SS Fort Abitibi


SS Fort Abitibi was a North Sands-type Fort ship of 7,125 GRT measuring 440.5 feet (134.3 m) long with a beam of 57.2 feet (17.4 m).[2]

History
United Kingdom
Name: SS Fort Abitibi
Owner: Ministry of War Transport
Operator: Smith Hogg & Co., West Hartlepool
Builder: Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal
Completed: May 1942
Fate: Broken up 1958
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: North Sands-type Fort ship
Tonnage: 7,125 GRT
Length: 440 ft 6 in (134.26 m)
Beam: 57 ft 2 in (17.42 m)
Draught: 26 ft 11.5 in (8.217 m)
Propulsion:
  • 3 cyl triple expansion steam
  • 2500 ihp
  • One shaft.
Speed: 11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h)
Range: 11,400 nmi (21,100 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Complement: 115
Armament:
  • During the Second World War:
  • 1 × 4-inch (100 mm) gun
  • 8 × 20mm AA guns

Fort and Park ships were the Canadian equivalent of the American Liberty ships. All three shared a similar design by J.L. Thompson and Sons of Sunderland, England. Fort ships had a triple expansion steam engine and a single screw propellor.[3]

Fort Abitibi was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd., of Montreal. It was given Registry No.168825, and was delivered in May 1942 to the U.S. War Shipping Administration. The vessel was operated by Smith Hogg & Co., West Hartlepool, and was part of the merchant navy fleet supplying Britain during World War II.[4] It was used by the U.S. Maritime Commission; in 1947 and was later transferred to Sir R Ropner & Co. Ltd., of West Hartlepool for the Ministry of War Transport. Fort Abitibi was broken up in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1958.[5]

It sailed to Australia on several occasions.

References
  1. DeRoy-Jones, Angela (2004). "Merchant Ships Built in Canada in World War Two". fortships.tripod.com. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  2. Colton, Tim (2011). "Merchant Ships Built in Canada in World War Two". shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  3. The National Archives, Kew UK Reference:BT 389/13/17
  4. Convoy HX 193 Cruising Order Departed Halifax on June 7-1942 and arrived Liverpool on the 19th
  5. Fort Ships of World War Two Angela DeRoy-Jones Last modified: February 15, 2005



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