SS William Grayson

Last updated

History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameWilliam Grayson
Namesake William Grayson
Owner War Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator Black Diamond Steamship Co.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 310
Awarded1 May 1941
Builder Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland [1]
Cost$1,065,106 [2]
Yard number2060
Way number3
Laid down16 July 1942
Launched31 August 1942
Sponsored byMrs. Albert W. Kabernagel
Completed14 September 1942
Identification
FateTransferred to Greece, 18 May 1945
Flag of Greece.svgGreece
NameKerkyra
Owner Greece
Fate
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission (MARCOM), 13 November 1945
  • Sold for commercial use, 18 December 1946
Flag of Greece.svgGreece
Name
  • Kerkyra (1946—1947)
  • Anna L. Condylis (1947—1957)
Owner
Operator
FateSold, 1957
Flag of Greece.svgGreece
NameAlexandros
Owner Lamyra Shipping Co.
OperatorSea Traffic & Trading Corp.
FateSold, 1962
Flag of Lebanon.svgLebanon
NameTheonymphos Tinou
Owner Preveza Shipping Co.
Operator Tsakalotos Navigation Corp.
FateScrapped, 1968
General characteristics [3]
Class and 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 William Grayson was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after William Grayson, a soldier, lawyer, and statesman from Virginia. Grayson was a delegate to the Confederation Congress from 1785 to 1787. He helped to pass the Northwest Ordinance, including a provision that forbade slavery in the Northwest Territory. He was one of the first two US Senators from Virginia, and belonged to the Anti-Federalist faction, he was also the first member of the United States Congress to die while holding office.

Contents

Construction

William Grayson was laid down on 16 July 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 310, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; she was sponsored by Mrs. Albert W. Kabernagel, the wife of the chief inspector at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, and was launched on 31 August 1942. [1] [2]

History

She was allocated to Black Diamond Steamship Co., on 14 September 1942. On 18 May 1945, she was transferred to Greece, and renamed Kerkyra. She was returned to MARCOM on 13 November 1946. On 18 December 1946, she was sold for commercial use to Condylis Bros., for $544,506, and renamed Anna L. Condylis. She was scrapped in Taiwan, in 1968. [4]

World War II Convoys

During World War II, William Grayson participated in no fewer than 32 convoys supplying the war effort. The list below, sorted chronologically, most likely represents the complete list of convoys that include William Grayson, but does not represent an exhaustive search.

[5]

After leaving New York City, William Grayson was involved in a collision that damaged her hull. William Grayson made way for St. John's, Newfoundland for repairs. Following repairs, William Grayson returned to port. [6]

[5]

Related Research Articles

SS Benjamin Harrison was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Benjamin Harrison, an American planter and merchant, a revolutionary leader, and a Founding Father of the United States. She served a year from March 1942 to March 1943, when she was attacked and scuttled.

SS <i>John Stagg</i> World War II Liberty ship of the United States

SS John Stagg was a tanker-type (Z-ET1-S-C3) Liberty ship built at the Delta Shipbuilding Company, New Orleans, Louisiana, during World War II. She was named after John Stagg (1864–1915), who was President of Alabama Presbyterian College for Men.

SS John B. Lennon was an American Liberty ship in World War II. The ship was built by the J.A. Jones Construction shipyard at Brunswick, Georgia; sponsored by Mrs. F.R. Bustin, and launched on 22 December 1943.

HMCS <i>Moncton</i> (K139) Flower-class corvette

HMCS Moncton was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served on both coasts of Canada. She is named after Moncton, New Brunswick.

British Dragoon was a 9,909 ton tanker which was built as Empire Alliance in 1943. She was renamed British Dragoon in 1945, and scrapped in 1962.

Belgian Captain was a 7,041 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1942 as Empire Centaur for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1943 she was passed to the Belgian Government and renamed Belgian Captain. Postwar, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Capitaine Lambe. In 1960 she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Ardee, being renamed Alpha Trader in 1964. She served until 1967 when she was scrapped.

Derwentfield was an 8,602 GRT tanker that was built as Empire Coral in 1941 by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, United Kingdom. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1946, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Derwent River. Another sale in 1947 saw her renamed Derwentfield. She served until 1952 when she was severely damaged by an explosion and subsequent fire. In 1953, she was declared a constructive total loss and scrapped.

MV Empire Day was a 7,241 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 as a CAM ship by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1943, she was converted to a standard cargo ship. She served until August 1944 when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-198.

Kollbjørg was a 8,236 GRT tanker that was built in 1941 as Empire Diamond by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Norwegian Government in 1942 and renamed Norsol. In 1946 she was sold into merchant service and renamed Kollbjørg. A sale to Sweden in 1956 saw her renamed Storo, she served until 1959 when she was scrapped.

Esso Appalachee was a 9,819 GRT tanker that was built in 1942 as Empire Dickens by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees, County Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1946, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Esso Appalachee, serving until 1960, when she was scrapped.

Norholm was a 9,813 GRT tanker that was built in 1942 as Empire Druid by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1942, she was transferred to the Norwegian Government and renamed Norholm. She was sold into merchant service in 1946, and renamed Haukefjell. Fitted with a new engine in 1949, she was sold to Panama in 1952 and renamed Bluewater. She served until 1959, when she was scrapped in Japan.

Norvarg was a 4,748 GRT Design 1014 refrigerated cargo ship that was built in 1920 as Rotarian by the Todd Dry Dock and Construction Company, Tacoma, Washington, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). She was sold to the Grace Steamship Co Inc, New York in 1923 and renamed Condor. In 1940, she was sold to the British Ministry of Shipping (MoS), which became the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1941, and was renamed Empire Elk. In 1942, she was transferred to the Norwegian Government and renamed Norvarg.

Empire Emerald was a 8,032 GRT tanker that was built in 1941 by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill-on-Tees, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold into merchant service in 1946 and renamed El Gallo, serving until 1959 when she was scrapped.

MV <i>Kronprinsen</i>

Kronprinsen was a 7,078 GRT cargo ship that was built as Empire Fairbairn in 1942 by Barclay Curle & Co, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Norwegian Government before completion and renamed Kronprinsen. She served until 9 June 1942, when she was torpedoed and damaged by U-432 off Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. She was under repair until October 1943.

MV <i>Empire Faith</i> World War II merchant ship of the United Kingdom

Empire Faith was a 7,061 GRT CAM ship that was built in 1941 by Barclay Curle & Co, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Converted to a cargo ship in 1943, she was sold to a British company in 1946 and renamed Jessmore. In 1958, she was sold to a Panamanian company and renamed Antiope. A further sale in 1964 saw her renamed Global Venture. She served until 1971, when she was scrapped.

SS <i>Quistconck</i> Cargo ship launched 1918

Quistconck was a 5,144 GRT Design 1022 Hog Islander that was laid down as Red Jacket in 1918 by the Stone & Webster subsidiary American International Shipbuilding Corp., Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). Launched as Quistconck, she was sold to Lykes Brothers - Ripley Steamship Co Inc in 1933. In 1941, she was passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Falcon. She was sold into merchant service in 1946 and renamed Barnby. A sale to a Panamanian company saw her renamed Mariandrea. She served until 1953, when she was scrapped.

SS <i>Fort Stikine</i> British Fort ship

Fort Stikine was a British Fort ship which was built in Canada in 1942. Owned by the American War Shipping Administration, she was leased under charter to the Ministry of War Transport under the Lend-Lease scheme and operated under the management of the Port Line. Fort Stikine only had a short career, and was destroyed in an explosion at Bombay, India, in April 1944 that caused the loss of a further thirteen ships.

Chama was a 8,194 GRT tanker that was built in 1942 as Empire Fletcher by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, County Down, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Dutch Government in 1944 and renamed Backhuysen. She was sold to NV Petroleum Maatschappij in 1947 and renamed Chama. She was sold to Derna Compagnia de Navegacion SA, Liberia in 1955 and renamed Anastasia, serving until scrapped in 1959.

HMS <i>Dart</i> (K21) Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Dart (K21) was a River-class frigate of the Royal Navy. Dart was built to the RN's specifications as a Group I River-class frigate.

SS <i>Ben H. Miller</i> World War II Liberty ship of the United States

SS Ben H. Miller was a British merchant ship of World War II. A Liberty ship built in the United States in 1943, she was bareboat chartered to the British Ministry of War Transport, with Ellerman and Papayanni as managers. Sold to her managers after the war, she was renamed SS City of Shrewsbury in 1947. Resold in 1959, she became the Compagnia de Navigazione Arcoul's SS Marucla, and was scrapped in 1969. Her original namesake was Ben H. Miller.

References

Bibliography