Building and Civilian Service
Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company built Oriente for Ward Line as a sister ship to SS Morro Castle. Oriente was completed in 1930, two months after Morro Castle. Each ship was 508 feet (155 metres) long, measured 11,520 gross register tons (GRT) and had turbo-electric transmission, with General Electric twin turbo generators supplying current to propulsion motors on twin propeller shafts. The two liners carried passengers between New York and Havana, Cuba.
In 1934 a fire destroyed Morro Castle, killing 135 people. Oriente remained in Ward Line service until 1941.
Read more about this topic: USAT Thomas H. Barry
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