SS Paul Hamilton

The SS Paul Hamilton (Hull Number 227) was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Paul Hamilton, the third United States Secretary of the Navy.

SS Paul Hamilton
History
United States
Laid down: 30 August 1942
Launched: 20 October 1942
Fate: Lost off Algiers 20 April 1944
General characteristics
Displacement: 14,245 tons; Gross Tons: 7,176.5
Length: 441 ft 6 in (134.57 m)
Beam: 56 ft 10.75 in (17.3419 m)
Draft: 27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m)
Propulsion:
  • Two oil-fired boilers,
  • triple-expansion steam engine,
  • single screw,
  • 2500 horsepower (1.9 MW)
Speed: 11 to 11.5 knots (20 to 21 km/h)
Range: 23,000 miles (37,000 km)
Capacity: 9,140 tons cargo
Complement: 41
Armament: Stern-mounted 4 in (102 mm) deck gun for use against surfaced submarines, variety of anti-aircraft guns.
For other United States ships named Paul Hamilton, see USS Paul Hamilton.
The explosion of SS Paul Hamilton on 20 April 1944.

On her fifth voyage [1] the SS Paul Hamilton left Hampton Roads, Virginia on 2 April 1944 as part of convoy UGS 38, carrying supplies and the ground personnel of the 485th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces to Italy. On the evening of 20 April it was attacked 30 miles (48 km) off the coast of Cape Bengut near Algiers in the Mediterranean Sea by 23 German Ju 88 bombers of III./Kampfgeschwader 26, I. and III./Kampfgeschwader 77.[2] One aerial torpedo struck the Paul Hamilton and detonated the cargo of high explosives and bombs, and the ship and crew disappeared within 30 seconds. [3] The crew and passengers, who included 154 officers and men of the 831st Bombardment Squadron and 317 officers and men of the 32nd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, were all lost.[4] Of the 580 men aboard only one body was recovered.[5][6]

References
  1. Kay Shuffield, Lynna. "SS Paul Hamilton Personnel Lost at Sea". Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  2. "VFWPost 5546". VFW Post 5546. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  3. Clancey, Patrick. "Ships of the U.S. Merchant Marine, 1940-1945". Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  4. Toler, Vern. "USCGC Taney". Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  5. "USS Menges (DE-320)". U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
  6. Austin Anderle Find a grave memorial

Pickett, Russell S. S.S. Paul Hamilton listing of those lost

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