Charles Henderson was a standard liberty ship, similar to SS John W. Brown, seen here. | |
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Name | Charles Henderson |
Namesake | Charles Richmond Henderson |
Builder | Delta Shipbuilding Company, New Orleans, Louisiana [1] |
Yard number | 1043 [1] |
Laid down | 29 March 1943 [1] |
Launched | 1 May 1943 [1] |
Completed | 19 May 1943 [1] |
Out of service | 9 April 1945 [1] |
Fate | Exploded while unloading cargo at Bari, Italy, 9 April 1945 [1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type EC2-S-C1 Liberty ship |
Propulsion | Single screw |
The SS Charles Henderson was a Liberty ship constructed during World War II. It was destroyed in an ammunition explosion on April 9, 1945.
One source states that the vessel was named after Charles Richmond Henderson (1848–1915), a Baptist clergyman and sociologist. [2] Another source claims that it was named in honour of Charles Henderson, the Governor of Alabama. [3]
The vessel was operated by the Mississippi Shipping Company, based in New Orleans, on behalf of the War Shipping Administration, starting from 1943. [4]
On 21 January 1944, the Charles Henderson collided with the coastal tanker MV Plattsburgh Socony near Cape Henlopen, Delaware. The collision resulted in a fire on the tanker. [5] "Fourth Naval District officers said one of the ships burst into flames after the collision and was abandoned an hour later." [6] One seaman was reported missing, and four others suffered burns. "A navy picket boat drew alongside the burning tanker – and 'stayed despite the danger of the ship exploding at any moment' – to rescue four crewmen marooned on the bow. Other survivors escaped in a lifeboat." [7]
Loading in June 1944, the Charles Henderson was one of many vessels at Normandy for the invasion of Europe. [8]
The ship sailed from New York City on 25 February 1945, bound for Norfolk, Virginia. There it loaded 6,675 tons of aircraft bombs in its holds. With loading complete, it steamed for Bari, Italy on 9 March, but returned the same day to repair its condenser's main induction valve. The ship waited five days for the next Mediterranean-bound convoy, UGS-80. Upon arriving at Gibraltar, the Charles Henderson proceeded independently to Bari, via Augusta, Sicily, arriving 5 April. [9]
In one of the largest ammunition disasters of World War II, the Charles Henderson was being unloaded at berth 14 at Bari, in Southern Italy, on 9 April 1945, when she was destroyed in a high order explosion. [10] "This detonation caused by [handling] 500 pound [230 kg] bombs loaded with Composition B, killed 542 and injured 1,800. It is believed the bombs were hooked and dragged to the well, then lifted without mats. The crew may have hurried because the contract paid by number of items lifted. Buildings along the waterfront were destroyed for 2,000 feet [610 m]. Ships were severely damaged to 2,100 feet [640 m]." [11]
Thirty-nine crew and 13 Armed Guard were killed in the explosion. [10] The only survivor was the chief engineer, who was ashore at the time of the blast. The wreck remained in Bari until 1948, when it was sold for scrap. [9]
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The SS Pierre Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It was laid down and launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, and completed on February 5, 1945. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 150. The Maritime Commission turned it over for merchant navy operation to a civilian contractor, the United States Lines under the United States Merchant Marine act for the War Shipping Administration. She was named after Pierre, South Dakota, the capital of the US state of South Dakota. The sponsor and christening of the SS Pierre Victory on Dec. 6, 1944 was Mrs. Emma S. Jassmann of Pierre, she had five sons who served during World War II,. The city of Pierre and the Pierre Chamber of Commerce sent Mrs. Jassmann to Oregon. The Mayor of City of Pierre, John B. Griffin, was also at the christening with other Pierre residents. She was built in only 98 days. Victory ships were designed to supersede the earlier Liberty ships. Unlike Liberty ships, Victory ships were designed to serve the US Navy after the war and to last longer. Compared to Liberty ships, Victory ships were faster, longer, wider, taller, and had a thinner stack which was set further forward on the superstructure. They also had a long, raised forecastle. SS Pierre Victory survived three separate kamikaze attacks by the Japanese in 1945.