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44TH TANKER OF 1944 LEAVES ADDSCO WAYS
From the Alabama Dry-Dock & Shipbuilding Company, Mobile, Publication :
Fore and Aft, Janauri 5, 1945, Volume 13, no. 1.
44TH TANKER OF 1944 LEAVES ADDSCO WAYS
1st Tanker Fort Robinson Christened
At New Year's Eve Launching Ceremony
Addsco's forty-fourth tanker launched in 1944 left Ways 5 last Sunday following a New Year's Eve ceremony that saw Mrs.
L. H. Haynes, wife of a coppersmith in the outfitting section, christen the S.S. Fort Robinson, and Mrs. Helen Wiggins, a
coppersmith section worker, cut the rope that released the launching mechanism. The tanker brought to 71 the number of
this type sent into Mobile river for the Victory Fleet. Named by the Maritime Commission for a battle between Fifth Cavalry
troops and Cheyenne Indians in 1876, the Fort Robinson commemorated a victory for the Army over a band of 1000 Indians
who attempted to leave the Red Cloud Agency in Nebraska to join the war tribes of Crazy Horse. Defeat of the Cheyennes
probably prevented a lengthening of the wars on the frontier at that period.
Battle Against Time
"This ship, like its namesake, represents a battle," said F. B, Spencer in the principal launching address. "The battle was
one against time and the workers of Ways 5 completed a successful fight when they finished this hull In 60 days. Such
victories against time mean much to our lighting men who depend so much on the cargoes of these tankers."
Spencer Cites Workers
The Shipbuilding Division's vice president and general manager told the launching audience that although no records had
been broken by Ways 5 workers in building the Fort Robinson in every department the results were very close to the best
time ever made in ship construction here. An example of this, he said, was the total manhours record of the way, which
was second best in the yard's history.
Employe Sponsors
Mrs. Haynes was named for launching honors by her husband after he had been elected by his co-workers when the cop-
persmith section won the presentee contest of the Shipbuilding Division in November. Second-place winner was J. H. Sul-
livan, who named Mrs. Wiggins as co-sponsor of the monthly labor launching.
Rev. Elbert G. Peck, of the Main Street Baptist Church in Prichard, delivered the invocation that opened the launching ce-
remony. Music of the Addsco Band was under the direction of Bill Lagman. Ross Smitherman was master of ceremonies.