The Battle of the Atlantic was a killing ground for merchant ships and sailors; at times one ship in four would not reach its destination. Something had to be done. In 1940 British naval architects designed a roomy, easily built ship that was beyond the capacities of the beleaguered, bombed, and overtaxed British shipyards. Americans took up production in huge, assembly line-style yards on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the inestimable Liberty Ship, replacing some of those horrific losses. We will take a deep dive to look at these remarkable vessels, many of which, as surplus, resurrected several Allied merchant fleets and set the foundation for postwar economic reconstruction.

Alexander “Alex” Billinis is currently a lecturer at Clemson University's Honors College and Political Science Departments. He earned his master’s degree in history at Clemson in 2022, and now he is pursuing his PhD in digital history. He writes prolifically on historical and cultural topics. His career has spanned international banking, law, commercial real estate, and journalism. He and his family have lived in Serbia, Greece, and the United Kingdom in addition to the United States.