SS James Eagan Layne

SS James Eagan Layne was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. Named after James Eagan Layne, a merchant seaman lost at sea during the war, the ship was launched in November 1944 by the Delta Shipbuilding Company in New Orleans.

History

The SS James Eagan Layne was part of the Emergency Shipbuilding Program, a government initiative to rapidly produce cargo ships for the war effort. The ship was operated by the United States Maritime Commission, and was primarily used to transport war materials across the Atlantic.

In March 1945, while returning from a voyage to Belgium, the SS James Eagan Layne was torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of England. The ship was severely damaged and ran aground near Plymouth, where it remains today as a popular site for scuba diving.

Design and Construction

Like all Liberty ships, the SS James Eagan Layne was designed for quick and easy construction. The ship was 441 feet long and 57 feet wide, with a cargo capacity of over 10,000 tons. It was powered by a steam engine that could propel the ship at a speed of 11 knots.

The SS James Eagan Layne was built using prefabrication, a technique where large sections of the ship were constructed separately and then assembled. This method greatly reduced the time required to build the ship, with construction taking less than two months from keel laying to launch.

Legacy

Today, the wreck of the SS James Eagan Layne is a popular destination for divers. It is one of the most accessible shipwrecks in the UK, and is home to a diverse array of marine life. The ship is also a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during World War II, and is a designated war grave.