SS Richard A. Van Pelt

SS Richard A. Van Pelt
Career (United States)
Name:	Richard A. Van Pelt
Namesake:	Richard A. Van Pelt
Ordered:	as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2401
Builder:	J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia
Cost:	$867,824
Yard number:	186
Way number:	4
Laid down:	9 January 1945
Launched:	17 February 1945
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Duncan Morton
Completed:	28 February 1945
Fate:	Transferred to Belgium, 28 February 1945
Career (Belgium)
Name:	Belgium Equity
Operator:	American West African Line, Inc.
Acquired:	28 February 1945
Fate:	Sold to Belgium, 18 December 1946
Career (Belgium)
Name:	Capitaine Heusers
Fate:	Scrapped, 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 Richard A. Van Pelt was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Richard A. Van Pelt.

Construction

Richard A. Van Pelt was laid down on 9 January 1945, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2401, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; she was sponsored by Mrs. Duncan Morton, and launched on 17 February 1945.

History

She was transferred to Belgium, and renamed Belgium Equity on 28 February 1945. She was operated by the American West African Line, Inc. On 18 December 1946, she was sold to Belgium, for $579,770.03. She was scrapped in 1969.

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. "Richard A. Van Pelt". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/10528. 
• Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)". p. 23. http://www.ww2ships.com/acrobat/us-os-001-f-r00.pdf. 
• "SS Richard A. Van Pelt". http://usmaritimecommission.de/.