The SS Daniel Webster was a Liberty ship constructed in the United States during World War II, serving as a vital component of wartime maritime logistics. Built by the South Portland Shipbuilding Corporation in South Portland, Maine, the vessel was laid down on November 1, 1942, in their West Yard. She was launched on January 28, 1943, and completed by February 10, 1943. Immediately upon completion, the ship was delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) for operation, with the Sprague Steamship Company managing her under a WSA agreement. Designed as a standard Liberty ship, the SS Daniel Webster was part of a massive fleet of cargo vessels built rapidly to meet wartime needs. While specific dimensions and tonnage are not provided in the source, Liberty ships typically measured around 441 feet in length with a beam of approximately 56 feet, designed to carry cargo across dangerous wartime routes. Her service history was marked by her participation in convoy operations during World War II. A notable event occurred on January 10, 1944, when she was torpedoed during an air attack in the Mediterranean Sea off Oran, French Algeria. The attack targeted convoy KMS 37 while the ship was en route from Gibraltar to Augusta and Naples. After being hit, the SS Daniel Webster was beached to prevent sinking, but she was declared a total constructive loss, ending her active service. Following the war, the ship was sold for scrapping on December 19, 1947, along with 39 other hulks, to Venturi Salvattigi Recuperi e Impresse Marittime Societa per Azione of Genoa. Her wartime service and her destruction in a notable attack underscore her role in the broader narrative of Liberty ships as workhorse vessels that supported Allied logistics during World War II, despite her relatively short service life.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.