SS Emile Berliner

SS Emile Berliner (HIN 2139) was a World War II American Liberty ship which assisted the transport of group materials used by the United States Army Air Forces' 509th Composite Group during Operation Alberta in Tinian, Northern Marianas.

Constructed for the WSA at the Permanente Metals Corporation^[1][2], Emile Berliner was delivered to the United Fruits Company for use as a freighter.^[3]

Naming

The Liberty ship was named after German-American inventor Emile Berliner, who was noted for contributions towards the gramophone.^{[4][citation needed]}

Construction

The ship's keel was laid down on 6 August 1943 and the ship was launched on 28 August 1943. Emile Berliner possessed engines manufactured by Willamette Iron & Steel Corporation^{[citation needed]}; construction was completed in Permanente Metal Corporation's Richmond #2 shipyard.^[5]

Post-war service

On 17 June 1946, Emile Berliner entered the James River, Reserve Fleet. In 1947, she was privately sold to Helsingfors Steamship Co., Ltd., renamed Frostvik and re-launched with the Finnish flag.^[6] A number of sales followed:

• Rederibolaget Re-Be (1950) - as Arneta  Finland
• FinlandBensow O/Y. A/B Wilh (1956) - as Arneta  Finland
• Paulin A/B Chartering O/Y & Co. (1963) - as Susan Paulin  Finland
• Astrorico Cia. Nav., S.A. (1965) - Kyra  Liberia

Kyra was delivered to Bilbao, Spain for scrapping on 12 May 1969.^[7]

References

1. "Radio Sealing Report" (PDF). United States Coast Guard. 9 September 1943. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
2. "Emile Berliner". United States Maritime Administration. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
3. "Vessel Status Card – Emile Berliner". United States Maritime Administration. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
4. Bhamra, Chunny. "Emile Berliner Inventor of the Gramophone". Gramophone Museum. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
5. "Liberty ships built by Permanente Metals Kaiser Richmond and Marinship during World War II". www.usmm.org. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
6. "Approving the Sale Alien and Transfer to Finnish Registry and Flag Of the St.s . Emile Berliner" (PDF). United States Maritime Commission. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
7. "SS Frostvik". www.aanimeri.fi. Retrieved 2023-12-01.