From the November 7, 2012, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Back Then" by Scott Nunn.
NOVEMBER 2, 1942: "Named in honor of Coltis Porter Huntington, founder of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, parent company of the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company (NCSC), the 38th Liberty Ship launched in Wilmington yesterday afternoon at 5:30."
This marked the start of the the NCSC's 3rd contract for 53 Liberty Ships with the U.S. Maritime Commission. The first contract called for 25 ships and the second for 12.
The NCSC was founded in Wilmington in 1940 with the government with the promise to deliver 25 Liberty Ships by March 15, 1942=3. Obviously they were doing something right with their building process as they were just a little bit ahead of schedule.
During its five years of existence, the NCSC produced 126 Liberty Ships and 117 other large ships for the Navy,. a total of 243.
Twenty-eight NCSC ships were lost in the war with 23 to enemy action. Four were scuttled to form part of the breakwater used during the Normandy invasion.
Others remained in commercial or Navy service, some until the early 1970s.
--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.
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