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Brown, moored in Baltimore, which visited Wilmington in 1996. In the early 2000s two restored and functioning Liberty ships remained: the USS Jeremiah O'Brien on the West Coast and the USS John W. Finally, it was reconverted back to the Vance to transport "war-bride" dependents of American military personnel to the United States.Īfter the war, a number of Liberty ships became merchant vessels and others were stored for future use. Later the Vance was converted to a hospital ship and renamed the USS John J. The Vance made several successful runs to London before being damaged by a mine on a return trip it was repaired and rejoined the Liberty fleet. Vance was the first Liberty ship launched in Wilmington, just hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many of these Liberty ships were named for famous North Carolinians and for cities and counties that conducted war bond drives. In 1943, 20,000 workers were involved in this effort. Nationally, over 2,700 Liberty ships were built and about 200 were sunk by the enemy.īetween 19 the North Carolina Shipbuilding Corporation in Wilmington produced 243 vessels, of which 125 were Liberty ships. Consequently, the ships became known for their rapid production. These ships were the first vessels to be mass-produced using welding instead of riveting welding was faster, cheaper, and lighter, and it took less time to train welders than riveters. Maritime Commission in 1940, Liberty ships were 440 feet long, 66 feet wide, and, with 2,500 horsepower, capable of cruising at 11 knots. According to standards developed by the U.S. cargo during World War II, thus playing a significant role in the Allied cause as merchant vessels. Liberty ships, a number of which were built in Wilmington, carried two-thirds of U.S. Vance, USS North Carolina Shipbuilding Company (from Tar Heel Junior Historian) Shipbuilding