After going through my accumulation recently I found the following cover which piqued my interests and started me on some research.

Cover Sent from Greece to the Chief Engineer of the SS Archigetis franked with a SG 721 and SG 718


The SS Archigetis was constructed as the William Leroy Gable at the Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation, Savannah, Georgia with hull number 2895. The ship was built as a EC2-S-C1 Type and completed in January 1945.

In 1945 The William Leroy Gable was operated by the War Shipping Administration for the Union Sulphur Company, and then in 1946 for Grace Line Inc. In 1947 she was purchased by Cia.de Nav.San Leonardo, Panama and renamed the Cimon.

Renamed Archigetis in 1955 and purchased by Sierra Cia.Nav. and operated by John C. Hadjipateras & Sons, London. In 1960 she was purchased by the Pan Norse SS Co. and renamed Western Venture.

The Western Venture continued sailing for various operators and owners until she was scrapped in Taiwan in 1969.

SS Archigetis Photograph by Walter E. Frost courtesy of the Vancouver City Archives


The characterstics of the SS Archigetis are:
Tonnage: 7,251 GRT; 10,865 DWT
Displacement: 14,245 long tons
Length: 441’6”
Beam: 56’10¾”
Draft: 27’9¼”

Brief History of Liberty Ships 1

US Stamp issued in 2011 depicting a Liberty Ship, SG 5146.


Liberty Ships, also known as EC2-S-C1, were a class of cargo ships 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.

Bhutan issued a stamp in 1989 depicting a Liberty Ship, SG 808.


Background

The urgent need for large numbers of new cargo vessels came at a time when domestic facilities for building ships and producing their marine equipment were already fully engaged in a massive naval expansion program. The Allies needed ships by the hundreds to replace these losses and to increase the flow of supplies to England and, later, the Soviet Union.

Tristah da Cunha stamps issued in 2023, SG 1364a.


Construction and Design

Liberty Ships were designed to be simple and easy to build. They were constructed of riveted steel and had a distinctive “ugly duckling” appearance. The ships were powered by steam turbines and had a top speed of around 11 knots.

Tristah da Cunha stamps issued in 2023, SG 1362a.


Production

Between 1941 and 1945, an astounding 2,710 Liberty Ships were built. The first Liberty Ship, SS Patrick Henry, was launched on September 27, 1941. By 1944, the average time to build a ship was 42 days.

Tristah da Cunha stamps issued in 2023, SG 1360a.


Use in World War II

Liberty Ships played a crucial role in the Allied war effort. They transported troops, supplies, and equipment to all parts of the world. They were also used to evacuate refugees and prisoners of war.

Tristah da Cunha stamps issued in 2023, SG 1366a.


Legacy

After the war, many Liberty Ships were sold for scrap or converted to other uses, such as barges and oil tankers. A few Liberty Ships have been preserved as museum ships.

First Day Cover from Tristan da Cunha featuring SG 1362a and SG 1360a issued in 2023.


The Liberty Ships are a testament to the industrial might of the United States during World War II. They helped to ensure the Allied victory and played a vital role in the postwar economic recovery.

First Day Cover from Tristan da Cunha featuring SG 1364a and SG 1366a issued in 2023.


Sources and Notes:

Mariners. (2024). http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/LibShipsW.html

American Merchant Marine at War. (2024). http://www.usmm.org/l/southe.html

United States Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. (2024).https://vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/5284

John C Hadjipateras & Sons, Fleet History. (2024). https://hadjipateras.co.uk/fleet-history/

City of Vancouver Archives. (2024)https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/s-s-archigetis-at-dock

Liberty ship. (2024, November 5). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_ship

  1. Text Generated by Google’s Gemini AI using the prompt “Can you provide a history of Liberty Ships”