s in 2000 During
World War II Bethlehem Steel Company had its subsidiary companies operated
charter shipping to support the war. During World War II Bethlehem Steel Company had its subsidiary companies: Calmar Steamship Company and Interocean active with charter shipping for the
Maritime Commission and
War Shipping Administration. During wartime, the Companies operated
Victory ships and
Liberty ships. The ship was run by its crew and the
US Navy supplied
United States Navy Armed Guards to man the deck guns and radio. The most common armament mounted on these merchant ships were the
MK II 20mm Oerlikon autocannon and the
3"/50,
4"/50, and
5"/38 deck guns. After the war there were many surplus ships and much competition. Black Diamond Steamship Company continued to operate after the war, but closed in the 1955. • Calmar Steamship Company operated World War 2 Victory ships: •
Blue Ridge Victory •
Hagerstown Victory •
Honduras Victory • Calmar operated World War 2 Liberty ships: •
Andrew G. Curtin, Torpedoed Jan. 25, 1944 and sunk by
U-716 at 73.20N 23.30E. •
Benjamin Harrison, Torpedoed March 16, 1943 and sunk by
U-172 at 39.02N 24.15W. •
James W. Denver, Torpedoed April 11, 1943 and sunk by
U-195 west of Canary Islands •
James A. Butts •
Flora MacDonald •
Frank R. Stockton •
Frederick H. Baetjer •
Frederick L. Dau •
Flora MacDonald •
Thomas Sully •
Philip F. Thomas, sank in 1956 as PELAGIA •
Benjamin Chew •
Christopher Newport •
Thomas Nelson •
Richard Henry Lee •
Grace Abbott •
William Paca •
SS Eleazar Wheelock •
James W. Wheeler •
SS John H. B. Latrobe ==See also==