 Ocean Traveller launch, August, 1942
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders |
|
| Operators | Ministry of War Transport |
| Built | October 1941 – November 1942 |
| In service | 1941–1985[note 1] |
| Planned | 60 |
| Completed | 60 |
| Lost |
|
| Scrapped | 33 (including two ships lost to enemy action and subsequently salvaged) |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 7,174 GRT |
| Length | 416 ft (127 m) |
| Beam | 57 ft (17 m) |
| Installed power | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Speed | 11 knots (20 km/h) |
The Ocean ships were a class of sixty cargo ships built in the United States by Todd Shipyards Corporation during the Second World War for the British Ministry of War Transport under contracts let by the British Purchasing Commission. Eighteen were lost to enemy action and eight to accidents; survivors were sold postwar into merchant service.
To expedite production, the type was based on an existing design, later adapted to become the Liberty ship. Yards constructed to build the Oceans went immediately into production of Liberty hulls.[1][2] Before and during construction the ships are occasionally mentioned as "British Victory" or victory ships as distinct from the United States variant known as the Liberty ship.
Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Wardlow, Chester (1999). The Technical Services — The Transportation Corps: Responsibilities, Organization, and Operations. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army. p. 156. LCCN 99490905.
- ^ "Last British Vessels Launched by Todd". Pacific Marine Review. Consolidated 1942 issues (November 1942). Pacific American Steamship Association/Shipowners' Association of the Pacific Coast: 105. 1942. Retrieved 10 August 2014.