From the Caswell County (NC) Historical Association.
The USS Caswell (AKA-72) was a Tolland-class attack cargo ship built in 1944 by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington, NC.
It was created as a part of an emergency shipbuilding program which saw that industry in the United States kick into high gear for the war effort.
The NC Shipbuilding Co. built 243 ships for the war, starting with the Liberty Ship Zebulon B. Vance, named for the state's Civil War governor. Most of their ships were classified as Liberty Ships. In addition, they built 54 ships for the US Navy: attack cargo ships like the Caswell, amphibious force flagships (AGC) and ammunition ships (AE).
The Caswell was named for the county and sponsored by Mrs. W.H. Williamson. It was 459 feet long and launched 24 Oct 1944, and accepted by the Navy 13 Dec. 1944. It was designed to carry military cargo and landing craft and had a substantial armament and 22 smaller craft. A crew of 395 manned her and could carry up to 5,275 troops.
Its 6,000 horsepower engine enabled the ship to steam at 17 knots and it had a 17,000 mile range.
A Ship You Don't Want to Mess With. --GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
No comments:
Post a Comment