SS Timothy Pickering
{{short description|World War II Liberty ship of the United States}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=United States |Ship flag={{USN flag|1943}} |Ship name= Timothy Pickering |Ship namesake=Timothy Pickering |Ship ordered= |Ship owner=War Shipping Administration |Ship operator=American President Lines |Ship builder=Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond No. 2 Yard, Richmond, California{{cite web |url=http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergency/wwtwo/kperm2.htm |title=Kaiser Permanente No. 2 |publisher=shipbuildinghistory.com |access-date=2009-11-28 |archive-date=17 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217055155/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergency/wwtwo/kperm2.htm |url-status=dead }} |Ship laid down= 8 October 1941 |Ship launched= 28 March 1942 |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport= |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honors= |Ship fate=Sunk by dive bomber, 1943. While anchored offshore at Avola, Sicily on 13 July 1943 with the loss of 127 British servicemen and a number of United States Merchant seamen. Only one British serviceman survived the explosion. |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type= Liberty ship |Ship tonnage={{DWT|7,000|long|disp=long}} |Ship displacement= |Ship length={{convert|441|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|56|ft|10.75|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship draft={{convert|27|ft|9.25|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship propulsion=*2 × oil-fired boilers
|Ship speed={{convert|11.5|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity=9,140 tons cargo |Ship troops= |Ship complement=41 |Ship armament=*1 × 4-inch/50-caliber gun deck gun
|Ship armor= |Ship notes= }} |
SS Timothy Pickering (Hull Number 246) was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Timothy Pickering, the third United States Secretary of State under George Washington and John Adams.
The ship was laid down on 8 October 1941, then launched on 28 March 1942. She was lost after she was hit by an Italian Ju 87 Stuka off Augusta, Sicily on 13 July 1943. Timothy Pickering was operated by American President Lines under charter with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.
Awards
George W. Alther, Jr. was second mate on SS Timothy Pickering. He was given the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal by The President of the United States. It was given for heroism above and beyond the call of duty. SS Timothy Pickering was hit with a 500 pound bomb in 1942 and sank. During the air attack on in the Sicilian port of Avola was loaded with ammunition, T.N.T., aviation gasoline, and British troops. The bomb broke the ship in two. Much of the ammunition exploded and burning gasoline floated around the ship. George W. Alther, Jr. saved the life of the wounded gunnery officer as he was on a flame-filled lower deck, with disregard for his own safety. For the President the award was given by Admiral Emory S. Land.
References
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{{coord missing|Mediterranean}}
{{July 1943 shipwrecks}}
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Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea
Category:Ships built in Richmond, California
Category:Maritime incidents in July 1943
Category:Ships sunk by Italian aircraft
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