SS Benjamin H. Hill

SS Benjamin H. Hill
Career (United States)
Name:	Benjamin H. Hill
Namesake:	Benjamin H. Hill
Ordered:	as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 1514
Builder:	J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia
Cost:	$1,247,046
Yard number:	130
Way number:	2
Laid down:	16 December 1943
Launched:	7 February 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. John D. Pellett
Completed:	19 February 1944
Identification:	Call Signal: KVOT
Fate:	Laid up in National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia, 8 October 1947
Status:	Sold for scrapping, 2 February 1971
General characteristics
Class & type:	Liberty ship type EC2-S-C1, standard
Tonnage:	10,865 LT DWT 7,176 GRT
Displacement:	3,380 long tons (3,434 t) (light) 14,245 long tons (14,474 t) (max)
Length:	441 ft 6 in (135 m)
Beam:	56 ft 10.75 in (17.3419 m)
Draft:	27 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:	2 × oil-fired boilers 1 × triple-expansion steam engine, 2,500 horsepower (1,900 kW) (manufactured by Filer & Stowell Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin) 1 × screw propeller
Speed:	11.5 knots (21.3 km/h)
Capacity:	10,800 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Complement:	41
Armament:	Stern-mounted 4"/50 caliber (102 mm) gun for use against surfaced submarines variety of anti-aircraft guns

SS Benjamin H. Hill was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Benjamin H. Hill, a Confederate senator and later a US Representative, US senator from the state of Georgia.

Construction

Benjamin H. Hill was laid down on 16 December 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1514, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; she was sponsored by Mrs. John D. Pellett, and launched on 7 February 1944.

History

She was allocated to the A.L. Burbank Company, on 19 February 1944. On 8 October 1947, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in the James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 20 May 1954, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1954", she returned loaded with grain on 28 May 1954. She was again withdrawn from the fleet on 4 April 1959, to have the grain unloaded, she returned empty on 11 April 1959. On 18 November 1960, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1960", she returned loaded with grain on 7 December 1960. She was again withdrawn from the fleet on 19 May 1963, to have the grain unloaded, she returned empty on 22 May 1963. On 2 February 1971, she was sold, along with the ship Monterey, to Hierros Andes, S.A., for $172,500, for scrapping, she was delivered on 9 September 1971.

Bibliography

• "Jones Construction, Brunswick GA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/jonesbrunswick.htm. 
• "Liberty Ships – World War II". http://www.glynngen.com/nautical/glynn/libertyships.htm. 
• Maritime Administration. "Benjamin H. Hill". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/477. 
• Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)". p. 23. http://www.ww2ships.com/acrobat/us-os-001-f-r00.pdf. 
• "SS Benjamin H. Hill". http://usmaritimecommission.de/.