SS William Tilghman

Summary

SS William Tilghman was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after William Tilghman, the Chief United States circuit judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third Circuit and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

History
United States
NameWilliam Tilghman
NamesakeWilliam Tilghman
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorA.H. Bull & Co., Inc.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 59
Awarded14 March 1941
BuilderBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland[2]
Cost$1,081,434[1]
Yard number2046
Way number13
Laid down20 June 1942
Launched7 August 1942
Sponsored byMrs. F.G. Emerson
Completed18 August 1942
Identification
Fate
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, Texas, 26 May 1950
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, Washington, 6 June 1952
  • Sold for scrapping, 10 July 1970, withdrawn from fleet, 3 August 1970
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

William Tilghman was laid down on 20 June 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 59, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; she was sponsored by Mrs. F.G. Emerson, the wife of the general manager for Weyerhaeuser Timber Co., in Baltimore, and was launched on 7 August 1942.[2][1]

History edit

William Tilghman was allocated to A.H. Bull & Co., Inc., on 18 August 1942. On 26 May 1950, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, Texas. On 6 June 1952, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, Washington. On 15 April 1954, William Tilghman was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1954", she returned loaded on 5 May 1954. On 7 November 1956, she was withdrawn to be unload, she returned on empty 14 November 1956. She was sold for scrapping on 10 July 1970, to Zidell Explorations, Inc., along with two other ships, for $132,911.08. William Tilghman was withdrawn from the fleet on 3 August 1970.[4]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  • Maritime Administration. "William Tilghman". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  • "SS William Tilghman". Retrieved 3 March 2020.