Wondering if anyone has served on any of following ships during World War II. Tanker, Esso Pittsburgh, SS GEORGE M. VERITY, SS GEORGE LEONARD, USS MOBILE CITY, SS TOTECO. Any information about these ships will be greatly appreciated.
Re: Father's Service
Posted by Ron Carlson on August 4, 2016, 9:33 am, in reply to "Father's Service"
James,
Here is information on the ships you mention.
ESSO PITTSBURGH
Tanker; built July 1942-February 1943 by Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Chester, PA; scrapped 1961 in Yugoslavia, now Croatia
Liberty ship; built in 50 days August-September 1944 by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, MD; sold to private owner 1947 and renamed SEAMAR; sold 1955; renamed WILMAR in 1965; sold 1967; sold 1968 and renamed YRENE YABUT in 1968; scrapped 1969 in Hong Kong
Named after George Leonard (1742-1826), who was active in the politics of New Brunswick, Canada, in the late 1700-1800s.
MOBILE CITY
Correct designation is “SS” MOBILE CITY not “USS” MOBILE CITY. “USS” means “U.S. Ship” and denotes a commissioned vessel in the U.S. Navy. None of the ships on this list were ever in the Navy, all were civilian ships. “SS” means “steamship” which describes the type of ship, or more properly, the type of propulsion.
Tanker; built by Chickasaw Shipbuilding & Car Company, Chickasaw, AL; launched May 1920, completed September 1920; sold 1930; sold and renamed DIONI 1947; sold and renamed CAPETAN ILIAS 1955; sold 1957; sold and renamed ELPIS 1960; sold and scrapped 1962 in Greece
Tanker; built by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA; originally named LOS ANGELES; completed April 1916; chartered by U.S. Navy 1917; returned to private owner 1919; renamed TOTECO 1941; scrapped 1966 in Mexico