List of Liberty ships (L)

This is a list of Liberty ships with names beginning with L.

Description

The standard Liberty ship (EC-2-S-C1 type) was a cargo ship long overall, with a beam of . It had a depth of and a draft of . It was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of , and diameter by stroke. The engine produced 2,500ihp at 76rpm. Driving a four-blade propeller in diameter, could propel the ship at .

Cargo was carried in five holds, numbered 1–5 from bow to stern. Grain capacity was , , , and , with a further in the deep tanks. Bale capacity was , , , and , with a further in the deep tanks.

It carried a crew of 45, plus 36 United States Navy Armed Guard gunners. Later in the war, this was altered to a crew of 52, plus 29 gunners. Accommodation was in a three deck superstructure placed midships. The galley was equipped with a range, a stock kettle and other appliances. Messrooms were equipped with an electric hot plate and an electric toaster.

Lafcadio Hearn was a tanker built by Delta Shipbuilding Company, New Orleans, Louisiana. She was delivered in September 1943. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Tankers Co. Inc. Sold in 1948 to Polarus Steamship Co., New York and renamed Polarusoil. Sold in 1955 to Marathon Compania de Vapores, Panama and renamed Mycenae. Re-registered to Liberia and operated under the management of Adamanthos Ship Operating Inc. Converted to a cargo ship at Jacksonville, Florida. Lengthened at Kobe, Japan in 1959. Now long and . Renamed Hydroussa in 1960 and re-registered to Greece. Placed under the management of Syros Shipping Co. that year. Renamed Dromon in 1964. Renamed Mycenae in 1966. Re-registered to Liberia and operated under the management of Pergamos Shipping Co. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1969.

Lambert Cadwalader was built by Todd Houston Shipbuilding Corporation, Houston, Texas. Her keel was laid on 8 September 1942. She was launched on 16 November and delivered on 28 November. She was scrapped at Baltimore, Maryland in January 1960.

Langdon Cheves was built by Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation, Savannah, Georgia. Her keel was laid on 29 March 1943. She was launched on 22 May and delivered on 25 June. She was scrapped at Baltimore in January 1961.

La Salle Seam was a collier built by Delta Shipbuilding Company. 20 November 1944. She was launched on 24 January 1945 and delivered on 31 March. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Boland & Cornelius. Sold in 1946 to Marine Interests Corp., Jersey City, New Jersey. Renamed Marine Trader in 1947. Sold in 1952 to Marine Navigation Co. Placed under the management of Marine Transport Lines in 1962. Returned to the United States Government in 1967. She was scrapped at Santander, Spain in March 1968.

Laura Bridgman was built by J. A. Jones Construction Company, Brunswick, Georgia. Her keel was laid on 23 September 1944. She was launched on 30 October and delivered on 13 November. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Pope & Talbot Inc. Laid up in 1950, she was sold in 1951 to Drytrans Inc., New York and renamed Catherine. Sold in 1957 to Bulkcargo Shipping Corp. and renamed Penn Explorer. Re-registered to Liberia and operated under the management of Penn Shipping Co. Re-registered to the United States later that year. Sold in 1958 to Penntrans Co., remaining under the same flag and management. Sold in 1962 to Friendship Navigation Corp. and renamed Grand Explorer. Re-registered to Liberia and operated under the management of Sea King Corp. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in February 1968.

Laura Drake Gill was built by Todd Houston Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 1 June 1944. She was launched on 8 July and delivered on 19 July. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of T. J. Stevenson & Co. Management transferred to Matson Navigation Co., San Francisco, California in 1946. Sold to her managers later that year. Renamed Hawaiian Lumberman in 1947. Sold in 1960 to Northern Steamship Co., New York and renamed Cape Henry. Sold in 1062 to Artemison Steamship Co., Panama and renamed Trikeri. Re-registered to Greece and operated under the management of Northern Ships Agency. Re-registered to Liberia later that year. Sold in 1965 to Kelly Shipping Corp. and renamed Dahlia. Remaining under the Liberian flag and operated under the management of Kai Lee Marine Lines. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in February 1967.

Laura Keene was built by Kaiser Company, Vancouver, Washington. She was delivered in February 1943. Laid up in the James River post-war. She was used to store grain in the 1950s. She arrived at Bilbao, Spain for scrapping in February 1973.

Laurence J. Gallagher was built by Delta Shipbuilding Company. Her keel was laid on 24 January 1945. She was launched on 28 February and delivered on 4 May. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Norton Lilly Management Co. Laid up in the James River in 1947. Sold in 1951 to Firth Steamship Corp., New York and renamed Nigel. Sold in 1958 to Long, Quinn & Boylen Co., New York and renamed Russell L. Sold in 1961 to Amerind Shipping Corp., New York. Sold in 1962 to Earl J. Smith & Co., New York. Sold in 1965 to U.S. Bulk Carriers Inc. and renamed U.S. Red River. Laid up at Hong Kong in 1966, she was scrapped at Kaohsiung in September that year.

Lawrence D. Tyson was built by North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, Wilmington, North Carolina. Her keel was laid on 5 June 1943. She was launched on 3 July and delivered on 10 July. Laid up in the James River post-war, she was scrapped at Bilbao in September 1971.

Lawrence Gianella was built by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California. Her keel was laid on 11 November 1943. She was launched on 29 November and delivered on 12 December. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Matson Navigation Co. Sold in 1947 to Compania Caribbean de Transports Maritima, Panama and renamed Mary G. She lost her propeller off Land's End, United Kingdom on 14 September 1947 whilst on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to an American port. A tug was sent to her assistance. Sold in 1948 to Scindia Steam Navigation Co., Bombay, India and renamed Jalakala. Re-registered to the United Kingdom and operated under the management of Narottam Morarjee. Re-registered to India in 1957. Sold in 1960 to China Pacific Navigation Co., Hong Kong and renamed Chipbee. Re-registered to the United Kingdom. Sold in 1964 to Woodline Inc. and renamed Stanwood. Re-registered to Liberia and operated under the management of Atlas Steamship Agency. She was scrapped at Osaka, Japan in March 1965.

Lawrence J. Brengle was built by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore. Her keel was laid on 3 March 1944. She was launched on 5 April and delivered on 18 April. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Blidberg Rothchild Co. Sold in 1947 to Ponchelet Marine Corp., New York and renamed Ara J. Ponchelet. Sold in 1948 to Stone Steamship Co. and renamed Michael J. Goulandris. Operated under the management of Orion Shipping & Trading Co. Sold in 1953 to Nueva Cordoba Compania de Armamente and renamed Michael G. Re-registered to Panama, remaining under the same management. Sold in 1961 to Dominion Shipping Corp. and re-registered to Greece. Damaged by fire at Tilbury, United Kingdom on 21 June 1962. Sold in 1963 to Compania Navigation Continental, Panama and renamed Michelin. Re-registered to Liberia, remaining under the same management. Sold in 1965 to Taiwan Navigation Co., Taipei, Taiwan and renamed Tai Nan. Re-registered to China. Re-registered to Taiwan in 1965. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in 1968.

Lawrence T. Sullivan was built by New England Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland, Maine. Her keel was laid on 29 January 1945. She was launched as Lawrence T. Sullivan on 28 March and delivered as Belgian Amity on 7 April. To the Belgian Government in 1946, operated under the management of Compagnie Maritime Belge, Antwerp. Renamed Capitaine Limbor in 1947 and placed under the management of Agence Maritime International. Sold in 1962 to Society Navigation Pan Europea, Panama and renamed Capitaine. Operated under the management of Società per Azione Industria Armamento. Sold later that year to Nevada Shipping Co., Panama and renamed Nevada. Operated under the management of Keller Shipping Ltd. She was scrapped at Gandia, Spain in May 1971.

Lawton B. Evans was built by Alabama Drydock Company, Mobile, Alabama. She was completed on 31 January 1943. She was scrapped at Baltimore in January 1960.

Le Baron Russell Briggs was built by J. A. Jones Construction Company, Panama City, Florida. Her keel was laid on 29 March 1944. She was launched on 12 May and delivered on 31 May. Laid up in the Hudson River post-war, she was scuttled off Cape Kennedy, Florida with a cargo of obsolete chemical ammunition on 18 August 1970.

Lee S. Overman was built by North Carolina Shipbuilding Company. Her keel was laid on 16 May 1943. She was launched on 11 June and delivered on 17 June. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Blidberg Rothchild & Co. She struck a mine and sank off Le Havre, France on 11 November 1944 whilst on a voyage from New York to Le Havre.

Leif Ericson was a tanker built by Delta Shipbuilding Company. Her keel was laid on 11 October 1943. She was launched on 24 December and delivered on 29 December. To the United States Navy, renamed Porcupine. Bombed and severely damaged in a Japanese aerial attack in the Leyte Gulf on 30 December 1944.

Leif M. Olson was built by New England Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 12 February 1945. She was launched on 14 April and delivered on 26 April. Laid up at Mobile post-war, she was scrapped at Panama City, Florida in January 1971.

Lektor Garbo was built by Walsh-Kaiser Company, Providence, Rhode Island. Launched as Alfred L. Baxlay, she was completed as Lektor Garbo in February 1945. Sold to D/S A/S Theologos, Haugesund, Norway. Operated under the management of Nils Rogenaes. Renamed N. O. Rogenaes in 1947. She collided with the Dutch ship in the English Channel on 10 July 1952. Prins Alexander was towed in to Dover, United Kingdom. Sold in 1960 to Namdal Shipping & Trading Co. and renamed Kalu. Re-registered to Liberia and placed under the management of Carl Anne & Compania. Sold in 1961 to Compania Navegacão e Comercio Pan-American, Rio de Janeiro. She was scrapped in Brazil in April 1973.

Leland Stanford was built by California Shipbuilding Corporation. Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California. Her keel was laid on 23 June 1942. She was launched on 4 August and delivered on 25 August. She was scrapped at Oakland in August 1967.

Leo J. Duster was built by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard. Her keel was laid on 25 October 1965. She was launched on 21 November and delivered on 30 November. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Standard Fruit & Steamship Co. Management transferred to American Liberty Steamship Co. in 1946. Sold in 1947 to Weyerhaeuser Steamship Co., Newark, New Jersey and renamed F. S. Bell. Sold in 1963 to Cargo Ships & Tankers Inc., New York and renamed Bat. Sold in 1966 to Deluro Steamships Inc. and renamed Deluro. Re-registered to Liberia and operated under the management of Apollo Shipping Inc. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in April 1969.

Leon Godchaux was a tanker built by Delta Shipbuilding Company. Her keel was laid on as Leon Godchaux 16 November 1943. She was launched as Wildcat on 7 January 1944 and delivered on 16 February. To the United States Navy, converted to a water distilling ship at Key West Navy Yard, Florida. Returned to USMC in January 1947 and renamed Leon Godchaux. Laid up in Puget Sound. She was scrapped at Portland, Oregon in March 1968.

Leon S. Merrill