SS E. Kirby Smith was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after E. Kirby Smith, a career United States Army officer who fought in the Mexican–American War, and for the Confederacy in the Civil War, rising to the rank of General in the CSA.

History
United States
NameE. Kirby Smith
NamesakeE. Kirby Smith
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorMarine Transport Lines, Inc.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 1519
BuilderJ.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida
Cost$2,330,989[1]
Yard number1
Way number1
Laid down9 July 1942
Launched30 December 1942
Sponsored byMrs. Raymond A. Jones
Completed3 March 1943
Identification
Fate
General characteristics [2]
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

Construction

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E. Kirby Smith was laid down on 9 July 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1519, by J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida; sponsored by Mrs. Raymond A. Jones, wife of Raymond A. Jones, vice president and general manager, JAJCC, she was launched on 30 December 1942.[3][1]

History

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She was allocated to Marine Transport Lines, on 3 March 1943. On 23 May 1946, she was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 27 May 1954, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1954", she returned loaded on 21 June 1954. On 16 March 1956, she was withdrawn to be unload, she returned on empty 23 April 1956. On 18 July 1956, she was sold for $147,777.77 to Boston Metals Co., to be scrapped. She was removed from the fleet on 25 July 1956.[4]

References

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Bibliography

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  • "Jones Construction, Panama City FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  • Maritime Administration. "E. Kirby Smith". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  • "SS E. Kirby Smith". Retrieved 11 December 2019.