrapping to Commercial Metals Co., for $52,444.44. She was removed from the fleet on 3 April 1962.[4]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  • Maritime Administration. "Nicholas Biddle". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  • "SS Nicholas Biddle". Retrieved 12 March 2020.