SS Andrew Furuseth

SS "Andrew Furuseth" was a Liberty ship built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. The ship was named in honor of American merchant seaman and labor organizer Andrew Furuseth. The ship was assigned by the War Shipping Administration to Matson Navigation Company who operated it throughout the war in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. "Andrew Furuseth" was one of 220 Liberty ships converted to carry a limited number of troops or prisoners of war.

Carl M. Allen/Carlos Miguel Allende, a reputed crewman aboard "Andrew Furuseth" in October 1943, claims that while he was aboard the ship he witnessed the teleportation disappearance and reappearance of USS|Eldridge|DE-173|6 as part of the Philadelphia Experiment

"Andrew Furuseth" was sold for private use and operated under the names "Essi" and "Niobe" before being scrapped in Japan in 1967.

History

Construction and launching

In July 1942, the Sailors' Union of the Pacific petitioned the United States Maritime Commission and the War Shipping Administration (WSA) for a liberty ship to be named in honor of Andrew Furuseth, the long-time president of their union. [cite news | title = NEWS OF INTEREST IN SHIPPIHG WORLD | work = The New York Times | date = 1942-07-05 | page = S6 ] Accordingly, MC Hull No. 491 was assigned the name "Andrew Furuseth" and was laid down on 22 July 1942 on shipway 1 at Yard No. 1 by Permanente Metals Corp. of Richmond, California, as a standard Liberty ship. The ship was launched on 7 September 1942; delivered 8 October 1942, taking 78 days from laying of the keel to delivery.cite web | first = Tim | last = Colton | url = http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergency/wwtwo/kperm1.htm | title = Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond No. 1 Yard, Richmond CA | date = | accessdate = 2008-05-31 ] The ship was assigned by the WSA to Matson Navigation Company for operation.

Launching ceremony

"Andrew Furuseth" was one of six Liberty ships named for labor leaders, and one of 174 ships total, launched on Labor Day, 7 September 1942.cite news | title = Six Liberty Ships To Be Named For Labor Heroes | author = Washington Bureau, "Chicago Sun" | work = The Washington Post | date = 1942-08-29 | page = 5 ] [cite news | title = 174 Ships Launched in One Day And Keels Are Laid for 49 More | work = The New York Times | date = 1942-09-07 | page = 1 ] In addition to the "Furuseth", the other five Liberty ships were SS|Samuel Gompers, SS|Peter J. McGuire, SS|James Duncan, SS|John Mitchell, and SS|John W. Brown. The launch ceremonies, held at four different shipyards around the country, were to be linked by a coast-to-coast broadcast and feature speeches by John P. Frey, an executive of the American Federation of Labor, and John W. Green, president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Wartime service

After shakedown on the West Coast, "Andrew Furuseth" transited the Panama Canal in April 1943. The ship departed Cristóbal, Panama, on 24 April for Guantánamo Bay and New York, arriving at that city on 8 May.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/zg/index.html?zg.php?convoy=29!~zgmain | title = Convoy ZG.29 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gn/index.html?gn.php?convoy=56!~gnmain | title = Convoy GN.56 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=9!~ugsmain | title = Convoy UGS.9 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] The "Furuseth" left New York 28 May for Oran, passing Gibraltar around the middle of June.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=9!~ugsmain | title = Convoy UGS.9 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/kms/index.html?kms.php?convoy=16!~kmsmain | title = Convoy KMS.16 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ]

In late June 1943, "Andrew Furuseth" arrived in Gibraltar, and on 7 July joined a convoy headed to Hampton Roads, Virginia, arriving there 23 July 1943.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/misc/index.html?yy.php?convoy=XTG.2!~miscmain | title = Convoy XTG.2 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gus/index.html?gus.php?convoy=9!~gusmain | title = Convoy GUS.9 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] On 16 August, the ship made a round trip to Casablanca, arriving off Cape Henry on 4 October.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=15!~ugsmain | title = Convoy UGS.15 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gus/index.html?gus.php?convoy=15!~gusmain | title = Convoy GUS.15 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq21-1.htm | title = The "Philadelphia Experiment" | publisher = Naval Historical Center of the United States Navy | date = 2000-11-28 | accessdate = 2007-02-20 ]

On 25 October 1943, "Andrew Furuseth" steamed from Hampton Roads as part of Convoy UGS 22 and arrived at Casablanca on 12 November.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=22!~ugsmain | title = Convoy UGS.22 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] In November, the ship sailed from Oran to Augusta, Sicily.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/kms/index.html?kms.php?convoy=33!~kmsmain | title = Convoy KMS.33 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] Through the end of 1943, the ship plied the waters of the Mediterranean, calling at Augusta, Oran, Naples, and Bizerte, before returning to Hampton Roads on 17 January 1944.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/vn/index.html?vn.php?convoy=11!~vnmain | title = Convoy VN.11 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/mks/index.html?mks.php?convoy=34!~mksmain | title = Convoy MKS.34 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gus/index.html?gus.php?convoy=25!~gusmain | title = Convoy GUS.25 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ]

In February 1944, the "Furuseth" departed on another voyage to Augusta, with a cargo of explosives, 500 troops, and 2500 pieces of mail.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=33!~ugsmain | title = Convoy UGS.33 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] The ship made a roundtrip to Naples before returning to Hampton Roads on 14 April 1944.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/vn/index.html?vn.php?convoy=26!~vnmain | title = Convoy VN.26 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gus/index.html?gus.php?convoy=34!~gusmain | title = Convoy GUS.34 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ]

In May, the veteran steamship departed Hampton Roads for another trip to Oran with 44 troops aboard.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=41!~ugsmain | title = Convoy UGS.41 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] The "Furuseth" returned to Virginia in mid June, but left again for Oran in mid July.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gus/index.html?gus.php?convoy=41!~gusmain | title = Convoy GUS.41 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=48!~ugsmain | title = Convoy UGS.48 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] The ship operated locally in the Mediterranean through the end of November, at which time "Andrew Furuseth" returned once again to Hampton Roads.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/kms/index.html?kms.php?convoy=60!~kmsmain | title = Convoy KMS.60 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/vn/index.html?vn.php?convoy=62!~vnmain | title = Convoy VN.62 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/misc/index.html?yy.php?convoy=ARM.7!~miscmain | title = Convoy ARM.7 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gus/index.html?gus.php?convoy=59!~gusmain | title = Convoy GUS.59 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ]

On 29 December 1944 and again on 14 March 1945, the Liberty ship departed on roundtrips to Oran, returning on 24 February and 9 May, respectively.cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=65!~ugsmain | title = Convoy UGS.65 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gus/index.html?gus.php?convoy=70!~gusmain | title = Convoy GUS.70 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ugs/index.html?ugs.php?convoy=80!~ugsmain | title = Convoy UGS.80 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ] cite web | url = http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/gus/index.html?gus.php?convoy=85!~gusmain | title = Convoy GUS.85 | work = Arnold Hague's Convoy Database | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ]

With the end of hostilities in Europe, "Andrew Furuseth" began the task returning troops to the United States. Typical voyages included returning troops to Boston on 3 August, 735 troops to New York on 2 October, 570 troops from Antwerp to New York on 10 December, and 573 troops from Le Havre to New York on 19 January 1946. [cite news | title = 5 TROOPSHIPS BRING 6,124 INTO BOSTON | work = The New York Times | date = 1945-08-04 | page = 12 ] [cite news | title = Troop Arrivals | work = The New York Times | date = 1945-10-03 | page = 10 ] [cite news | title = Arrivals of Troops | work = The New York Times | date = 1945-12-10 | page = 13 ] [cite news | title = Schedule of the Arrival of Troops | work = The New York Times | date = 1946-01-19 | page = 7 ] During the December voyage from Antwerp, a soldier aboard "Andrew Furuseth" was transferred by motor launch in mid-ocean to U.S. Navy transport USS|Lejeune|AP-74|6 for an emergency appendectomy. [cite news | title = 25 MORE SCIENTISTS HERE FROM GERMANY | work = The New York Times | date = 1945-12-07 | page = 4 ]

Later career

In 1947, "Andrew Furuseth" was sold to Norwegian interests and renamed "Essi". In 1959, she was sold to Japanese owners and renamed "Niobe". In June 1967, "Niobe" was scrapped at Nirao, Japan.

Philadelphia Experiment

SS "Andrew Furuseth" figures prominently in the events of the Philadelphia Experiment, which is now widely regarded as a hoax. [cite web | url = http://skepdic.com/philadel.html | title = Philadelphia experiment | first = Robert Todd | last = Carroll | authorlink = Robert Todd Carroll | work = The Skeptic's Dictionary | date = 2007-12-03 | accessdate = 2008-02-05 ] cite book | title = Borderlands | first = Mike | last = Dash | authorlink = Mike Dash | location = Woodstock, New York | publisher = Overlook Press | year = 2000 | origyear = 1997 | isbn = 9780879517243 | oclc = 41932447 ] [cite web | url = http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_293.html | title = Did the U.S. Navy teleport ships in the Philadelphia Experiment? | last = Adams | first = Cecil | authorlink = Cecil Adams | work = The Straight Dope | date = 1987-10-23 | accessdate = 2007-02-20 ] A reputed crew member of the "Andrew Furuseth", known variously as "Carl M. Allen" and "Carlos Miguel Allende", claimed to have witnessed the sudden appearance and disappearance of U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS|Eldridge|DE-173 in October 1943.

The story goes that, as part of U.S. Navy experiments into rendering ships invisible, "Eldridge" vanished from its berth in Philadelphia and was accidentally teleported to Norfolk, Virginia and back again on on 28 October 1943. According to the U.S. Navy, no evidence has been uncovered supporting that such an experiment occurred and details of the story contradict facts about the "Eldridge". Also, the Navy archives contains a letter from Lt. (j.g.) William S. Dodge, USNR, (Ret.), the Master of "Andrew Furuseth" in 1943, categorically denying that he or his crew observed any unusual event while in Norfolk. "Eldridge" and "Andrew Furuseth" were not even in Norfolk at the same time.

Notable crew members

* John Kenley, American theatrical producer
* Carl M. Allen/Carlos Miguel Allende, reputed crew member and witness to events of the Philadelphia Experiment

References