SS Benjamin H. Hill was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Benjamin H. Hill, a Confederate senator and later a US Representative, US senator from the state of Georgia.

History
United States
NameBenjamin H. Hill
NamesakeBenjamin H. Hill
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 1514
BuilderJ.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia
Cost$1,247,046[1]
Yard number130
Way number2
Laid down16 December 1943
Launched7 February 1944
Sponsored byMrs. John D. Pellett
Completed19 February 1944
Identification
Fate
General characteristics [2]
Class and type
Tonnage
Displacement
Length
  • 441 feet 6 inches (135 m) oa
  • 416 feet (127 m) pp
  • 427 feet (130 m) lwl
Beam57 feet (17 m)
Draft27 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
Speed11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 562,608 cubic feet (15,931 m3) (grain)
  • 499,573 cubic feet (14,146 m3) (bale)
Complement
Armament

Construction edit

Benjamin H. Hill was laid down on 16 December 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1514, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; she was sponsored by Mrs. John D. Pellett, and launched on 7 February 1944.[3][1]

History edit

She was allocated to the A. L. Burbank & Company, on 19 February 1944. On 8 October 1947, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in the James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 20 May 1954, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1954", she returned loaded with grain on 28 May 1954. She was again withdrawn from the fleet on 4 April 1959, to have the grain unloaded, she returned empty on 11 April 1959. On 18 November 1960, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1960", she returned loaded with grain on 7 December 1960. She was again withdrawn from the fleet on 19 May 1963, to have the grain unloaded, she returned empty on 22 May 1963. On 2 February 1971, she was sold, along with the ship Monterey, to Hierros Andes, S.A., for $172,500, for scrapping, she was delivered on 9 September 1971.[4][5]

References edit

Bibliography edit

  • "Jones Construction, Brunswick GA". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  • "Liberty Ships – World War II". Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  • Maritime Administration. "Benjamin H. Hill". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  • "SS Benjamin H. Hill". Retrieved 5 November 2017.