Liberty Ship

A heavily retouched photo of a U.S. "Liberty" cargo ship (U.S. MARAD design EC2-S-C1), circa 1941/42. 

Liberty ships were a class of cargo ship built in the United States during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Although British in concept, the design was adopted by the United States for its simple, low-cost construction. Mass-produced on an unprecedented scale, the Liberty ship came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output.

The class was developed to meet British orders for transports to replace ships that had been lost. Eighteen American shipyards built 2,710 Liberty ships between 1941 and 1945 (an average of three ships every two days), easily the largest number of ships ever produced to a single design.

Their production mirrored (albeit on a much larger scale) the manufacture of "Hog Islander" and similar standardized ship types during World War I. The immensity of the effort, the number of ships built, the role of female workers in their construction, and the survival of some far longer than their original five-year design life combine to make them the subject of much continued interest.  

 

SS John W. Brown on the Great Lakes in 2000. John W. Brown is one of only two surviving World War II Liberty Ships, the other being the SS Jeremiah O'Brien.

There are no WWII Liberty ships still in active commercial service. However, several Liberty ships have been preserved as museum ships or are maintained in a non-operational status. For example:

SS Jeremiah O'Brien - This Liberty ship is preserved as a museum ship in San Francisco, California. It is one of the few Liberty ships that is still capable of sailing and occasionally participates in maritime events. 

SS John W. Brown - Another preserved Liberty ship, located in Baltimore, Maryland, it serves as a museum and educational vessel. Like the O'Brien, it also has the ability to sail occasionally.

While these ships are not in regular commercial operation, they serve as historical artifacts and are used for educational purposes, commemorating the contributions of Liberty ships during World War II.

 

Profile plan of a Liberty ship.

A colored diagram of compartments on a Liberty ship, from the right side, front to the right.

140-ton – also described as 135-ton – vertical triple expansion steam engine of the type used to power World War II Liberty ships, assembled for testing prior to delivery. The engine is 21 feet (6.4 meters) long and 19 feet (5.8 meters) tall and was designed to operate at 76 rpm and propel a Liberty ship at about 11 knots (12.7 mph; 20.4 km/hr).

Model of Liberty Ship (detail of engine room), at the King's Point Merchant Marine Museum.

Construction of a Liberty ship at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc., Baltimore, Maryland in March/April 1943: laying of the keel plates on the second day of construction.

Construction of a Liberty ship at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc., Baltimore, Maryland in March/April 1943. On the sixth day, 850 tons of the ship are in place. Bulkheads and girders below the second deck are in place. The bulkheads and inner bottom tanks were prefabricated.

Construction of a Liberty ship at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc., Baltimore, Maryland in March/April 1943. On the tenth day 1575 tons of ship are in place. The lower deck is being completed and the upper deck amidship is erected with the inner stack installed.

Construction of a Liberty ship at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc., Baltimore, Maryland in March/April 1943. On the fourteenth day the upper deck has been erected and mast houses and the after-deck house are in place. Electrical conduits and engine and boiler room piping are being installed.

Construction of a Liberty ship at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc., Baltimore, Maryland in March/April 1943. On the twenty-fourth day the ship is ready for launching. The christening platform is in place.

Biography of a Liberty Ship. Less than five months from keel-laying to launching ceremony was the record set by SS Patrick Henry. This time is being reduced to sixty days in the construction of her sister ships of the Liberty Ship design. This standard design was selected by the Maritime Commission to meet the need for a ship that can be built in existing yards in minimum time with the additional purpose of conserving materials vitally needed for the war production effort. Prefabrication of sections in special plants, replacing of riveting wherever possible by welding and other new departures all contribute to the speed of construction and saving of material and dead weight in these ships which are already proving their worth in the War on the Axis. On 27 September 1941, SS Patrick Henry, the first U.S. Liberty ship, was launched at Baltimore, Maryland. Numerous other vessels were launched on that day, known as "Liberty Fleet Day." Surviving World War II, Patrick Henry was scrapped in 1960. U.S. Office of Emergency Management Photograph. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

1943: Miss Eastine Cowner, a former waitress, is helping in her job as a scaler to construct the Liberty ship SS George Washington Carver. Kaiser shipyards, Richmond, California. One of a series taken by E. F. Joseph on behalf of the Office of War Information, documenting the work of African-Americans in the war effort.

SS Jeremiah O'Brien. 27 May 2007, San Francisco.

At 11pm on the 16 January 1943, a few days after completing sea trials, the 152m long T2 tanker 'Schenectady' broke in two amidships while lying at the outfitting dock in the constructors yard in Portland, Oregon, USA. The temperature of the harbor water was about 4°C and the conditions were still. The air temperature was approximately -3°C and the winds were light. The failure was sudden and accompanied by a report that was heard a mile away.

The Schenectady was built by the Kaiser Company, the Schenectady was the first catastrophic failure, made all the more impressive by the still conditions under which it occurred. The failure of the Schenectady initiated on the deck between two bulkheads. A defective weld was present in a region of stress concentration arising at a design detail. Poor welding procedures were cited by the committee investigating the failure as contributory, however, at the time, the problems were not fully understood. "The Design and Methods of Construction of Welded Steel Merchant Vessels" U.S. GPO (1947).

Aerial photo of the liberty ship SS John W. Brown outbound from the United States with a large deck cargo after her conversion into a "Limited Capacity Troopship." The photo probably was taken in the summer of 1943 during her second voyage.

Crew practicing loading before the WWII battle of Anzio, the tallest one in the photo seen standing in front of the barrel is 6'2 Calvin Stoddard O'Rourke first class seaman (1925-2016).

SS Jeremiah O'Brien, San Francisco, 2022.

Liberty ships mothballed at Tongue Point, Astoria, Oregon, 1965.

Liberty Ships mothballed at Tongue Point, Astoria, Oregon, 1965.

Novorossiysk, delivered 1943 to USSR, sailed until 1974. Hamburg, March 1974.

SS Hellas Liberty, ex-SS Arthur M. Huddell, one of the last surviving Liberty cargo ships, in Piraeus Harbor, Greece, after restoration in Perama shipyards. © 2010 K. Kralli.

SS Alexander Lillington, 3 September 1943. Photographed by a ZP-14 blimp from Weeksville NAS.

Antelope (IX-109) entering dry dock USS ABSD-1 at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 5 January 1945. US National Archives photo 80-G-314230.

USS Artisan (ABSD-1) with Antelope (IX-109) and LST-120 in the dock at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, 8 January 1945.

Deep Tank Top, Inner Bottom Capacity Plan - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Elevation Starboard Shown Looking Port, Modifications to Boom Handling Arrangement at Hatches No. 4 and 5 - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Hold Plan - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News,Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Inboard Capacity Plan - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News,Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Lines- Sheer Plan, Half-Breadth Plan, Body Plan - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Mid-Ship Solid Floor Plan - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Open Floor Mid-Ship Section - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Operation "Pluto" - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Outboard Profile - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Plans- Arrangement of Carpenter Shop and Boatswain's Stores, Upper Deck, Second Deck - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Plans- Top of House, Mast Housetop, Arrangement of Quarters-Boat Deck, Arrangement of Quarters-Bridge Deck, Mast Housetop, Arrangement of Top of House, Gun Platform - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Rigging Plan - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Rigging Profile - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Section Aft Fr. 43 Looking Forward, Section Aft Fr. 131 Looking Aft - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Section at Frame -102 Looking Aft to -108 - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Section at Frame -102 Looking Forward to -108 - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Section at Frame -96 Looking Forward to -88 - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Title Sheet - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).

Upper Deck Capacity Plan, Second Deck Capacity Plan - Arthur M. Huddell, James River Reserve Fleet, Newport News, Newport News, Virginia. The Arthur M. Huddell is significant as an example of the Liberty class, which have been described as the workhorses of World War II. The mass production of the Liberty class was possible because of their standardized design and use of pre-fabricated parts. These general-purpose cargo ships performed a variety of missions for the Allied Forces. The Arthur M. Huddell carried fuel pipeline from the United States to England for use in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea). The Huddell was later instrumental in efforts to lay communication cables for American Telephone and Telegraph Company (ATT) and the Cold War's Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), later the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS).