Liberty ship: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia


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|Ship class=[[Cargo ship]]

|Ship type=

|Ship tonnage={{ConvertGRT|10856|MT|LT|0|abbr=on7176}}, [[deadweight tonnage{{DWT|deadweight]] (DWT)10865}}{{sfn|DaviesSawyer|Mitchell|20041985|p=2339}}

|Ship displacement={{convert|14245|LT|MT}}{{sfn|DaviesSawyer|2004Mitchell|1985|p=2339}}

|Ship length={{Convert|441|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}

|Ship beam={{Convert|56|ft|10.75|in|1|abbr=on}}

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|Ship troops=

|Ship complement=*38–62 [[United States Merchant Marine|USMM]]

* 21–40 [[United States Navy Armed Guard|USNAG]]{{cncitation needed|date=September 2023}}

|Ship crew=

|Ship time to activate=

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|}

'''Liberty ships''' were a [[ship class|class]] of [[cargo ship]] built in the United States during [[World War II]] under the [[Emergency Shipbuilding Program]]. Although British in concept,<ref name=Wardlow>{{cite book |last1=Wardlow |first1=Chester |year=1999 |title=The Technical Services – The Transportation Corps: Responsibilities, Organization, and Operations |series=United States Army in World War II |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History|Center of Military History, United States Army]] |lccn=99490905 |page=156}}</ref> the design was adopted by the United States for its simple, low-cost construction. Mass-produced on an unprecedented scale, the Liberty ship came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output.<ref name=Flip60>{{cite book |last= Flippen |first= J. B. |date= April 2018 |title= Speaker Jim Wright |url= https://utpress.utexas.edu/books/flippen-speaker-jim-wright |location= Austin, Texas |publisher= [[University of Texas Press]] |page= 60 |isbn= 9781477315149 |quote= mass-produced during the war, the Liberty Ship had become a symbol of the miracle of American production |access-date= 29 November 2021 |archive-date= 17 June 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220617010700/https://utpress.utexas.edu/books/flippen-speaker-jim-wright |url-status= dead }}</ref>

The class was developed to meet British orders for transports to replace ships that had been lost. Eighteen American [[shipyard]]s built 2,710 Liberty ships between 1941 and 1945 (an average of three ships every two days),<ref name=usmmburn>{{cite web |url= http://www.usmm.org/libertyships.html |title= Liberty Ships built by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II |website= usmm.org |publisher= American Merchant Marine at War |access-date= 2021-11-28 |quote= (2,710 ships were completed, as one burned at the dock.) |archive-date= 9 May 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080509091805/http://www.usmm.org/libertyships.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> easily the largest number of ships ever produced to a single design.

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{{legend|#9991fe|Habitation}}

{{Div col end}}]]

In 1936, the American [[Merchant Marine Act of 1936|Merchant Marine Act]] was passed to subsidize the annual construction of 50 commercial merchant vessels which could be used in wartime by the [[United States Navy]] as naval auxiliaries, crewed by [[United States Merchant Marine|U.S. Merchant Mariners]]. The number was doubled in 1939 and again in 1940 to 200 ships a year. Ship types included two tankers and three types of merchant vessel, all to be powered by [[steam turbine]]s. Limited industrial capacity, especially for reduction gears, meant that relatively few of ''these designs'' of ships were built.

However, in 1940, the British government ordered 60 [[Ocean ship|Ocean-class]] [[cargo ship|freighter]]s from American yards to replace war losses and boost the merchant fleet. These were simple but fairly large (for the time) with a single {{convert|2500|hp|kW}} [[compound steam engine]] of outdated but reliable design. Britain specified coal-fired plants, because it then had extensive coal mines and no significant domestic oil production.{{refn |During WW&nbsp;II, Nazi Germany made the exact same decision, when they decided to mass-produce coal-powered, steam-engine driven [[Kriegslokomotive]]s.<ref>[[National Geographic]], 2017. ''"Nazi Megastructures: Hitler's War Trains"''</ref> Despite electrical industrial technology having begun to replace stationary steam engines in the late 19th century, and [[Internal combustion engine]]s in two-railcar, high speed [[Diesel-electric transmission|Diesel-electric]] [[Diesel locomotive|locomotive]] and train sets, developed by [[Maybach]], were series produced in Germany since 1935, the war also made Germany short on oil, but still rich in coal, especially in the [[Ruhr|Ruhr region]], and thus mass-produced old-fashioned but very effective steam locomotives for transporting goods and people across the large conquered European area.}}

The predecessor designs, which included the "Northeast Coast, Open Shelter Deck Steamer", were based on a simple ship originally produced in [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]] by [[J.L. Thompson and Sons|J.L. Thompson & Sons]] based on a 1939 design for a simple [[tramp steamer]], which was cheap to build and cheap to run (see [[Silver Line (shipping company)|Silver Line]]). Examples include SS ''Dorington Court'' built in 1939.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Court/Dorington%20Court%20%281939%29.html |title=Dorington Court (1939) |access-date=28 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701004421/http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Court/Dorington%20Court%20%281939%29.html |archive-date=1 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The order specified an {{convert|18|inch|m|adj=on}} increase in [[Draft (hull)|draft]] to boost displacement by {{convert|800|LT|MT}} to {{convert|10100|LT|MT}}. The accommodation, [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]], and main engine were located amidships, with a tunnel connecting the main engine shaft to the propeller via a long aft extension. The first Ocean-class ship, SS ''Ocean Vanguard'', was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 16 August 1941.

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===Variants===

The basic EC2-S-C1 cargo design was modified during construction into three major variants with the same basic dimensions and slight variance in tonnage. One variant, with basically the same features but different type numbers, had four rather than five [[Hold (partition)|holds]] served by large hatches and [[kingpost]] with large capacity booms. Those four hold ships were designated for transport of tanks and boxed aircraft.<ref name=FRtab>{{cite journalbook |title=Federal Register |volume=11 |issue=161 |pages=8974 |publisher=U.S. Government |date=17 August 1946|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1946-08-17/pdf/FR-1946-08-17.pdf |access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref>

In the detailed Federal Register publication of the post war prices of Maritime Commission types the Liberty variants are noted as:<ref name=FRtab/>

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[[File:Liberty Ship Model (engine room detail).jpg|thumb|Engine room (model cutaway)]]

By 1941, the [[steam turbine]] was the preferred [[marine steam engine]] because of its greater efficiency compared to earlier reciprocating [[compound steam engine]]s. However, steamSteam turbine engines however, required very precise manufacturing techniques to machine their complicated [[Gear#Double helical|double helical reduction gears]], and the companies capable of producing them were already committed to the large construction program for [[warship]]s. Therefore, a {{convert|140|ST|adj=on}}<ref>''Live'' (the program of [[Project Liberty Ship]] provided for cruises of the Liberty ship {{SS|John W. Brown}}, 2013 edition, claims both that the engine weighed 135 tons (p. 10) fully assembled and that it weighed 140 tons (p. 11).</ref> [[vertical triple expansion]] steam engine, of obsolete design, was selected to power Liberty ships because it was cheaper and easier to build in the numbers required for the Liberty ship program, and because more companies could manufacture it. Eighteen different companies eventually built the engine. It had the additional advantage of ruggedness, simplicity and familiarity to seamen. Parts manufactured by one company were interchangeable with those made by another, and the openness of its design made most of its moving parts easy to see, access, and oil. The engine—{{convert|21|feet|m}} long and {{convert|19|feet|m}} tall—was designed to operate at 76 [[revolutions per minute|rpm]] and propel a Liberty ship at about {{convert|11|knots}}.<ref>''Live'' (program of [[Project Liberty Ship]] provided for cruises of the Liberty ship {{SS|John W. Brown}}, 2013 edition, p. 10.</ref>

===Construction===

The ships were constructed of sections that were welded together. This is similar to the technique used by [[Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited|Palmer's]] at [[Jarrow]], northeast England, but substituted [[welding]] for [[rivet]]ing. Riveted ships took several months to construct. The work force was newly trained—notrained oneas the yards responsible had not previously built welded ships. As America entered the war, the shipbuilding yards employed women, to replace men who were enlisting in the armed forces.{{sfn|Herman|2012|pp=135–136, 178–180}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200" caption="The construction of a Liberty ship at the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards, Baltimore, Maryland, in March/April 1943">

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The wreck of {{SS|Richard Montgomery}} lies off the coast of [[Kent]] with {{convert|1,400|t|ST|order=flip|abbr=off|lk=on}} of [[explosive]]s still on board, enough to match a very small yield [[nuclear weapon]] should they ever go off.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/2000_survey_report_montgomery.pdf|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121107103953/http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/2000_survey_report_montgomery.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-07|title=Report on the Wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery|website=Webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk|access-date=2022-03-11}}</ref><ref name="Nuclear yield">{{cite web|title=Little Boy and Fat Man|url=https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/little-boy-and-fat-man|website=[[Atomic Heritage Foundation]]|access-date=24 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224040030/https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/little-boy-and-fat-man|archive-date=24 December 2017|date=23 July 2014|quote=Little Boy yield: 15 kilotons / Fat Man yield: 21 kilotons}}</ref> {{SS|E. A. Bryan}} detonated with the energy of {{convert|2000|tonTNT|lk=on}} in July 1944 as it was being loaded, killing 320 sailors and civilians in what was called the [[Port Chicago disaster]]. Another Liberty ship that exploded was the rechristened {{SS|Grandcamp}}, which caused the [[Texas City Disaster]] on 16 April 1947, killing at least 581 people.

Six Liberty ships were converted at [[Point Clear, Alabama]], by the [[United States Army Air Force]], into floating aircraft repair depots, operated by the [[Army Transport Service]], starting in April 1944. The secret project, dubbed "Project Ivory Soap", provided mobile depot support for [[B-29 Superfortress]] bombers and [[P-51 Mustang]] fighters based on [[Guam]], [[Iwo Jima]], and [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] beginning in December 1944. The six ARU(F)s (Aircraft Repair Unit, Floating), however, were also fitted with landing platforms to accommodate four [[Sikorsky R-4]] helicopters, where they provided medical evacuation of combat casualties in both the [[Philippine Islands]] and Okinawa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cbi-theater-3.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-3/hoverfly/hoverfly.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022065117/http://cbi-theater-3.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-3/hoverfly/hoverfly.html|url-status=dead|title=The Hoverfly in CBI, Carl Warren Weidenburner|archive-date=22 October 2008|access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref>

The last new-build Liberty ship constructed was {{SS|Albert M. Boe}}, launched on 26 September 1945 and delivered on 30 October 1945. She was named after the chief engineer of a [[United States Army]] freighter who had stayed below decks to shut down his engines after a 13 April 1945 explosion, an act that won him a posthumous [[Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a5/albert_m_boe.htm |title=SS ''Albert M. Boe'' |work=history.navy.mil |year=2004 |access-date=7 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121007221940/http%3A//www%2Ehistory%2Enavy%2Emil/danfs/a5/albert_m_boe%2Ehtm |archive-date= 7 October 2012 }}</ref> In 1950, a "new" liberty ship was constructed by Industriale Maritime SpA, [[Genoa]], Italy by using the bow section of {{SS|Bert Williams||2}} and the stern section of {{SS|Nathaniel Bacon||2}}, both of which had been wrecked. The new ship was named {{SS|Boccadasse}}, and served until scrapped in 1962.<ref name=LibB>{{cite web |url=http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/LibShipsB.html |title=Liberty Ships – B |publisher=Mariners |access-date=6 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=LibN>{{cite web |url=http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/LibShipsN.html |title=Liberty Ships – N–O |publisher=Mariners |access-date=6 January 2012}}</ref>

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====Hull cracks====

[[File:TankerSchenectady.jpg|right|thumb|The {{SS|Schenectady}} split apart by [[brittle fracture]] while in harbor, 1943. It was a 152-meter-long T2 tanker.]]

Early Liberty ships suffered hull and deck cracks, and a few were lost due to such structural defects. During World War II there were nearly 1,500 instances of significant [[brittle fracture]]s. Twelve ships, including three of the 2,710 Liberty ships built, broke in half without warning, including {{SS|John P. Gaines}},<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.armed-guard.com/gaines.html|title=John P Gaines|website=Armed-guard.com|access-date=10 March 2022|archive-date=23 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070123125404/http://www.armed-guard.com/gaines.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.iste.co.uk/data/doc_cbornfqmtxga.pdf X-FEM for Crack Propagation – Introduction] Article which includes clear photograph of a ship broken in half.</ref> which sank on 24 November 1943 with the loss of 10 lives. Suspicion fell on the shipyards, which had often used inexperienced workers and new welding techniques to produce large numbers of ships in great haste.{{citation needed|dateThese =incidents Septemberare 2021}}what led to the creation of the field of [[materials science]].

The [[Ministry of War Transport]] borrowed the British-built {{SS|Empire Duke||2}} for testing purposes.<ref name=UMA>{{cite journal|pmc=2604477 |title=Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences |first1=John |last1=Hedley-Whyte |first2=Debra R |last2=Milamed |publisher=Ulster Medical Society |journal=Ulster Medical Journal |year=2008 |volume=77 |issue=September 2008 |pages=191–200 |pmid=18956802}}</ref> [[Constance Tipper]] of [[Cambridge University]] demonstrated that the fractures did not start in the welds, but were due to the [[embrittlement]] of the steel used;.<ref name=Tipper>{{Cite web|url=http://www-g.eng.cam.ac.uk/125/1925-1950/tipper.html|title=Constance Tipper|website=G.eng.cam.ac.uk|access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref> however, the same steelWhen used in riveted construction, however, the same steel did not have this problem. SheTipper discovered that at a certain temperature, the steel the ships were made fromof changed from being [[Ductility|ductile]] to [[brittle]]., This allowedallowing cracks to form and propagate. This temperature is known as the [[Ductile-brittle transition temperature#Ductile-brittle transition temperature|critical ductile-brittle transition temperature]]. Ships in the North Atlantic were exposed to temperatures that could fall below this critical point.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.shippai.org/fkd/en/cfen/CB1011020.html |title=Case Details - Brittle fracture of Liberty Ships |website=Failure Knowledge Database|last=Kobayashi |first=Hideo|date=n.d.|quote= "The brittle fractures that occurred in the Liberty Ships were caused by low notch toughness at low temperature of steel at welded joint, which started at weld cracks or stress concentration points of the structure. External forces or residual stress due to welding progress the fracture. Almost all accidents by brittle fractures occurred in winter (low temperature). In some cases, residual stress is main cause of fracture." |publisher=Association for the Study of Failure}}</ref> The predominantly welded hull construction, effectively a continuous sheet of steel, allowed small cracks to propagate unimpeded, unlike in a hull made of separate plates riveted together. One common type of crack nucleated at the square corner of a hatch which coincided with a welded seam, both the corner and the weld acting as [[Stress concentration|stress concentrators]]. Furthermore, the ships were frequently grossly overloaded, greatly increasing stress, and some of the structural problems occurred during or after severe storms that would further have further increased stress. Minor revisions to the hatches and various reinforcements were applied to the Liberty ships to arrest the cracking problem. These are some of the first structural tests that gave birth to the study of materials. The successor [[Victory ship]]s used the same steel, also welded rather than riveted, but spacing between frames was widened from {{convert|30|in|mm}} to {{convert|36|in|mm}}, making the ships less stiff and more able to flex.{{cncitation needed|date=September 2023}}

==== Consequences and results ====

The sinking of the Liberty ships led to a new way of thinking about ship design and manufacturing. Ships today avoid the use of rectangular corners to avoid [[stress concentration]]. New types of steel were developed that have higher [[fracture toughness]], especially at lower temperatures. In addition, more talented and educated welders can produce welds without, or at least with fewer, flaws. While the context and time in which Liberty ships were constructed resulted in many failures, the lessons learned led to new innovations that allow for more efficient and safer shipbuilding today.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zhang |first=Wei |date=December 2016 |title=Technical Problem Identification for the Failures of the Liberty Ships |journal=Challenges |language=en |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=20 |doi=10.3390/challe7020020 |doi-access=free |issn=2078-1547}}</ref>

== Service ==

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===Combat===

[[File:SS Lawton B. Evans Shell practice.jpg|thumb|upright|Seamen during shell loading practice aboard SS ''[[SS Lawton B. Evans|Lawton B. Evans]]'' in 1943]]

On 27 September 1942 the {{SS|Stephen Hopkins}} was the first (and only) US merchant ship to sink a German surface combatant during the war. Ordered to stop, ''Stephen Hopkins'' refused to surrender, so the heavily armed German [[commerce raider]] {{ship|German auxiliary cruiser|Stier||2}} and her tender {{MS|Tannenfels|1938|2}} with one machine gun opened fire. Although greatly outgunned, the crew of ''Stephen Hopkins'' fought back, replacing the [[United States Navy Armed Guard|Armed Guard]] crew of the ship's single {{convert|4|inch|mm|adj=on}} gun with volunteers as they fell. The fight was short, and both ships were wrecks.{{sfn|Sawyer|Mitchell|1985|pp=13, 141–142}}

On 10 March 1943 {{SS|Lawton B. Evans}} became the only ship to survive an attack by the {{GS|U-221}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/boats/successes/u221.html|title=Lawton B. Evans (American Steam merchant) – Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII|publisher=Gudmundur Helgason uboat.net |access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> The following year from 22 to 30 January 1944, ''Lawton B. Evans'' was involved in the [[Battle of Anzio]] in Italy. It was under repeated bombardment from shore batteries and aircraft for eight days. It endured a prolonged barrage of shelling, machine-gun fire and bombs. The ship shot down five German planes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pers-68-MH MM/822 62 83|date=24 June 1944 |publisher=Bureau Of Naval Personnel |url=https[[://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/:File:SS_Lawton_B._Evans_Commendation.pdf]]{{Circular reference|access-date=30 NovemberMarch 20162024}}</ref>

===After the war===

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Between 1955 and 1959, 16 former Liberty ships were repurchased by the United States Navy and converted to the {{sclass|Guardian|radar picket ship|1}}s for the [[Distant Early Warning Line#Atlantic and Pacific Barrier|Atlantic and Pacific Barrier]].

In the 1960s, three Liberty ships and two Victory ships were reactivated and converted to [[technical research ship]]s with the [[hull classification symbol]] AGTR (auxiliary, technical research) and used to gather electronic intelligence and for radar picket duties by the United States Navy. The Liberty ships SS ''Samuel R. Aitken'' became {{USS|Oxford|AGTR-1|6}}, SS ''Robert W. Hart'' became {{USS|Georgetown|AGTR-2|6}}, SS ''J. Howland Gardner'' became {{USS|Jamestown|AGTR-3|6}} with the Victory ships being {{SS|Iran Victory}} which became {{USS|Belmont|AGTR-4|6}} and {{SS|Simmons Victory}} becoming {{USS|Liberty|AGTR-5|6}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/4364 |title=''Samuel R. Aitken'' |author=Maritime Administration |work=Ship History Database |publisher= U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration |access-date=1 November 2014 |archive-date=4 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104080755/https://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/4364 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/4203 |title=''Robert W. Hart'' |author=Maritime Administration Vessel Status Card |work=Ship History Database |publisher= U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration |access-date=1 November 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054847/http://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/4203 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/2348 |title=''J. Howland Gardner'' |author=Maritime Administration Vessel Status Card |work=Ship History Database |publisher= U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration |access-date=1 November 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054806/http://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/2348 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/2307 |title=''Iran Victory'' |author=Maritime Administration Vessel Status Card |work=Ship History Database |publisher= U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration |access-date=1 November 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114548/http://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/2307 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/4577 |title=''Simmons Victory'' |author=Maritime Administration Vessel Status Card |work=Ship History Database |publisher= U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration |access-date=1 November 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123950/http://www.marad.dot.gov/sh/ShipHistory/Detail/4577 |url-status=dead }}</ref> All of these ships were [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] and struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] in 1969 and 1970.

USS ''Liberty'' was a ''Belmont''-class technical research ship (electronic spy ship) that was [[USS Liberty incident|attacked]] by [[Israel Defense Forces]] during the 1967 [[Six-Day War]]. She was built and served in World War II as SS ''Simmons Victory'', as a Victory cargo ship.

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From 1946 to 1963, the [[United States Navy reserve fleets|Pacific Ready Reserve Fleet]] – Columbia River Group, retained as many as 500 ships.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://navy.memorieshop.com/Reserve-Fleets/Astoria/index.html |title=Tongue Point Navy Ship Yard |access-date=24 April 2015 |archive-date=21 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621004417/http://navy.memorieshop.com/Reserve-Fleets/Astoria/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1946, Liberty ships were [[Mothball#In popular culture|mothball]]ed in the [[Hudson River Reserve Fleet]] near [[Tarrytown, New York]]. At its peak in 1965, 189 hulls were stored there. The last two were sold for scrap to Spain in 1971 and the reserve permanently shut down.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://navalmarinearchive.com/research/hudson_ghost_fleet.html|title=Hudson River National Defense Reserve Fleet|website=Navalmarinearchive.com|access-date=11 March 2022|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075147/http://navalmarinearchive.com/research/hudson_ghost_fleet.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Image: Mothball Fleet of WWII Liberty Ships in Hudson River off Jones Point 1957 [https://www.panoramio.com/photo/4164580 Picture of mothballed liberty ships]</ref>

[[File:SS Hellas Liberty (restored).jpg|thumb|right|[[SS Arthur M. Huddell|SS ''Hellas Liberty'']] (ex-SS ''Arthur M. Huddell'') in June 2010]]

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Fifty-eight Liberty ships were lengthened by {{convert|70|ft}} starting in 1958,<ref name="From Archive.org-6791407">{{cite web |url=http://www.modernshiphistory.com/ |title=The Calendar of Modern Shipping |work=modernshiphistory.com |date=26 February 2010 |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226151708/http://www.modernshiphistory.com/ |archive-date=26 February 2010 |url-status=dead |author1=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> giving them additional carrying capacity at a small additional cost.<ref name="From Archive.org-6791407"/>{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} The bridges of most of these were also enclosed in the mid-1960s in accordance with a design by naval architect Ion Livas.

In the 1950s, the [[United States Maritime Administration|Maritime Administration]] instituted the Liberty Ship Conversion and Engine Improvement Program, which had a goal to increase the speed of Liberty ships to {{convert|15|knots}}, making them competitive with more modern designs, as well as gaining experience with alternate propulsion systems. Four ships were converted in the $11 million program.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Liberty ship new look |url=http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/archive/1955/Vol12_No5_May1955.pdf |titlejournal=Proceedings of the Merchant Marine Council|volume=12| issue = 5|date=May 1955|page=85|access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref> [[SS Benjamin Chew|SS ''Benjamin Chew'']] had its existing condensers modified and a new superheater and geared turbine installed to give the ship 6,000 shp, up from 2,500. [[SS Thomas Nelson|SS ''Thomas Nelson'']] had its bow lengthened, diesel engines installed in place of the original steam engine, and movable cranes outfitted in place of the original cargo handling gear. The GTS (Gas Turbine Ship) ''[[SS John Sergeant|John Sergeant]]'' had its bow extended, and its steam engine replaced with a General Electric gas turbine of 6,600 shp, connected to a reversible pitch propeller via reduction gearing. ''John Sergeant'' was considered overall to be a success, but problems with the reversible pitch propeller ended its trial after three years. GTS ''[[SS William Patterson|William Patterson]]'' had its bow extended and its steam engine replaced with 6 General Electric GE-14 free-piston gas generators, connected to two reversible turbines and capable of 6,000 shp total. ''William Patterson'' was considered to be a failure as reliability was poor and the scalability of the design was poor.<ref name="Specht">Specht D. ''Evaluation of free piston-gas turbine marine propulsion machinery in GTS'' William Patterson ''(1961) SAE''</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/archive/1957/Vol14_No11_Nov1957.pdf |title=Lykes Bros. Operates GTS William Patterson |journal=Proceedings of the Merchant Marine Council |volume= 14| issue = 11|date=November 1957|page=183|access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref> All four vessels were fueled with [[Bunker C]] fuel oil, though ''John Sergeant'' required a quality of fuel available at limited ports and also required further treatment to reduce contaminants.<ref name="Innovation">National Research Council (U.S.) ''Innovation in the Maritime Industry'' (1979) Maritime Transportation Research Board pp. 127–131</ref> Three were scrapped in 1971 or 1972 and the diesel-equipped ''Thomas Nelson'' was scrapped in 1981.

In 2011, the [[United States Postal Service]] issued a postage stamp featuring the Liberty ship as part of a set on the [[U.S. Merchant Marine]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Postal Service Salutes U.S. Merchant Marine on Forever Stamps|url=http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2011/pr11_092.htm|work=Press Release|publisher=USPS|access-date=25 May 2012|date=28 July 2011}}</ref>

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There are four surviving Liberty Ships.

* {{SS|John W. Brown}}{{snd}}operational and in use as a museum ship in [[Baltimore]] Harbor, Maryland

* {{SS|Jeremiah O'Brien}}{{snd}}operational and in use as a museum ship, docked at Pier 4535, [[San Francisco]], California

* {{SS|Arthur M. Huddell}}{{snd}}transferred to Greece in 2008 and renamed ''Hellas Liberty''. Restored for use as a maritime museum in [[Piraeus]] harbor, Greece.

* {{SS|Albert M. Boe}}{{snd}}The last Liberty ship built, sold to private ownership in 1964 and renamed ''Star of Kodiak''. Used as a fish cannery ship. She is currently landlocked but remains the headquarters of [[Trident Seafoods]] in [[Kodiak, Alaska]].

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**[[Crater-class cargo ship|''Crater''-class cargo ship (AK)]] 65 ships

***Two Crater-class were converted to Aviation Stores Issue Ships (AVS)

**[[Chourre-class aircraft repair ship|''Chourre''-class aircraft repair ships (ARV)]] 2 ships (1944-19451944–1945)

**[[USS Indus (AKN-1)|''Indus''-class net cargo ships (AKN)]], 4 built for support of [[Net laying ship]]s. (1943-19461943–1946)

**[[USS Luzon (ARG-2)|''Luzon''-class Internal Combustion repair ships (ARG)]] 12 conversions

**[[Xanthus-class repair ship|''Xanthus''-class repair ship (AR)]] 5 ships (1944-19461944–1946)

**Five converted to [[List of unclassified miscellaneous vessels of the United States Navy|unclassified miscellaneous (IX)]] dry bulk storage ships for [[Service Squadron]] use<ref group=A>[[these bulk storage ships were [[USS P.H. Burnett|USS Peter H. Burnett (IX-104)]], [[USS Antelope (IX-109)]], [[USS Don Marquis|USS Don Marquis (IX-215)]], [[USS Triana (IX-223)]], [[USS Inca (IX-229)]]</ref>

* EC2-S-C1 converted for US Coast Guard use

**[[USAS American Mariner|American Mariner-class ship]], US Coast Guard training (1943-19501943–1950)

* EC2-S-C1 converted for US Army use

**[[Operation Ivory Soap]] six conversions to US Army Air Force [[List of ships of the United States Army#Aircraft Repair Ship|aircraft repair]] and maintenance ships in 1944

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**[[Armadillo-class tanker|''Armadillo''-class tankers (IX)]] 18 ships for Service Squadrons for bulk storage of [[fuel oil]], or [[Diesel fuel|diesel]] or [[gasoline]], Merchant Navy and US Navy crews<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aukevisser.nl/t2tanker/t-tankers-2/id1125.htm|title=The Liberty ET- Tanker|website=www.aukevisser.nl}}</ref>

**[[USS Stag|''Stag''-class water distillation ships (IX, later AW)]], 2 ships for Service Squadrons

* Z-EC2-S-C2, eight [[Tank]] carriers, with larger hatches and a 30 tons crane. Built by J.A.Jones Construction in 1943 for Merchant Navy<ref>[http://drawings.usmaritimecommission.de/drawings_ec2.htm usmaritimecommission.de E-EC2-S-C5 Tank] carriers, Liberty ships]</ref>

* Z-EC2-S-C5 ships for Merchant Navy

** Boxed aircraft transport with large larger hatches and 30 tons crane, 28 built by J.A.Jones Construction<ref name="auto"/>

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===Post World War II===

* EC2-S-C1 ships for US Army

**[[USAS American Mariner|USAS ''American Mariner'']], Radar ship (1950-19631950–1963)

* EC2-S-C1 ships for US Air Force

**[[USAS American Mariner|USAFS ''American Mariner'']], Radar ship (1963-19641963–1964)

* EC2-S-C1 ships for US Navy

**[[USAS American Mariner|USNS ''American Mariner'' (T-AGM-12)]], Radar ship (1964-19661964–1966)

**Two converted to [[Weapon of mass destruction|WMD]] test ships (YAG) with laboratories and air sampling devices<ref group=A>[[USS George Eastman (YAG-39)|USS ''George Eastman'']] and [[USS Granville S. Hall|USS ''Granville S. Hall'']] were given the District Auxiliary, Miscellaneous (YAG) hull symbol</ref>

**Four converted to EC2-S-22a standard to become remote control minesweepers (YAG)<ref>[http://www.navsource.org/archives/14/2036.htm YAG-36]</ref><ref>[http://www.navsource.org/archives/14/2037.htm YAG-37]</ref><ref>[http://www.navsource.org/archives/14/2038.htm YAG-38]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/4031 |title=R. Ney McNeely |author=Maritime Administration |work=Ship History Database Vessel Status Card |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration |accessdate= 3 November 2017}}</ref><ref group=A>Three ships (MSC hull numbers 2802, 1122, and 2207) were converted and given hull symbols YAG-36, YAG-37, and YAG-38 respectively from the District Auxiliary, Miscellaneous (YAG) sequence. One ship [[SS R. Ney McNeely]] (MSC hull 1513) was also converted and was to have been given a YAG symbol but was returned to the inactive fleet after conversion and no YAG hull number was assigned</ref>

* Z-EC2-S-C5 ships for US Navy

**[[Guardian-class radar picket ship|''Guardian''-class radar picket ships (YAGR / AGR)]] 16 converted in 1955

**[[Oxford-class research ship|''Oxford''-class technical research ships (AGTR)]], 3 [[Sigint]] ships converted in 1961-19631961–1963

* US Army conversion

**[[MH-1A]] first [[floating nuclear power plant]] (1967-19761967–1976), nicknamed USS ''Sturgis''<ref group=A>''Sturgis'' was the actual name, but the USS prefix could not be used by an Army ship</ref>

*EC2-S-8a {{SS|Benjamin Chew}} converted to a high-speed cargo ship in 1956

*EC2-M-8b, {{SS|Thomas Nelson}} converted to a high-speed cargo ship in 1956

*Jumbo Liberty ship, in the 1950s some Liberty ships were lengthened in Japan. The SS Henry M. Stephens became the SS Andros Fairplay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/media/andros-fairplay.37034/|title=ANDROS FAIRPLAY|website=Ships Nostalgia|date=19 May 2009 }}</ref>

*LNG, [[Liquid natural gas|Liquid Natural Gas]] Carrier conversion by [[Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG]] at [[Kiel, Germany]]. Example {{SS|Thomas F. Bayard}} to SS ''Ultragaz São Paulo'' in 1952, scrapped in 1972.<ref name="auto"/>

*SS William P McArthur was converted to a [[floating crane]] in 1966.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shipbuildinghistory.com/merchantships/2libertyships2.htm|title=Liberty Ships}}</ref>

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==External links==

{{toomanylinks|date=July 2024}}

{{Commons category|Liberty ships}}

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qDxqBvK3NA&t=306s, youtube How A Cargo Ship Helped Win WW2: The Liberty Ship Story]

* [http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/ SS ''Jeremiah O'Brien'', Liberty museum ship moored at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California]

* [http://www.usmm.org/libertyships.html Liberty Ships built by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509091805/http://www.usmm.org/libertyships.html |date=9 May 2008 }}

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/116liberty_victory_ships/116liberty_victory_ships.htm Liberty Ships and Victory Ships, America's Lifeline in War] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611020841/http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/116liberty_victory_ships/116liberty_victory_ships.htm |date=11 June 2007 }} A lesson on Liberty ships and Victory ships from the National Park Service's Teaching with Historic Places.

* [http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/liberty_ships/?link=vsbg&Welcome Ships for Victory: J.A. Jones Construction Company and Liberty Ships in Brunswick, Georgia] Eighty-four black-and-white photographs from the J.A. Jones Construction Company collection at the Brunswick-Glynn County Library that depict the company's World War II cargo ship building activities in its Brunswick, Georgia shipyard from 1943 to 1945.

* [http://www.liberty-ship.com Project Liberty Ship – The Shipyards.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531113321/http://www.liberty-ship.com/ |date=31 May 2008 }}

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* [https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=12046 Brunswick's "Liberty Ships"] historical marker

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{{WWII US ships}}

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