EFC Design 1057-B: Notes & Illustrations
Click here for larger and more complete plans of the ship with reciprocating engines: Sheet 1, Sheet 2. (Download for full size)
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Notes: On 13 February 1916 the Union Iron Works in San Francisco purchased the plant and property of the United Engineering Works in Alameda, Cal., and began work on what became a series of ten ships to a common design, a three-deck shelter deck freighter with three decks, two 'tween decks, no hull islands (flush decked), and a length between perpendiculars of 410 feet. As indicated on the page for Design 1057-A, four of these ships were built with turbines and six were built with reciprocating machinery. This page covers the six with reciprocating machinery: Eagle and Tiger (Yard nos. 136-137) for an American owner, Talabot and Bessa (Yard nos. 138-139) for Norwegian interests, War Sword (Yard no. 142) for the British, and Liberator (Yard no. 151) on the yard's account, the last one being designated Design 1057-A by the EFC. The machinery in Liberator was copied from that in War Sword. Note that Liberator was built at Alameda, not at San Francisco as often reported. She was also the only one of the three Design 1057 ships built by the EFC to be used as a troop transport after the end of the war, although two of her precursors, Eagle (as Peerless) and Tiger, also so served. The 410-foot three-decker design was followed at Alameda by a 440-foot two-decker that became EFC Design 1032, q.v. The first four of these reciprocating-engined ships had a lower gross tonnage than the last two because, as shown in Lloyd's reports, most of the tonnage in their upper 'tween deck (1846 tons) was excluded from their tonnage calculations while it was included for the last two (and also for the four turbine ships). The resulting gross tonnages were 6274 for Eagle and 7952 for Liberator. On the other hand, Liberator was allowed a maximum draft of 30'6" while Eagle was allowed only 27'5". The first four ships would have been configured as "open" and the last two plus the turbine ships as "closed" shelter deck ships. See the page on EFC Design 1079 for more on three-decked shelter deck ships and the page Contract Steel Ships by Category for more on shelter deck ships in general. Requisitioned Sisters: On 3 August 1917 the Shipping Board requisitioned the yard's three 410-foot ships that had not yet been begun, along with War Sword, which was quickly released as she had already been completed. The three unbuilt ships were transferred on 31 December 1917 to the contract program as EFC hulls 1220-1222. Liberator (EFC Hull 1221) which had reciprocating machinery as did the British War Sword, was designated Design 1057 Type B (1057-B). She is also covered in the Requisitioned Ships portion of the McKellar list. Specifications: 1057-B (S.S. Liberator, EFC Hull 1220): Steel Cargo. Deadweight tons: 11713 actual. Dimensions: 410' length pp x 56' beam mld. x 41' depth mld., 30.5' draft loaded. Propulsion: 1 screw, 1 triple expansion engine, 3 Scotch boilers, 2800 IHP, 10.5 kts. Configuration: Flush shelter deck, 3 decks, 4 holds, 5 hatches. |
USS Liberator circa July 1918.
| S.S. Liberator (Design 1057-B, EFC Hull 1221), probably photographed on her trial trip circa July 1918. (NHHC: NH 102006 from NARA: RG-19-LCM) (Click photo to enlarge) |
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S.S. Tiger (As Design 1057, Yard No. 137) The fourth in the series of ten 410-foot three-deck shelter deck freighters built by Bethlehem Steel's Union Iron Works in Alameda, Cal., that concluded with the three ships of EFC Design 1057. This ship was one of four built for American and Norwegian interests that had reciprocating machinery. The two American ships, Tiger and Peerless ex Eagle, both served in 1919 as troopships. Photo No. NH 65039-A Source: NHHC, from NARA: RG-19-LCM |
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S.S. War Sword (As Design 1057, Yard No. 142) The seventh in the series of ten 410-foot three-deck shelter deck freighters built by Bethlehem Steel's Union Iron Works in Alameda, Cal., that concluded with the three ships of EFC Design 1057. This ship was built for Britain with reciprocating machinery that was copied for use in Liberator. She was essentially complete when requisitioned by the U.S. Shipping Board on 3 August 1917 and was quickly released to the British. Photo No. None Source: NARA RG-32-S and UB |
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S.S. Liberator (Design 1057-B, EFC Hull 1221) Fitting out at the Alameda yard of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Union Plant, in a view on the back of the ship's Navy inspection data (SP/ID) card. Two derrick barges (one named Alameda) are alongside. Pattern (dazzle) camouflage is being applied to her hull forward. Photo No. NH 99544 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command |
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S.S. Liberator (Design 1057-B, EFC Hull 1221) Completing fitting out on 21 June 1918 at the Alameda yard of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Union Plant. Two sections of her starboard-side dazzle camouflage have been applied. She was delivered on 2 July 1918. Photo No. None Source: NARA RG-32-S |
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USS Liberator (Design 1057-B, EFC Hull 1221) At Saint Nazaire, France, in 1919 while serving as a troopship. As such she made five voyages returning servicemen from France to the United States before being decommissioned in October 1919. Note the additional low deckhouses for the troops. Photo No. NH 104805 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command |
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