SS M. E. Comerford

SS M. E. Comerford
Career (United States)
Name:	M. E. Comerford
Namesake:	Michael Comerford
Ordered:	as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2390
Builder:	J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia
Cost:	$806,170
Yard number:	175
Way number:	5
Laid down:	10 November 1944
Launched:	12 December 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. M.E. Comerford
Completed:	20 December 1944
Identification:	Call Signal: ANBJ
Fate:	Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Group, 8 October 1948 Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, Washington, 21 August 1952
Status:	Sold for scrapping, 12 January 1970
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 M. E. Comerford was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Michael Comerford, owner of Comerford Theatres, a chain of some of the first movie theaters in Pennsylvania and New York.

Construction

M. E. Comerford was laid down on 10 November 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2390, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; she was sponsored by Mrs. M.E. Comerford, widow of the namesake, and launched on 12 December 1944.

History

She was allocated to Merchants & Miners Transportation Company, on 20 December 1944. On 8 October 1948, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in the Suisun Bay Group. On 21 August 1952, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in Olympia, Washington. On 5 April 1954, she was withdrawn to be load with grain as part of the "Grain Program – 1954". She returned loaded with grain on 17 April 1954. On 19 May 1957, she was withdrawn to have the grain unloaded. She returned to the fleet empty on 25 May 1957. On 12 January 1971, she was sold for $87,000, to Zidell Exploration Co., Ltd., for scrapping. She was removed from the fleet on 16 January 1970.

Bibliography

• "Jones Construction, Brunswick GA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/jonesbrunswick.htm. Retrieved 18 November 2017. 
• "Liberty Ships – World War II". http://www.glynngen.com/nautical/glynn/libertyships.htm. Retrieved 18 November 2017. 
• Maritime Administration. "M. E. Comerford". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/3143. Retrieved 18 November 2017. 
• Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)". p. 23. http://www.ww2ships.com/acrobat/us-os-001-f-r00.pdf. Retrieved 18 November 2017. 
• "SS M. E. Comerford". http://usmaritimecommission.de/. Retrieved 18 November 2017.