SS Comol Cuba (ex-Dora, ex-Inspector, ex-Red Jacket) was a Design 1022 cargo ship built for the United States Shipping Board immediately after World War I. Converted to a tanker, she spent most of her career transporting molasses, a byproduct of sugar refining, to the United States. During World War II, she transported petroleum before returning to the private sector.

History
(1919–1939) (1939–1948)
NameRed Jacket (1919)
Inspector (1919–1927)
Dora (1927–1938)
Comol Cuba (1938–1948)
Owner United States Shipping Board (1919–1921)
Dunbar Molasses Company (1921–1927)
U.S. Tank Ship Corporation (1927–1928)
Steamship Dora Corporation (1928–1938)
Commercial Molasses Corporation (1938–1948)
BuilderAmerican International Shipbuilding Corporation, Philadelphia
Yard number1482
Launched18 September 1919
Completed31 October 1919
Identification
FateBroken up, 1948
General characteristics
TypeDesign 1022 cargo ship
Tonnage7,500 dwt
Length390 ft (120 m)
Beam54 ft (16 m)
Draft27 ft 5 in (8.36 m)
Installed powerOil-fired steam turbines
PropulsionSingle screw

History

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She was laid down as Red Jacket,[2] yard number 1482 at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania shipyard of the American International Shipbuilding Corporation, one of 110 Design 1022 cargo ships built for the United States Shipping Board.[3] She was launched as the Inspector on 18 September 2019 and completed on 31 October 1919.[4] In 1921, she was purchased by the Dunbar Molasses Company[4] and converted into a tanker with a 344,963 gallon capacity.[5] In 1927, she was purchased by the U.S. Tank Ship Corporation and renamed Dora.[4] In 1928, she was purchased by private investors via the Steamship Dora Corporation, a New York incorporated special-purpose entity established specifically for her purchase, with U.S. Tank Ship Corporation as ship manager.[4][6] In 1938, she was purchased by the Commercial Molasses Corporation and renamed Comol Cuba.[4][7] In 1939, her registration was changed to Panama.[8] During World War II, she operated mostly in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.[9] In January 1943, she was part of convoy PK-135, the last Pilottown, Louisiana to Key West, Florida convoy.[10]

In the fourth quarter of 1948, she was broken up in New Orleans by the Southern Scrap Materials Company.[4][8]

Citations

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  1. ^ Fifty Second Annual List of Merchant Vessels of the United States - Seagoing vessels, Arranged in Order of Signal Letters. 1923. p. 44.
  2. ^ Colton, Tim (March 13, 2016). "American International Shipbuilding (AISC) Hog Island Shipyard, Philadelphia PA". shipbuildinghistory.com.
  3. ^ McKellar, p. Part II, 588.
  4. ^ a b c d e f McKellar, p. Part II, 586.
  5. ^ Fifty Second Annual List of Merchant Vessels of the United States -American Merchant Vessels Of 500 Gross Tons and Over Equipped for Carrying Petroleum in Bulk. 1923. p. 485.
  6. ^ "1930-1931 Dora" (PDF). Lloyd's Register of Ships. 1930.
  7. ^ Marine Review 1920, p. 108.
  8. ^ a b "T/T Comol Cuba". krigsseilerregisteret.no.
  9. ^ Hague, Arnold. "Ship Movements - COMOL CUBA (Pan) 5,036 tons, built 1919". convoyweb.org.uk.
  10. ^ "Operation PK". codenames.info. ...and ended with the PK.135 convoy of 19/22 January 1943 with the 5,036-ton Panamanian Comol Cuba, 1,975-ton British Coteaudoc, 3,362-ton Honduran Gatun, 3,332-ton Honduran Granada, 4,548-ton US Henry D. Whiton, US King, 4,538-ton US Turrialba, 4,078-ton US Unaco, 6,901-ton US Vermont II, and 1,889-ton US commissioned cargo ship Pegasus

General bibliography

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