SS Charles Henderson

Last updated

SS John W Brown.jpg
Charles Henderson was a standard liberty ship, similar to SS John W. Brown, seen here.
History
United States
NameCharles Henderson
Namesake Charles Richmond Henderson
Builder Delta Shipbuilding Company, New Orleans, Louisiana [1]
Yard number1043 [1]
Laid down29 March 1943 [1]
Launched1 May 1943 [1]
Completed19 May 1943 [1]
Out of service9 April 1945 [1]
FateExploded while unloading cargo at Bari, Italy, 9 April 1945 [1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType EC2-S-C1 Liberty ship
PropulsionSingle screw

SS Charles Henderson was a Liberty ship constructed during World War II. It was destroyed in an ammunition explosion on April 9, 1945.

Contents

Namesake

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]

Service

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]

Fate

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]

9 April 1945 - Photo by WOJG Hubert Platt Henderson who was stationed at Bari as the Director of the 773rd Band Bari Explosion 1.jpg
9 April 1945 – Photo by WOJG Hubert Platt Henderson who was stationed at Bari as the Director of the 773rd Band

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]

See also

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Starr</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Starr (AKA-67) was a Tolland-class attack cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was sold into commercial service and scrapped in 1970.

USS <i>Trout</i> (SS-202) Tambor-class submarine of the United States Navy

USS Trout (SS-202) was the fifth Tambor-class submarine commissioned in the United States Navy, serving in the Pacific from 1941 to 1944. She received 11 battle stars for World War II service and Presidential Unit Citation for her second, third, and fifth war patrols. Trout also delivered ammunition to the besieged American forces on Corregidor and brought out 20 tons of gold bars and silver pesos from the Philippine currency reserve to Pearl Harbor. During 1941, she was used as a target by a series of tests determining the vulnerability of submarines to depth charge attacks.

USS <i>Bowfin</i> Balao-class submarine of the US Navy

USS Bowfin (SS/AGSS-287), is a Balao-class submarine of the United States Navy named for the bowfin fish. Since 1981, she has been open to public tours at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, next to the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center.

USS <i>Flying Fish</i> (SS-229) Submarine of the United States

USS Flying Fish (SS/AGSS-229), a Gato-class submarine, was the first submarine and second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the flying fish. Flying Fish is credited with having sunk a total of 58,306 tons of Japanese shipping and received 12 battle stars for World War II service.

USS <i>Becuna</i> United States Navy submarine

USS Becuna (SS/AGSS-319), a Balao-class submarine in commission from 1944 to 1969, was a submarine of the United States Navy named for the becuna, a pike-like fish of Europe. During World War II, she conducted five war patrols between August 23, 1944 and July 27, 1945, operating in the Philippine Islands, South China Sea, and Java Sea. She is credited with sinking two Japanese tankers totaling 3,888 gross register tons.

USS <i>Parche</i> (SS-384) Submarine of the United States

The first USS Parche (SS-384/AGSS-384) was a United States Navy submarine. She bore the name of a butterfly fish, Chaetodon capistratus. Parche was a Balao-class submarine that operated in World War II.

There have been many extremely large explosions, accidental and intentional, caused by modern high explosives, boiling liquid expanding vapour explosions (BLEVEs), older explosives such as gunpowder, volatile petroleum-based fuels such as gasoline, and other chemical reactions. This list contains the largest known examples, sorted by date. An unambiguous ranking in order of severity is not possible; a 1994 study by historian Jay White of 130 large explosions suggested that they need to be ranked by an overall effect of power, quantity, radius, loss of life and property destruction, but concluded that such rankings are difficult to assess.

USS <i>Solar</i> Buckley-class destroyer escort (US Navy)

USS Solar (DE-221), a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Boatswain's Mate First Class Adolfo Solar (1900–1941), who was killed in action during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

HNoMS <i>Nordkapp</i>

HNoMS Nordkapp was the lead ship of the Nordkapp class of fishery protection vessels. She was launched 18 August 1937 at Horten naval shipyard, with yard number 123. She had one sister ship, HNoMS Senja. Nordkapp was named after the North Cape in Finnmark. As was typical of her class, Nordkapp was very unstable in rough seas and was viewed from the beginning as a second-rate vessel. Nordkapp sailed throughout the Second World War and saw service in several theatres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air raid on Bari</span> 1943 attack by German bombers on Allied forces and shipping in Bari, Italy, during WWII

The air raid on Bari was an air attack by German bombers on Allied forces and shipping in Bari, Italy, on 2 December 1943, during World War II. 105 German Junkers Ju 88 bombers of Luftflotte 2 surprised the port's defenders and bombed shipping and personnel operating in support of the Allied Italian Campaign, sinking 27 cargo and transport ships, as well as a schooner, in Bari harbour.

An Empire ship is a merchant ship that was given a name beginning with "Empire" in the service of the Government of the United Kingdom during and after World War II. Most were used by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), which owned them and contracted their operation to various shipping companies of the British Merchant Navy.

USS <i>Kiowa</i> (AT-72) Tugboat of the United States Navy

The third USS Kiowa (AT-72), later ATF-72, was a fleet tug, later fleet ocean tug, that served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1972.

<i>Aikoku Maru</i> (1940) Armed merchant cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Aikoku Maru (愛国丸) was an armed merchant cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. The ship entered service in 1940, the ship was later converted to an ammunition ship. She was sunk in February 1944 during Operation Hailstone.

SS <i>Canada Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

The SS Canada Victory was one of 531 Victory ships built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on January 12, 1944, and was completed on February 28, 1944. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 93 (1009). The Maritime Commission turned her over to a civilian contractor, the Alaska SS Company, for operation.

SS <i>U.S.S.R. Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

The SS U.S.S.R. Victory was the third Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on February 26, 1944. The ship was completed and delivered to the wartime operator of all United States oceangoing shipping, the War Shipping Administration (WSA), on April 26, 1944. U.S.S.R. Victory, official number 245247, was assigned to Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., under a standard WSA operating agreement at that time. That agreement continued until the ship's sale on March 7, 1947. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 3 (V-3). U.S.S.R. Victory served in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II.

SS <i>Logan Victory</i> Cargo ship

SS Logan Victory was a cargo Victory ship built for World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. The Logan Victory was launched January 16, 1945, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California and completed on February 6, 1945. She was operated by the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company under the United States Maritime Commission.

SS <i>Hobbs Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

SS Hobbs Victory was a cargo Victory ship built for World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. Hobbs Victory, was launched on January 9, 1945 by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California and completed on January 9, 1945. She was built in just 87 days. She was operated by the Sudden & Christenson for the United States Maritime Commission.

SS <i>Elmira Victory</i> Victory ship of World War II

SS Elmira Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It was built and launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on May 12, 1944 and completed on May 31, 1944. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 105 (1021). The ship was Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation's 21st victory ship. The Maritime Commission turned it over for Merchant navy operation to a civilian contractor, the Isthmian Steamship Company under the United States Merchant Marine act for the War Shipping Administration. She was named after the city of Elmira, New York.

SS <i>Pierre Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Davies, James. "'LIBERTY' CARGO SHIP" (PDF). ww2ships.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  2. "People Behind the Names H". Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  3. "Governor Charles Henderson". Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. "LibShipsC". Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  5. "Allegheny II (Fleet Tug No. 19)". Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  6. United Press, "Ships Collide Off East Coast; Fiery Sea of Oil Seen", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 22 January 1944, Volume 50, page 2.
  7. Associated Press, "Navy Saves Four Men on Burning Tanker", The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington, Sunday 23 January 1944, Volume 61, Number 254, page 2.
  8. "American Merchant Marine Ships at Normandy in June 1944". Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  9. 1 2 Braving the Wartime Seas: A Tribute to the Cadets and Graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Cadet Corps Who Died during World War II. Xlibris Corporation. 2014. ISBN   9781493186136.
  10. 1 2 "Chronological List of U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged during 1945". Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  11. file:///C:/Users/customer/Downloads/ADA507027.pdf PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .