SS Booker T. Washington
 SS Booker T. Washington by Charles Alston | |
| Career (USA) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | SS Booker T Washington |
| Namesake: | Booker T. Washington |
| Builder: | California Shipbuilding Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles |
| Yard number: | 648[1] |
| Way number: | 14[1] |
| Laid down: | 19 August 1942[1] |
| Launched: | 29 September 1942[1] |
| Completed: | 17 October 1942[1] |
| Fate: | Scrapped, 1969[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type EC2-S-C1 Liberty ship |
| Displacement: | 14,245 long tons (14,474 t)[2] |
| Length: | 441 ft 6 in (134.57 m) o/a 417 ft 9 in (127.33 m) p/p 427 ft (130 m) w/l[2] |
| Beam: | 57 ft (17 m)[2] |
| Draft: | 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)[2] |
| Propulsion: | Two oil-fired boilers Triple-expansion steam engine 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) Single screw |
| Speed: | 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)[2] |
| Range: | 20,000 nmi (37,000 km; 23,000 mi) |
| Capacity: | 10,856 t (10,685 long tons) deadweight (DWT)[2] |
| Crew: | 81[2] |
| Armament: | Stern-mounted 4 in (100 mm) deck gun for use against surfaced submarines, variety of anti-aircraft guns |
SS Booker T. Washington was an American Liberty ship laid down on 19 August 1942 and launched on 29 September. Of the 2,700 Liberty ships built, this was the first of 17 that were named after African-Americans.
It is also notable that its first captain was Hugh Mulzac, who was the first African-American to command a ship in the United States Merchant Marine. In 1942, the ship has an integrated crew of 18 nationalities. Between 1942 and 1947, it had made 22 round trip voyages ferrying troops and supplies to Europe and the Pacific theatre.
The ship was sold to a private owner in 1947 and scrapped in 1969.
Captain and crew of the new Liberty Ship SS Booker T. Washington just after it completed its maiden voyage to England. (L-R) C. Lastic, Second Mate; T. J. Young, Midshipman; E. B. Hlubik, Midshipman; C. Blackman, Radio Operator; T. A. Smith, Chief Engineer; Hugh Mulzac, Captain of the ship; Adolphus Fokes, Chief Mate; Lt. H. Kruley; E. P. Rutland, Second Engineer; and H. E. Larson, Third Engineer." Captain Hugh Mulzac is fourth from the left on the first row. 8 February 1943.
See also
- List of Liberty ships
- Maritime history of the United States
References
External links
- SS Booker T Washington Images at the U.S. National Archive
- African American Mariners at USMM.org
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