SS John Sergeant was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after John Sergeant, an American politician who represented Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives. He was the National Republican Party's vice presidential nominee in the 1832 presidential election, serving on a ticket with Senator Henry Clay.
Construction
John Sergeant was laid down on 6 July 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 63, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; and was launched on 21 August 1942.[2][1]
History
She was allocated to Marine Transport Lines, Inc., on 5 September 1942.[5]
On 23 July 1948, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, Alabama. On 7 October 1949, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, Texas. On 18 July 1952, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Wilmington, North Carolina. On 14 September 1955, she was withdrawn from the fleet for test conversion to rotary compression pump fed open cycle gas turbine power. The Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia, performed the conversion and she was reclassified EC2-G-8f. Her hull was lengthened at the bow to 467 ft 3 in (142.42 m), and new rotary compressor gas generator and General Electric gas turbine, producing 6,000 shp (4,500 kW), connected directly to the ship's propeller through double reduction gear, were installed. At trials she ran over 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph), above the requested 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph).[4]
After conversion she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service. She was operated by United States Lines Co. under a bareboat charter. During her first 27,000 nmi (50,000 km; 31,000 mi) she averaged 15.4 kn (28.5 km/h; 17.7 mph) and consumed an average of 236 bbl (37.5 m3) of fuel per day, or 0.677 bbl (0.1076 m3) per mile.[4]
On 11 September 1959, she was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, Virginia. She was sold for scrapping on 28 March 1972, to Peck Iron & Metal Co., Inc., for $38,208. She was removed from the fleet, 20 April 1972.[5]
References
Bibliography
- "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- Maritime Administration. "John Sergeant". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- "SS John Sergeant". Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- "Liberty ship conversion and engine improvement program : cumulative report of progress as of November 1, 1957". 1 November 1957. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
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