SS Byron D. Benson
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 Byron D. Benson photographed on 11 January 1942 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Byron D. Benson |
| Namesake | Byron Benson |
| Owner | Tide Water Oil Company |
| Builder | Oscar Daniels Shipbuilding Co., Tampa |
| Yard number | 11 |
| Laid down | 29 June 1920 |
| Launched | 15 September 1921 |
| Sponsored by | Miss Jane Benson |
| Commissioned | 26 January 1922 |
| Maiden voyage | 28 January 1922 |
| Home port |
|
| Identification | |
| Fate | Sank, 8 April 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Tanker |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 465.4 ft (141.9 m) |
| Beam | 60.2 ft (18.3 m) |
| Depth | 27.8 ft (8.5 m) |
| Installed power | 596 nhp, 2,800 ihp (2,100 kW) |
| Propulsion | Vulcan Iron Works 4-cylinder quadruple expansion |
| Speed | 10+1⁄2 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) |
Byron D. Benson was a steam tanker built in 1920–1921 by Oscar Daniels Shipbuilding Co. of Tampa for Tide Water Oil Company, a subsidiary of Standard Oil, with intention of operating between New York and oil-producing ports of the southern United States and Mexico. The ship was named after Byron D. Benson, the first president of Tide Water Oil.
Specifications
Early in 1920 Tide Water Oil Company decided to add another tanker to expand their fleet of four vessels operating between the southern oil ports and New York and New Jersey. The contract for the new vessel was awarded to the Oscar Daniels Shipbuilding Co. and the ship was laid down at the shipbuilder's yard in Tampa, Florida, (yard number 11) on June 1920, and launched on 15 September 1921, with Miss Jane Benson of New York, granddaughter of Byron D. Benson, serving as the sponsor.[1][2]
The sea trials were held on 12–13 January 1922 in the Gulf of Mexico off Tampa during which the steamer performed satisfactorily and was able to exceed her contract speed.[3][4] Following an inspection, the steamer was transferred to her owners and departed for an oil storage site of Puerto Lobos, near Tamiahua, in ballast on 28 January.[citation needed]
As built, the ship was 465.4 feet (141.9 m) long (between perpendiculars) and 60.2 feet (18.3 m) abeam, a depth of 27.8 feet (8.5 m).[5] Byron D. Benson was assessed at 7,953 GRT and 4,932 NRT and had a deadweight of approximately 12,920.[5] The vessel had a steel hull with double bottom, and a single 596 Nhp oil-burning quadruple expansion steam engine, with cylinders of 24-inch (61 cm), 35-inch (89 cm), 51-inch (130 cm) and 75-inch (190 cm) diameter with a 51-inch (130 cm) stroke, that drove a single screw propeller and moved the ship at up to 10+1⁄2 knots (12.1 mph; 19.4 km/h).[6]
The ship was built on the Isherwood principle of longitudinal framing providing extra strength to the body of the vessel, had two main decks and a shelter deck. Byron D. Benson had electric lights installed along the decks, and was also equipped with wireless of De Forest type.[citation needed]
