SS Molly Pitcher

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

History
United States
Name
  • Ward Hunt, before 14 October 1942
  • Molly Pitcher, renamed 14 October 1942
Namesake
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorPrudential Steamship Corporation
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 935
Awarded30 January 1942
BuilderBethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland[1]
Cost$1,074,267[2]
Yard number2085
Way number9
Laid down12 December 1942
Launched30 January 1943
Completed22 February 1943
Identification
FateTorpedoed and sunk in Atlantic Ocean, 17 March 1943
General characteristics [3]
Class & 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

SS Molly Pitcher was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Molly Pitcher, a nickname given to a woman who fought in the American Revolutionary War. She is most often identified as Mary Ludwig Hays, who fought in the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778. Another possibility is Margaret Corbin, who helped defend Fort Washington in New York, in November 1776.

Construction

[edit]

Molly Pitcher was laid down on 12 December 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 935, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; she was launched on 30 January 1943.[1][2]

History

[edit]

She was allocated to Prudential Steamship Corporation, on 22 February 1943.[4]

On 17 March 1943, while traveling in a Convoy UGS 6 to Casablanca, from New York, she was struck by a torpedo, fired from U-167, approximately 500 miles (800 km) west of Lisbon. The torpedo struck in her #3 hold, on the port side, which damaged the bulkhead between #2 and #3 holds, resulting in both holds flooding. She had been carrying 5,600 long tons (5,700 t) of general cargo, which included sugar, coffee, explosives, coal, in addition to tractors, trucks, and ambulances. The helmsman of the Molly Pitcher deserted his post which caused her to veer to port and the center of the convoy. Before the ship was brought to a stop, the master ordered the ship to be abandoned, but 17 men were left behind in the confusion, with 2 officers and 2 armed guards drowning. The ship then began turning in circles with the engines still running. The remaining men were able to avoid the survivors and get the ship underway at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph), but the compass had been damaged so they were unable to locate the convoy and later abandoned the ship at 23:30. The survivors were picked up by the Champlin, SS William Johnson, and Rowan, with Champlin trying, unsuccessfully, to sink Molly Pitcher with a torpedo. She was finally finished off at 05:50, on 18 March, by U-521. The master's license was later suspended on charges of misconduct during the attack on Molly Pitcher.[4][5]

Wreck location: 38°21′N 19°54′W / 38.350°N 19.900°W / 38.350; -19.900[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards 2021.
  2. ^ a b c MARCOM.
  3. ^ Davies 2004, p. 23.
  4. ^ a b c MARAD.
  5. ^ Uboat.net.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  • Maritime Administration. "Molly Pitcher". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  • "SS Molly Pitcher". Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  • "Molly Pitcher". Retrieved 17 July 2025.