SS Elihu Root

SS Elihu Root
Career (United States)
Name:	Elihu Root
Namesake:	Elihu Root
Owner:	War Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator:	Agwilines, Inc.
Ordered:	as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 1524
Builder:	J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida
Cost:	$1,947,184
Yard number:	6
Way number:	6
Laid down:	5 October 1942
Launched:	19 May 1943
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Lloyd Tower
Completed:	18 June 1943
Identification:	Call Signal: KLXY
Fate:	Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York, 5 June 1946
Status:	Sold for scrapping, 10 October 1969
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 Hamilton Engine Co., Hamilton, Ohio) 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 Elihu Root was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Elihu Root, a United States Senator from New York, the United States Secretary of War under presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, the United States Secretary of State under Theodore Roosevelt, and the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Construction

Elihu Root was laid down on 5 October 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1524, by J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida; sponsored by Mrs. Lloyd Tower, sister of the assistant superintendent of the boiler shop, W. H. Moyd, she was launched on 19 May 1943.

History

She was allocated to Agwilines, Inc., on 18 June 1943. On 5 June 1946, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in the Hudson River Group. On 29 May 1953, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1953", she returned loaded with grain on 9 June 1953. She was withdrawn from the fleet on 20 June 1957, to have the grain unloaded, she returned empty on 29 June 1957. On 28 May 1958, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1958", she returned loaded with grain on 13 June 1958. She was withdrawn from the fleet on 8 February 1960, to have the grain unloaded, she returned empty on 12 February 1960. On 9 November 1960, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1960", she returned loaded with grain on 22 November 1960. She was withdrawn from the fleet on 14 March 1963, to have the grain unloaded, she returned empty on 18 March 1963. On 10 October 1969, she was sold for $42,218 to Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation, for scrapping. She was removed from the fleet on 30 October 1969.

Bibliography

• "Jones Construction, Panama City FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/jonespanamacity.htm. 
• Maritime Administration. "Elihu Root". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/1401. 
• Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)". p. 23. http://www.ww2ships.com/acrobat/us-os-001-f-r00.pdf. 
• "SS Elihu Root". http://usmaritimecommission.de/query.php?datalist=1&typeofquery=Name%20of%20Ship&valueofquery=Elihu%20Root&code=B1524a.