SS Samarkand

Summary

The SS Samarkand (Hull Number 1769, launched as the SS Peter Cooper) was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II.

History
Name
  • Peter Cooper (1943)
  • Samarkand (1943-1947)
  • Talthybius (1947-1954)
  • Gleniffer (1954-1958)
  • Dove (1958-1965)
  • Patraic Sky (1965-1971)
NamesakePeter Cooper
Owner
  • British Government (1943-47)
  • Ocean Steamship Co Ltd (1947-54)
  • Glen Line (1954-58)
  • Colombine Shipping Co (1958-65)
  • Patriarch Steamship Co (1965-71)
Port of registry
BuilderBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard
Yard number2217
Laid down24 July 1943
Launched25 August 1943
CompletedSeptember 1943
FateBroken up at Split from 30 March 1971
General characteristics
Tonnage7,000 tons GRT
Length441 ft 6 in (134.57 m)
Beam56 ft 10.75 in (17.34 m)
Draught27 ft 9.25 in (8.46 m)
Propulsion
  • Two oil-fired boilers,
  • triple expansion steam engine,
  • single screw, 2500 horsepower (1.9 MW)
Speed11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h) - 11.5 knots (13.2 mph; 21.3 km/h)
Capacity9,140 tons cargo
Complement41
ArmamentStern-mounted 4 in (102 mm) deck gun for use against surfaced submarines, variety of anti-aircraft guns.

Originally named after Peter Cooper, an American industrialist, inventor and philanthropist, the ship was laid down by Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company on 24 July 1943, then launched on 25 August 1943. She was loaned to Great Britain as part of the Lend-Lease program where she was renamed the SS Samarkand. She was renamed after the Uzbek city of Samarkand. The ship survived the war and was sold into private ownership in 1947. She was scrapped in 1971.

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