SS Lawton B. Evans
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 A Liberty ship at sea | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Lawton B. Evans |
| Namesake | Lawton B. Evans |
| Operator | General Steamship Corporation |
| Builder | Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company, Mobile, Alabama |
| Yard number | EMC #746 Hull# 287 |
| Laid down | 11 November 1942 |
| Launched | 3 January 1943 |
| Sponsored by | Betty Jane Hard |
| Completed | 27 January 1943 |
| Fate | Scrapped in 1960 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type EC2-S-C1 Liberty ship |
| Displacement | 14,245 long tons (14,474 t)[1] |
| Length | |
| Beam | 57 ft (17 m)[1] |
| Draft | 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)[1] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)[1] |
| Range | 20,000 nmi (37,000 km; 23,000 mi) |
| Capacity | 10,856 t (10,685 long tons) deadweight (DWT)[1] |
| Crew | 81[1] |
| Armament |
|
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SS Lawton B. Evans was an American ship, constructed in Alabama[2] during World War II it was named after the author Lawton Bryan Evans (1862–1934).
SS Lawton B. Evans was a Liberty ship, with hull number 'MCE 746'. She launched at Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company on 1 January 1943, sponsored by Betty Jane Hard, Winner of Scrap Metal Drive, Milledgeville, Georgia. The cosponsor was Mrs. E. D. Veal, Principal of Midway School, Milledgeville, Georgia.[3][4]
World War II
She was operated by the General Steamship Corporation under a charter with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.
U-boat encounter
During the Convoy HX 228[5] she was slightly damaged at 21.31 hours on 10 March 1943 when hit by a dud torpedo from German U-boat U-221 commanded by Hans-Hartwig Trojer.[6] Out of the 22 ships hit by this German submarine SS Lawton B. Evans was the only one to survive.[7]
Battle of Anzio
Liberty ships were United States Shipping Board cargo ships, a merchant ship, fitted with guns for defensive purposes manned by United States Navy Armed Guard.[8] In one notable incident they were used for support from 22 to 30 January 1944 when the Lawton B. Evans was involved in the Battle of Anzio in Italy. First class seaman Calvin Stoddard O'Rourke received commendations for his performance on 24 June 1944 when this ship was under repeated bombardment from hostile shore batteries and aircraft throughout an eight-day period. Despite the prolonged danger of shrapnel, machine-gun fire and bombs, the gun crew fought back, setting up a deadly barrage of shellfire. They shot down five German planes and contributed to the success of the landing operations.[9]
