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ESSO International Tankers 1940-1949
Esso Buffalo - (1943-1960)
See also the story : ONE OF FOUR.  &  Convoy-Routes Esso Buffalo in WW2
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"Esso Buffalo", after her launch on the outfitting pier.
Build by Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.
Single screw, steam turbine, 8,200 SHP, 18,358 DWT.
Owner Panama Transport Co., homeport Wilmington (Del.).
( Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company photograph collection )
 "Esso Buffalo" inbound during the war, November 19th, 1943.
( Photo US Coast Guard )
SS "Esso Buffalo" hustling home to New York from Halifax, March, 1944.
Sisterships are Esso Richmond (2), Esso Columbia (2) and Esso Rochester.
( Photo US Coast Guard )

The Miramar Ship Index for "ESSO BUFFALO"
IDNo:
2243473
Year:
1943
Name:
ESSO BUFFALO
Keel:
Type:
Tanker
Launch Date:
11.05.1943
Flag:
USA
Date of completion:
05.1943

DWT:
18.600
Yard No:
214
Length overall:
166.80
Ship Design:
LPP:
158.80
Country of build:
USA
Beam:
21.34
Builder:
Sun
Material of build:
Location of yard:
Chester, Pa
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
1TE-15

Subsequent History:
[ 1962 forepart scrapped, aft joined to forepart of ESSO SYRACUSE (ID#5615849),
converted to bulk carrier, 186.5 x 21.4 mtr, 15327 grt ] -
1962 SPITFIRE

Disposal Data:
Scrapped at Kaohsiung 08.1973.

History;
ON
LR/IMO
ID
Year
Name
Tons
Change
Registered Owner
243473
2243473
1943
ESSO BUFFALO
11344
Standard Oil Co (New Jersey)
293052
2243473
1943
SPITFIRE
15327
1962
American Bulk Carr.

 
"Esso Buffalo".
 Bulk carrier SPITFIRE ("built" 1942; 13892 tons gross), which was a "rebuild" in 1961 of the forepart of the
tanker ESSO SYRACUSE and the afterpart of the tanker ESSO BUFFALO, owned by Panama Transport
Co. and managed by Esso Shipping Co, New York, the then ship operating outfit of Standard Oil Co. of New
Jersey (Esso). Both of these Esso tankers were privately built by Esso and were not part of the US
government's Second World War shipbuilding programme. SPITFIRE was owned by General Cargo Corp.,
New York, and was managed by American Bulk Carriers Inc, New York.
 
Bulk carrier "Spitfire", sadly a bit unsharp photo.