SS Meriwether Lewis
Encyclopedia
The SS Meriwether Lewis (Hull Number 170) was a Liberty ship
built in the United States
during World War II
. She was named after Meriwether Lewis
, an American explorer who, along with William Clark, led the Corps of Discovery which explored the American West.
The ship was laid down on 19 May 1941, then launched on 19 October 1941. She was part of a convoy
on the way to Great Britain
and carried a cargo of ammunition and tires when she was torpedoed by U-634 in the North Atlantic Ocean on 3 March 1943 at position 62°10′N 28°25′W. There were no survivors from her crew of 72 men.
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
built in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was named after Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark...
, an American explorer who, along with William Clark, led the Corps of Discovery which explored the American West.
The ship was laid down on 19 May 1941, then launched on 19 October 1941. She was part of a convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
on the way to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and carried a cargo of ammunition and tires when she was torpedoed by U-634 in the North Atlantic Ocean on 3 March 1943 at position 62°10′N 28°25′W. There were no survivors from her crew of 72 men.