{{short description|World War II Liberty ship of the United States}} {{For|other ships|USS Paul Hamilton}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=SS Paul Hamilton.jpg |image_caption=SS ''Paul Hamilton'' }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United States |flag={{USN flag|1945}} |name= |namesake= |owner= |operator= |registry= |route= |ordered= |awarded= |builder= |original_cost= |yard_number= |way_number= |laid_down=30 August 1942 |launched=20 October 1942 |sponsor= |christened= |completed= |acquired= |commissioned= |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |maiden_voyage= |in_service= |out_of_service= |renamed= |reclassified= |refit= |struck= |reinstated= |homeport= |identification= |motto= |nickname= |honours= |honors= |captured= |fate=Lost off Algiers 20 April 1944 |notes= |badge= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= |type= |tonnage={{GRT|7176}} |displacement=14,245 tons |length={{convert|441|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|56|ft|10.75|in|m|abbr=on}} |height= |draught= |draft={{convert|27|ft|9.25|in|m|abbr=on}} |depth= |hold_depth= |decks= |deck_clearance= |ramps= |ice_class= |power= |propulsion=*Two oil-fired boilers, *triple-expansion steam engine, *single screw, *2500 horsepower (1.9 MW) |sail_plan= |speed=11 to 11.5 knots (20 to 21 km/h) |range=23,000 miles (37,000 km) |endurance= |test_depth= |boats= |capacity=9,140 tons cargo |troops= |complement=41 |crew= |time_to_activate= |sensors= |EW= |armament=Stern-mounted 4 in (102 mm) deck gun for use against surfaced submarines, variety of anti-aircraft guns. |armour= |armor= |aircraft= |aircraft_facilities= |notes= }} }} thumb|right|The explosion of SS ''Paul Hamilton'' on 20 April 1944.

'''SS ''Paul Hamilton''''' (Hull Number 227) was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Paul Hamilton, the third United States Secretary of the Navy. She was operated by the Black Diamond Steamship Company under charter with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.

On her fifth voyage <ref name="personnel">{{cite web |url= http://www.geocities.com/lks_friday/HAMILTON-001.htm |title= SS Paul Hamilton Personnel Lost at Sea |accessdate=2007-08-03 |last= Kay Shuffield |first= Lynna |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603014426/http://www.geocities.com/lks_friday/HAMILTON-001.htm|archivedate=2008-06-03}}</ref> the SS Paul Hamilton left Hampton Roads, Virginia on 2 April 1944 as part of convoy UGS 38, carrying supplies and the ground personnel of the 485th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces to Italy. On the evening of 20 April it was attacked 30&nbsp;miles (48&nbsp;km) off the coast of Cape Bengut near Algiers in the Mediterranean Sea by 23 German Ju 88 bombers of III./Kampfgeschwader 26, I. and III./Kampfgeschwader 77.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.vfw5546.com/ |title= VFWPost 5546 |accessdate= 2007-08-03 |publisher= VFW Post 5546 |archive-date= 2007-09-30 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930034809/http://www.vfw5546.com/ |url-status= dead }}</ref> One aerial torpedo struck the ''Paul Hamilton'' and detonated the cargo of high explosives and bombs.<ref name="ibiblio">{{cite web |url= http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/MM/SS_PaulHamilton.html |title= Ships of the U.S. Merchant Marine, 1940-1945 |accessdate=2007-08-03 |last= Clancey |first= Patrick }}</ref> The crew and passengers, who included 154 officers and men of the 831st Bombardment Squadron and 317 officers and men of the 32nd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, were all lost.<ref name="Taney">{{cite web |url= http://www.armory.com/~vern/personal/taney/taney5.htm |title= USCGC Taney |accessdate=2007-08-03 |last= Toler |first= Vern}}</ref> Of the 580 men aboard only one body was recovered.<ref name="Menges">{{cite web |url= http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/menges.asp |title= USS Menges (DE-320) |accessdate=2012-01-31 |publisher= U.S. Coast Guard }}</ref><ref>[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Anderle&GSfn=Austin&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=2606684&df=all& Austin Anderle Find a grave memorial]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H0684L6910 They Died Together; The Vagaries of War] – An eyewitness account by an ex-Merchant Marine seaman. *[http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/liberty/paul_hamilton/paul_hamilton_roll_of_honor.htm Roll of Honor] *[http://www.russpickett.com/history/hamilton.htm S.S. ''Paul Hamilton'' listing of those lost]

{{MARCOM ships North Carolina SB Co.}} {{April 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paul Hamilton}} Category:Liberty ships Category:Ships sunk by German aircraft Category:1942 ships Category:Ships lost with all hands Category:Maritime incidents in April 1944 Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea Category:Naval magazine explosions

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