SS Joe C. S. Blackburn

SS Joe C. S. Blackburn
Career (United States)
Name:	Joe C. S. Blackburn
Namesake:	Joe C. S. Blackburn
Ordered:	as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 1508
Builder:	J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia
Cost:	$1,443,884
Yard number:	124
Way number:	2
Laid down:	30 October 1943
Launched:	15 December 1943
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Robert Haynes
Completed:	27 December 1943
Identification:	Call Signal: KVFQ
Fate:	Laid up in National Defense Reserve Fleet, Wilmington, North Carolina, 20 August 1946 Laid up in National Reserve Defense Fleet, Astoria, Oregon, 28 May 1948
Status:	Sold for scrapping, 28 November 1967
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 Joe C. S. Blackburn was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Joe C. S. Blackburn, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 7th district, a United States Senator from Kentucky, and a Governor of the Panama Canal Zone.

Construction

Joe C. S. Blackburn was laid down on 30 October 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1508, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; sponsored by Mrs. Robert Haynes, she was launched on 15 December 1943.

History

She was allocated to the Black Diamond Steamship Corp., on 27 December 1943. On 20 August 1946, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in Wilmington, North Carolina. On 28 May 1948, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in Astoria, Oregon. On 28 November 1967, she was sold to Zidell Explorations, Inc., for $54,001, to be scrapped. She was withdrawn from the fleet on 19 December 1967. Most source say she was converted into a floating dock in 1968. Her fate is unknown.

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. "Joe C. S. Blackburn". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/2506. 
• Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)". p. 23. http://www.ww2ships.com/acrobat/us-os-001-f-r00.pdf. 
• "SS Joe C. S. Blackburn". http://usmaritimecommission.de/.