SS Jeremiah O’Brien

SS Jeremiah O’Brien
Country	USA
Role	Liberty ship
Launched	19 June 1943
Out of service	7 February 1946

SS Jeremiah O’Brien is a Liberty ship built during World War II and named for American Revolutionary War ship captain Jeremiah O’Brien (1744–1818). Now based in San Francisco, she is a rare survivora of the 6,939-ship armada that stormed Normandy on D-Day, 1944. Jeremiah O’Brien, SS John W. Brown, and SS Hellas Liberty are the only currently operational Liberty ships of the 2,710 built

Source: SS Jeremiah O’Brien on Wikipedia

USS Jeremiah O Brien Walk Around
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	San Francisco,
Photos	312

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Wait, Searching SS Jeremiah O’Brien for you…

General Characteristics and Role

The USS Jeremiah O’Brien is a Liberty ship, officially designated EC2-S-C1, built during World War II. Liberty ships were designed as inexpensive, simple cargo vessels to replace the massive losses suffered by the Allied merchant fleets to German U-boats. The ship is named after a Revolutionary War captain. The O’Brien participated in the D-Day landings at Normandy in June 1944, serving as a transport in the invasion fleet, and later carried supplies in the Pacific Theater. Her primary role was the bulk transport of supplies, equipment, and materiel essential for the war effort. Her design emphasized speed of construction over longevity or complexity.

Property	Typical Value (EC2-S-C1)
Class / Type	Liberty Ship (EC2-S-C1) Cargo Vessel
National Origin	United States
Manufacturer	New England Shipbuilding Corp., Maine
Launched	19 June 1943
Crew (Wartime)	Approx. 44 (Merchant Crew) + 25-30 (Naval Armed Guard)
Displacement (Full Load)	14,245 tons
Length (Overall)	134.59 m (441 ft 6 in)
Beam	17.3 m (56 ft 10 in)
Cargo Capacity (Deadweight)	Approximately 10,800 tons
Status	Preserved museum ship (San Francisco, CA)

Powerplant and Construction

Engine: 1 x Triple Expansion Steam Engine (Reciprocating).
Power Output: 2,500 indicated horsepower (ihp).
Shafts: 1
Maximum Speed: 11 knots (20 km/h)—deliberately slow for simplicity and reliability.
Construction Method: Used revolutionary mass-production techniques, including extensive use of **welding** instead of riveting, allowing shipyards to build them in an average of 42 days (O’Brien was built in 56 days).
Fuel: Heavy Fuel Oil (Bunker C).

Service History and Legacy

D-Day Service: The O’Brien made 11 cross-channel shuttle runs from England to France in support of the Normandy invasion, carrying troops and supplies.
Post-War: She was mothballed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet until 1979, which contributed to her excellent preservation status.
Current Status: She remains fully operational, with her original steam engine still in working order. In 1994, she sailed across the Atlantic to participate in the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy.
Historical Significance: The O’Brien is a symbol of the immense industrial power and logistical effort of the United States during World War II, having survived service in both the European and Pacific Theaters.