SS Johns Hopkins

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JohnsHopkins 12387 003.jpg
Liberty ship SS Johns Hopkins, 11 April 1943
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameJohns Hopkins
Namesake Johns Hopkins
Owner War Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator North Atlantic & Gulf Steamship Co.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 947
Awarded30 January 1942
Builder Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland [1]
Cost$1,067,726 [2]
Yard number2097
Way number2
Laid down15 January 1943
Launched28 February 1943
Completed27 March 1943
Identification
FateSold, 6 November 1946
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Honduras
NameThetis
Owner
  • Compania Internacional de Vapores, Ltd. (1946–1950)
  • Compania Commercial Maritima (1950–1952)
Operator
FateSold, 1952
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Honduras
NameSanta Elena
OwnerCompania de Commercio y Vapores, Ltd.
OperatorD.J. Negroponte
FateSold, 1960
Flag of Greece.svg Greece
NameEleni K.
OwnerEleni Shipping Co.
Operator
  • Taflambas Bros. (1960–1961)
  • Stathatos & Co. (1961–1966)
FateWrecked and abandoned, 1966
General characteristics [3]
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 Johns Hopkins was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Johns Hopkins, was an American merchant, investor, and philanthropist. Following his death, his bequests founded numerous institutions bearing his name, most notably Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Johns Hopkins University system.

Contents

Construction

Johns Hopkins was laid down on 15 January 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 947, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; she was launched on 28 February 1943. [1] [2]

History

She was allocated to the North Atlantic & Gulf Steamship Co., on 27 March 1943. [4]

On 2 October 1944, at 01:50, she struck a mine, at 43°16′48″N05°08′28″E / 43.28000°N 5.14111°E / 43.28000; 5.14111 , while en route from Marseille to Toulon, France. The mine struck between the #3 hold and the engine room on the port side. The ship lost power as the engine room and #3 hold began to flood rapidly. The shaft alley began to flood which caused the #4 and #5 holds to slowly flood. Johns Hopkins quickly took on a 35° list to port and began to drift in the high winds. Distress calls where sent out after repairs to the radio, that was damaged in the blast, where made. Hobson arrived around 02:30, but was unsuccessful in her attempts to come along the damaged Johns Hopkins, due to the rough seas and high winds. Hobson stood by until ATR-127 arrived at 06:00 and towed Johns Hopkins back to Marseille, where she arrived at 04:00, on 3 October 1944. [4]

Johns Hopkins had been carrying US and Free French Army personnel, in addition to general cargo, vehicles, and half-tracks and trucks placed on all the cargo hatches, except hold #3. Two lifeboats were lost when they were lowered and lost in the rough seas. Of the 536 aboard, only a US Army major was injured when he broke his leg falling into the #3 hold. [4]

She was repaired and placed back in service. [5]

On 6 November 1946, she was sold for $544,200, to Compania Internacional de Vapores, Ltd., and renamed Thetis. [4] She was later renamed Santa Elena in 1952 and Eleni K. in 1960. On 29 September 1966, 8 mi (13 km) out from Thevenard, Australia, en route from Port Lincoln to the United Kingdom, with a load of wheat, she broke in two in heavy seas and foundered in shallow waters. On 17 November 1966, she was refloated and beached on Goat Island, 32°18′S133°32′E / 32.300°S 133.533°E / -32.300; 133.533 . [6]

References

  1. 1 2 Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 MARCOM.
  3. Davies 2004, p. 23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 MARAD.
  5. Williams 2014, p. 55.
  6. Sawyer & Mitchel 1985, p. 43.

Bibliography