LIBERTY'S: WHO PROVIDES THE PARTS

I wish to point out, this article is a real "meat & potato's" type of subject matter.  If you're really into Liberty ships and what went on "behind the scenes" of the countless meetings to get this massive ship building project  under way...[before the war] then this article is for you.

Others I'm sure will find it 'dry' reading, but along toward the end of the article a company gets "let go" and you find out the amount of money the big wigs as well as the firm was gathering ...."per ship."  

For the era....it was one heck of a lot of money.....but I'll say again....."If your into British & American shipbuilding in building this vast amount of ships in a short time span"....this might interest you.

Click HERE

LOSS OF THE SS EASTERN SWORD

The SS Eastern Sword an 1920 old steam merchant.  She was on her way to Trinidad from New York, but met up with U-162.

Things did not go well after there meeting.....16 died.

Her story is: HERE

SINKING OF THE KOOLAMA

A few days ago I posted an article the deadly Japanese air attack on Broome, Australia.  Which some refer to it as Australia's Pearl Harbor.  If you look at my blogs face page you'll see it listed [it is the one before this].

Well this article is what I call a "tag along" article, because it involves survivors from the Koolama's sinking.  These very same survivors...which there were many....were picked up by flying boats and transport to Broome.....and low and behold they arrived just as the Japanese attack was in full attack mode.

So folks here is that article that I promised y'all that I would post....just click HERE to open the link.

ATTACK ON BROOME

With the fall of Java land-based Japanese aircraft not only were now within 400 miles of a dozen Australian coastal cities, but able to support the long anticipated invasion of the land "Down Under."

The United States had its Pearl Harbor in Dec. 1941, Australia's Pearl Harbor was to occur just three-months later - at Broome on Australia's remote northwest coast.  The similarities between the two attacks are remarkable: Both were surprise raids carried out by Japanese Navy aircraft, both resulted in minimal losses to the attacking force, both inflicted heavy casualties in life and Allied aircraft losses.  By further coincidence, pearling was the main industry in Broome, which was situated on the shores of Roebuck Bay - a southern hemisphere "Pearl Harbor."

Click: HERE

SOUTH ST. SEAPORT MUSEUM

I'm sure you are wondering why I would be writing about a "Museum"....well first of all I think it is extremely interesting of what it offers....and also the amount of 'ship data' that accompanies and encircles  these sailing vessels.  Hopefully it will be informative as well as interesting to you.

The Seaport Museum founded 1967 by Peter and Norma Sanford, originally opened as a museum with the intent to conserve the historic ships and buildings reflecting the seaport's heyday from 1820 to 1880.  Today, the museum section includes a twelve-square-block historic district with a cobblestone street and the Schermerhom Row of historic buildings.  The South Street Seaport Museum is home to a large collection of historic vessels dating back to 1885.  The smaller vessels at the port are: Pioneer, a 1885 schooner; the Ambrose Light ship, 1908; the Helen McAllister, a 1900 tugboat; the W.O. Decker, a 1930 tugboat, and the 1932 Chandler Lighter Marion M.  All of these boats have been designated National Historic Landmarks by the National Park Service.

If you care to give this a go...just click HERE

CONVOY SC-118 [WORST CONVOY BATTLE OF WW II]

The days of easy uncontested victories for the U-boats drew to a close in the Spring of 1943 as increasing numbers of convoy escorts, new anti-submarine weapons and long range air patrols began to take a toll of the undersea raiders.  In April 1943 U-boats sank 245,000 tons of Allied shipping for the loss of 15 submarines.  In May, 40 U-boats were sunk for a loss of only 165,000 tons, a remarkable turn around in one month that foreshadowed the collapse of the U-boat campaign.

Acting Commander F. B. Proudfoot, Royal Navy, had every reason to be pleased as darkness fell on the evening of 6 February 1943.  As he stood on the bridge of HMS Vanessa and looked at the 61 ships of Convoy SC-118 stretching over a front of seven miles, the screening ships of British escort Group B2 had things under firm control.  But for one of the finest escort performances yet seen in the Battle of the Atlantic, disaster could have over-taken them, for SC-118 had encountered one bad break after another.

If you wish to read about the WORST CONVOY BATTLE OF WW II
Click: PART I
PART II

WW ONE ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN

If you and your buddies ever gather at the local watering hole [Pub] to swap sea stories I'll bet my billfold, and drinks all-around, that nobody will mention the "Poole Gun."
Well here is your chance to enlighten your group with WW I being the introduction of the first purpose-designed anti-aircraft gun.
Actually there is not a whole lot of memory about this lightweight Naval A/A gun, and the only ones to view in today's world are in a few museums.

So if you wish to be "in the know" just click on this: POOLE GUN to let your eyes dance over the history.

THOSE OLE WATER HAULERS

The picture to the left happens to be the USS Pasig (AW-3)....what generally is referred to in the US Navy as a "WATERSHIP"....or some old salts will refer to them as "jug haulers."

Well did you know that this type of vessel was dreamed up with a screw steamer named "Iris" that was built back in 1885.....  Now these ole girls got around.  

So here is a short thumbnail article on how all this got started...and I've included a few "Water Haulers" history to give you some idea just how much these ladies got around to hauling water for the troops and equipment.

Click: HERE