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Z-ET1-S-C3 Liberty Tankers built by California Shipbuilding, Los Angeles, CA.
William Winter
Z-ET1-S-C3

Armadillo Class Mobile Station Tanker:
Laid down, date unknown, as William Winter, a Maritime Commission type (Z-ET1-S-C3) hull,
under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1904), at California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, CA.
During World War II USS Elk was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
Okinawa Gunto operation
Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 30 March to 30 June1945
( See photos below )
Launched, 6 November 1943
Commissioned, USS Elk (IX-115), 26 November 1943, at San Pedro, CA., LT. Wilford T. Stannard, USN, in command
Decommissioned, 17 May 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946
USS Elk earned one battle star for World War II service
Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 20 May 1946, at Lee Hall, VA.
Merchant Service
Sold, 24 January 1951 to Orion Shipping and Trading Corp, agents for Colonial SS. Corp., renamed SS Seapearl
Sold in November 1952 to Montepardo Compania, Armadora S. A., Panama, renamed SS Korthi
Converted to a dry cargo ship in 1954
Lengthened at Sasebo, Japan in 1956
Renamed SS Andros County in 1957
Renamed SS Kalamas in 1960
Ran aground, 3 September 1960, off Cape Arago, OR., heavily damaged
Final Disposition, after discharging her cargo the ship was scrapped at Oakland CA. in 1962

Specifications:
Displacement 14,500 t.
Length 441' 6"
Beam 56' 11"
Draft 28' 4"
Speed 11 kts.
Complement
Officers 13
Enlisted 103
Cargo Capacity 8,500DWT
Oil 63,000 Bbls
Armament
one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
eight 20mm AA guns
Fuel Capacity
NSFO 13,700 Bbls
Propulsion
one vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
two Babcock and Wilcox boilers, 225psi 450°
three recip-drive 20Kw 120v D.C. Ships' Service Generators
one propeller, 2,500shp

WILLIAM WINTER, US, 1T
7,243 GRT for U. S. War Shipping Administration, Los Angeles, 422.8 x 57.0
Tanker built by California Shipbuilding Corp., Los Angeles  (11/1943),  #T25, 244683
11/1943 - ELK  U. S. Navy   (IX-115)
05/1946 - WILLIAM WINTER   U. S. Maritime Commission, Los Angeles
1951 - SEAPEARL   Colonial Steamship Corp. (Orion Shipping & Trading Co., Inc.), New York
1953 - KORTHI   Montepardo Cia. Armadora S.A., Panama  [Orion Sg. & Tg. Co.], PA
1954 - converted to dry cargo vessel by James Lamont & Co., Greenock,  7,206 grt, dlvd. 8/54
1956 - lengthened by Sasebo Ship Industry Co., Ltd., Sasebo,  8,390 grt,  492.8'  dlvd.  5/56
1956 - s/o, Monrovia, LI,  761
1957 - ANDROS COUNTY   s/o
1960 - KALAMAS   Oceanic Development Corp., Piraeus [United Sg. & Tg. Co. of Greece], GR
Stranded on the coast of Oregon, 3 Sep 1960, voy. Chemainus - Australia, lumber, refloated 12 Oct 1960,
and towed to San Francisco for examination, sold 1961 to Terrylin Shipping Corp., Oakland, not repaired,
Broken up at Oakland, Calif., summer 1962 by Learner Co.
( See photo below )
The Miramar Ship Index for "WILLIAM WINTER"
IDNo:
2244683
Year:
1943
Name:
WILLIAM WINTER
Keel:
Type:
Tanker
Launch Date:
06.11.1943
Flag:
USA
Date of completion:
26.11.1943

Tons:
7243
Link:
-
DWT:
10674
Yard No:
T25
Length overall:
134.6
Ship Design:
Z-ET1-S-C3
LPP:
126.8
Country of build:
USA
Beam:
17.3
Builder:
California SB Corp.
Material of build:
Location of yard:
Terminal Is
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
1T-11

Subsequent History:
1943 ELK - 1946 WILLIAM WINTER - 1951 SEAPEARL - 1953 KORTHI -
[1954 converted to cargo ship, 7206 grt] -
[1956 Lg 155.9/148.5 m, 8390 grt/12300 dwt] -
1957 ANDROS COUNTY - 1960 KALAMAS

Disposal Data:
Wrecked near Cape Arago OR 03.09.1960 [ Voyage Chemainus-Australia, lumber] & scrapped at Oakland mid-1962 [ By Learner Co. ]

History:
ON
LR/IMO
ID
Year
Name
Tons
Change
Registered Owner
244683
2244683
1943
WILLIAM WINTER
7243
U.S. Govt.
IX-115
2244683
1943
ELK
7243
1943
U.S. Navy
244683
2244683
1943
WILLIAM WINTER
7243
1946
U.S. Govt.
244683
2244683
1943
SEAPEARL
7243
1951
Colonial SS Corp.
2244683
1943
KORTHI
7206
1953
Montepardo Cia Armadora SA
761
2244683
1943
KORTHI
8390
1956
Montepardo Cia Armadora SA
761
2244683
1943
ANDROS COUNTY
8390
1957
Montepardo Cia Armadora SA
2244683
1943
KALAMAS
8390
1960
Oceanic Development Corp.

 "William Winter", fourth from the left in this line-up at the California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, CA., November 25th,1943.
( News paper Photo thanks to Gerhard Muller-Debus )
A photograph of a postcard from the ELK IX 115. (1943, ex. William Winter).
( Photo thanks to Gerhard Mueller-Debus )