SS Robert J. Banks

SS Robert J. Banks
Career (United States)
Name:	Robert J. Banks
Namesake:	Robert J. Banks
Ordered:	as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2392
Builder:	J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia
Cost:	$852,457
Yard number:	177
Way number:	1
Laid down:	21 November 1944
Launched:	20 December 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. George Buchanan
Completed:	30 December 1944
Fate:	Loaned to Norway, 30 December 1944
Career (Norway)
Name:	Vadsø
Namesake:	Town of Vadsø
Operator:	Nortraship
Acquired:	30 December 1944
Fate:	Sold to the Netherlands, 9 October 1946
Career (Netherlands)
Name:	Libreville
Namesake:	City of Libreville
Acquired:	9 October 1946
Fate:	Scrapped, 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 Robert J. Banks was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Robert J. Banks.

Construction

Robert J. Banks was laid down on 21 November 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2392, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; she was sponsored by Mrs. George Buchanan, and launched on 20 December 1944.

History

She was turned over to Nortraship, on 30 December 1944, reflagged for Norway and renamed Vadsø, after the town of Vadsø, Norway. On 9 October 1946, she was sold for $580,118.63, to the Netherlands. She was reflagged and renamed Libreville after the city of Libreville, French Equatorial Africa, now Gabon. She was scrapped in 1967.

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. "Robert J. Banks". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/10571. 
• Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)". p. 23. http://www.ww2ships.com/acrobat/us-os-001-f-r00.pdf. 
• "SS Robert J. Banks". http://usmaritimecommission.de/.