SS Raymond Clapper

SS Raymond Clapper was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Raymond Clapper, a commentator and news analyst for both radio and newspapers.

History
United States
Name	Raymond Clapper
Namesake	Raymond Clapper
Owner	War Shipping Administration (WSA)
Operator	T. J. Stevenson & Company, Inc.
Ordered	as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2479
Awarded	23 April 1943
Builder	St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida
Cost	$1,087,111
Yard number	43
Way number	1
Laid down	17 April 1944
Launched	22 May 1944
Sponsored by	Miss Jane Clapper
Completed	13 June 1944
Identification	Call sign: WOEW
Fate	Sold for commercial use, 12 June 1947
United States
Name	T.J. Stevenson
Namesake	T.J. Stevenson
Owner	Ocean Freighting & Brokerage Corp.
Fate	Sold, 1954
Liberia
Name	Shamrock
Owner	Shamrock Steamship Corp.
Fate	Sold, 1954
(1954-1960) (1960-1965)
Name	Master Nicky (1954-1960) Thrylos (1960-1965)
Owner	Niki Cia. Nav., SA
Fate	Sold, 1965
Greece
Name	Elias Dayfas II
Owner	Volbay Navigation, SA
Operator	Daymark Shiping Agency
Fate	Abandoned, 7 May 1966, presumed sunk
General characteristics
Class and type	Liberty ship type EC2-S-C1, standard
Tonnage	10,865 LT DWT 7,176 GRT
Displacement	3,380 long tons (3,434 t) (light) 14,245 long tons (14,474 t) (max)
Length	441 feet 6 inches (135 m) oa 416 feet (127 m) pp 427 feet (130 m) lwl
Beam	57 feet (17 m)
Draft	27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m)
Installed power	2 × Oil fired 450 °F (232 °C) boilers, operating at 220 psi (1,500 kPa) 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Propulsion	1 × triple-expansion steam engine,  (manufactured by Filer and Stowell, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) 1 × screw propeller
Speed	11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity	562,608 cubic feet (15,931 m3) (grain) 499,573 cubic feet (14,146 m3) (bale)
Complement	38–62 USMM 21–40 USNAG
Armament	Varied by ship Bow-mounted 3-inch (76 mm)/50-caliber gun Stern-mounted 4-inch (102 mm)/50-caliber gun 2–8 × single 20-millimeter (0.79 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraft (AA) cannons and/or, 2–8 × 37-millimeter (1.46 in) M1 AA guns

Construction

Raymond Clapper was laid down on 17 April 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2479, by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida; she was sponsored by Miss Jane Clapper, the daughter of the namesake, and was launched on 23 May 1944.

History

She was allocated to the T.J. Stevenson & Co.Inc., on 13 June 1944. She was sold for commercial use, 12 June 1947, to Ocean Freighting & Brokerage Corp., and renamed T.J. Stevenson. After several name and owner changes on 7 May 1966, named Elias Dayfas II, she was abandoned off the Yucatán Peninsula, near 21°09′N 86°28′W, after developing leaks. She was taken in tow but later broke loose and was presumed sunk.

Bibliography

• "St. John's River Shipbuilding, Jacksonville FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
• Maritime Administration. "Raymond Clapper". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
• Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
• "SS Raymond Clapper". Retrieved 22 January 2020.