SS William L. Watson

SS William L. Watson
Career (United States)
Name:	William L. Watson
Namesake:	William L. Watson
Owner:	War Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator:	Black Diamond Steamship Co.
Ordered:	as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2310
Builder:	J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida
Cost:	$1,042,645
Yard number:	51
Way number:	1
Laid down:	6 June 1944
Launched:	13 July 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. John Simon
Completed:	26 July 1944
Identification:	Call Signal: WRQA
Fate:	Laid up in National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River Group, 6 June 1946
Status:	Sold for commercial use, 17 December 1946
Career (Italy)
Name:	Panormus
Owner:	Salvatore Tagliavia, Palermo, Italy
Acquired:	27 December 1946
Fate:	Sold, 1952
Career (Italy)
Name:	Panormus
Owner:	Transmediterranea Soc. di Nav. per Azioni, Palermo, Italy
Acquired:	1952
Fate:	Sold, 1962
Career (Lebanon)
Name:	Al Kheir
Owner:	San Antonio, Inc.
Operator:	Cia. Armatoriale Italiana, Venice, Italy
Acquired:	1962
Fate:	Laid up at Spezia, 1966
Status:	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 William L. Watson was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after William L. Watson, the first Agricultural Agent for Duval County, Florida, also active in the Florida 4-H club.

Construction

William L. Watson was laid down on 6 June 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2310, by J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida; she was sponsored by Mrs. John Simon, and launched on 13 July 1944.

History

She was allocated to Black Diamond Steamship Co., on 26 July 1944. On 6 June 1946, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, in the Hudson River Group. On 17 December 1946, she was transferred to the Italian Government, which in turn sold her to Salvatore Tagliavia, Palermo, Italy, on 27 December 1946. She was renamed Panormus. In 1952, she was sold to Transmediterranea Soc. di Nav. per Azioni, Palermo. In 1962, she was sold to San Antonio Inc, reflagged for Lebanon, and renamed Al Keheir. In 1966, she was laid up in Spezia, after developing cracks in her hull. She was scrapped the following year in Spezia.

Bibliography

• "Jones Construction, Panama City FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/jonespanamacity.htm. 
• "Liberty Ships – World War II". http://www.glynngen.com/nautical/glynn/libertyships.htm. 
• Maritime Administration. "William L. Watson". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/5281. 
• Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)". p. 23. http://www.ww2ships.com/acrobat/us-os-001-f-r00.pdf. 
• "SS William L. Watson". http://usmaritimecommission.de/.