SS Alexander Macomb

SS Alexander Macomb was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Alexander Macomb, the Commanding General of the United States Army from May 29, 1828, until his death on June 25, 1841. Macomb was the field commander at the Battle of Plattsburgh, during the War of 1812, and after the stunning victory, was lauded with praise and styled "The Hero of Plattsburgh" by some of the American press. He was promoted to Major General for his conduct, receiving both the Thanks of Congress and a Congressional Gold Medal.

SS John W. Brown, a ship of the same class
History
United States
Name: Alexander Macomb
Namesake: Alexander Macomb
Owner: War Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator: A.H. Bull & Co., Inc.
Ordered: as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 36
Awarded: 14 March 1941
Builder: Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland[1]
Cost: $1,077,145[2]
Yard number: 2023
Way number: 8
Laid down: 18 February 1942
Launched: 6 May 1942
Completed: 2 June 1942
Fate: Sunk by German submarine U-215, 3 July 1942
General characteristics [3]
Class and type:
Tonnage:
Displacement:
Length:
  • 441 feet 6 inches (135 m) oa
  • 416 feet (127 m) pp
  • 427 feet (130 m) lwl
Beam: 57 feet (17 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:
  • 1 × triple-expansion steam engine,  (manufactured by Worthington Pump & Machinery Corp, Harrison, New Jersey)
  • 1 × screw propeller
Speed: 11.5 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

Alexander Macomb was laid down on 18 February 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 36, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; and was launched on 6 May 1942.[1][2]

History

She was allocated to A.H. Bull & Co., Inc., on 2 June 1942.[4]

Sinking

She sailed from New York City, where she loaded her cargo of 9,000 LT (9,100 t) of tanks, aircraft, and explosives for the Soviet Union, to join Convoy BX 27 for Halifax, on her maiden voyage. The convoy was set to departed from the northern end of the Cape Cod Canal on 2 July 1942, but with the grounding of the cargo ship Stephen R. Jones on 28 June 1942, it was forced to sail around Cape Cod.[5]

On the evening of 3 July 1942, sailing in heavy fog and with the fear of colliding with other ships in the convoy, Alexander Macomb fell behind. With hope of catching up with the convoy in daylight, the captain of Alexander Macomb only maintained an intermittent zigzag course. At 12:30, on 4 July, with the rear of the convoy and her escorts in sight, Alexander Macomb was struck between the #4 and #5 holds by a torpedo from German submarine U-215, at 41°48′N 66°35′W. The torpedo caused her cargo of explosives to ignite and burst into flames. The crew of eight officers, 33 crewmen, and 25 Armed guard were able to abandon the ship in three lifeboats and a raft. Because the ship had not been secured and still had forward movement one of the lifeboats capsized. Alexander Macomb sank at 13:00, 175 mi (282 km) east of Cape Cod. The British trawler HMS Le Tiger picked up 23 crewmen and 8 Armed guards, while the Canadian corvette HMCS Regina picked up another 14 crewmen and 11 Armed guards. Six Armed guards and four crewmen died in the attack.[5]

Le Tiger and HMS Veteran pursued U-215 and succeeded in sinking her with depth charges, with a loss of all hands.

Wreck discovery

The wreck of Alexander Macomb was discovered in October 1964, by the Risdon Beazley company salvage ship Droxford at position 41°48′N 66°35′W. The bulk of the metal cargo was removed in 1965, by Droxford. She is considered to be "dangerous to dive".[6]

The wreck of U-215 was discovered by Canadian divers and marine archaeologists in July 2004.[7]

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References
  1. Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards 2008.
  2. MARCOM.
  3. Davies 2004, p. 23.
  4. MARAD.
  5. Uboat.
  6. Wrecksite.
  7. CBC.

Bibliography
  • "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  • Maritime Administration. "Alexander Macomb". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 24 February 2020.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • "SS Alexander Macomb". Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  • "Alexander Macomb". Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  • "SS Alexander Macomb wreck, 1942". www.wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  • "CBC News - Canada - First-ever U-boat found off Canadian coast". cbc.ca. 13 July 2004. Retrieved 14 December 2009.


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