Calmar Steamship Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bethlehem Steel founded in New York City in 1927. Bethlehem Steel Company founded Calmar Steamship Company and other steamship companies after finding general shipping companies could not meet the company's needs in a timely manner. At the time Bethlehem Steel Company was the second-largest steelmaker in the United States and the world, only behind U.S. Steel. Calmar Steamship Company shipped Bethlehem Steel Company products from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. On the return trip, Calmar Steamship Company would bring lumber products from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast. Calmar Steamship Company closed in 1976, as United States steel manufacture declined in the 1960s.
Ships Ships: SS Portmar a steam cargo ship built in 1919 SS Corvus a steam cargo ship built in 1919 by Columbia River Shipbuilding Company Alamar, a steam cargo ship built in 1919 SS Circinus a steam cargo ship built in 1919 SS Oakmar sunk by U-71 on March 20, 1942, off Virginia Calmar (1) a Type C4-class ship Liberty ships that became Calmar ships: Marymar, was SS Frederick H. Baetjer Alamar (2), was Samuel F. B. Morse (2) Massmar, was Alexander V. Fraser Flomar, was Arlie Clark Seamar, was George M. Verity Kemmar, was George R. Holmes Calmar was Vincent Harrington Portmar, was Joseph B. Eastman Pennmar, was William S. Baer Yorkmar, was Walter Kidde Lomar, was Morris Sigman Texmar, was Harold O. Wilson
World War II
During World War II Bethlehem Steel Company had its subsidiary companies operated charter shipping to support the war. During World War II Bethlehem Steel Company had its subsidiary companies: Calmar Steamship Company and Interocean active with charter shipping for the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. During wartime, the Companies operated Victory ships and Liberty ships. The ship was run by its crew and the US Navy supplied United States Navy Armed Guards to man the deck guns and radio. The most common armament mounted on these merchant ships were the MK II 20mm Oerlikon autocannon and the 3"/50, 4"/50, and 5"/38 deck guns.World War II U.S. Navy Armed Guard and World War II U.S. Merchant Marine, 2007-2014 Project Liberty Ship, Project Liberty Ship, P.O. Box 25846 Highlandtown Station, Baltimore, MD After the war there were many surplus ships and much competition. Black Diamond Steamship Company continued to operate after the war, but closed in the 1955. Joe McMillan, 30 August 2001
Calmar Steamship Company operated World War 2 Victory ships: Blue Ridge Victory Hagerstown Victory Honduras Victory Nashua Victory Calmar operated World War 2 Liberty ships: Andrew G. Curtin, Torpedoed Jan. 25, 1944 and sunk by U-716 at 73.20N 23.30E. Thomas McKean, Torpedoed June 29, 1942 and sunk in Caribbean by U-505 at 22.00N 60.00W Pierce Butler, Torpedoed Nov. 20, 1942 and sunk by U-177 in Indian Ocean at 29.53S 36.28E Benjamin Harrison, Torpedoed March 16, 1943 and sunk by U-172 at 39.02N 24.15W. James W. Denver, Torpedoed April 11, 1943 and sunk by U-195 west of Canary Islands James A. Butts Roy K. Johnson Flora MacDonald Frank R. Stockton Frederick H. Baetjer Frederick L. Dau Flora MacDonald Thomas Sully Philip F. Thomas, sank in 1956 as PELAGIA Benjamin Chew Christopher Newport Thomas Nelson Richard Henry Lee Grace Abbott William Paca SS Eleazar Wheelock James W. Wheeler SS John H. B. Latrobe
See also Interocean Shipping Company Bethlehem Transportation Corporation Ore Steamship Company
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