SS Howard Gray

Last updated

History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameHoward Gray
NamesakeHoward Gray
Owner War Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator Black Diamond Steamship Co.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2302
Builder J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida
Cost$998,910 [1]
Yard number43
Way number3
Laid down6 April 1944
Launched18 May 1944
Sponsored byMrs. Celeste Taylor
Completed7 June 1944
Identification
FateTransferred to Italy for commercial use, 28 May 1947
Civil Ensign of Italy.svgItaly
NameItalico
Owner Marino Querci, Genoa, Italy
Acquired28 May 1947
Fate
  • Sold, 1959
  • Scrapped, 1969
General characteristics [2]
Class & 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

SS Howard Gray was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Howard Gray, an official with the Public Works Administration that was also active in the Alabama 4-H Club.

Contents

Construction

Howard Gray was laid down on 6 April 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2302, by J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida; she was sponsored by Mrs. Celeste Taylor, and launched on 18 May 1944. [3] [1]

History

She was allocated to Black Diamond Steamship Company, on 7 June 1944. On 20 April 1946, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in the Hudson River Group. On 16 December 1946, she was relocated to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in Wilmington, North Carolina. On 28 May 1947, she was transferred to the Italian Government, which in turn sold her to Marino Querci, Genoa, Italy, for commercial use. She was renamed Italico. She was first resold in 1959, and went through a couple of owners before being scrapped in Shanghai in 1969. [4] [5]

References

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