SS William B. Wilson was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after William B. Wilson, the first United States Secretary of Labor.

History
United States
NameWilliam B. Wilson
NamesakeWilliam B. Wilson
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorEastern Steamship Co.
Orderedas type (Z-EC2-S-C2) hull, MC hull 1537
BuilderJ.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida
Cost$1,748,271[1]
Yard number19
Way number3
Laid down14 September 1943
Launched6 November 1943
Completed16 December 1943
Identification
Fate
General characteristics [2]
Class and typetype Z-EC2-S-C2, army tank transport
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

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William B. Wilson was laid down on 14 September 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1537, by J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida; she was launched on 6 November 1943.[3][1]

History

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She was allocated to Eastern Steamship Co., on 16 December 1943. She was one of eight special ships, a Z-EC2-S-C2, a Tank carrier. She was built with larger cargo hold hatches and stronger crane lifts. J.A.Jones Construction built the eight Z-EC2-S-C2 Tank carrier in 1943. [4] On 10 October 1945, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in the James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 31 July 1972, she was sold for $75,500 to N.V. Intershitra, Rotterdam, for scrapping. She was removed from the fleet on 25 August 1972.[5][6]

References

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Bibliography

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  • "Jones Construction, Panama City FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  • "Liberty Ships – World War II". Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  • Maritime Administration. "William B. Wilson". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  • "SS William B. Wilson". Retrieved 28 November 2017.