The Pan Pennsylvania Class Ships


S.S. Bulkero

S.S. Bulkero, the last of the Pan Pennsylvania class of tankers built by Welding Shipyards, Inc. for National Bulk Carriers.


The Pan Pennsylvania Class Ships


S.S. Pan Pennsylvania

S.S. Pan Pennsylvania, first of her class of Welding Shipyards tankers.

These ships were built for the U.S. Maritime Commission during World War II, and were a special variation of the T3 type tankers being built.  Only these five of the T3-S-BF1 USMC designation were built.  All five were built by Welding Shipyards, Inc., the company owned shipyard of National Bulk Carriers, Inc.  Somewhat odd looking, the poop deck extended roughly half the length of the ship, giving the after tank sets more volume.  Propulsion consisted of geared steam turbines driving a single shaft at 9,350 shaft horsepower.  Construction progressed rapidly in the single way yard.  Pan Pennsylvania was completed first, in November 1943; the rest were delivered within eight months, Bulkero being completed in June 1944.

Ship Hull# Built GRT DWT Length Beam Comments
Pan Pennsylvania 13 1943 11,016 18,900 515'11" 70' Sunk by U-550 off New Jersey April 1944.
Bulklube 14 1943 11,017 18,900 515'11" 70' Renamed Star Point 1962, Freeport 1963. Scrapped in Hamburg September 1963.
Bulkfuel 15 1943 11,016 18,900 515'11" 70' Renamed Amoco Texas 1955, Bulkfuel 1961. Scrapped in Hirao October 1964.
Bulkcrude 16 1944 11,016 18,900 515'11" 70' Renamed Blue Point 1962. Scrapped in Hamburg September 1963
Bulkero 17 1944 11,016 18,900 515'11" 70' Renamed Amoco Florida 1957, Black Point 1962. Scrapped in Hong Kong May 1963

S.S. Black Point
S.S. Bulkero in later life as S.S. Black Point after a tremendous storm in the Pacific stove in her bow.

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Created by A. Davis Whittaker, Jr.