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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USED Towboat Ben Franklin No.2

Sternwheel Towboat:
  • Built in 1923 at Parkersburg, W.VA., as Ben Franklin No.2 using the hull and engines of the packet Chris Greene, for the Ben Franklin Coal Co.
  • Launched in 1923
  • Delivered to the Ben Franklin Coal Co. of Moundsville, W.VA. in 1923
  • Purchased by the US Army Engineers , date unknown
  • Christened, commissioned and placed in service, date unknown as USED Towboat Ben Franklin No.2
  • Assigned to the US Army Engineers Louisville District
  • USED Towboat Ben Franklin No.2 was employed in the building Dams 52 and 53 on the Ohio River
  • Ben Franklin No.2 worked on the Ohio, Mississippi. Ouachita. and Black Rivers
  • Retired from US Army service in 1934
  • Sold in 1934 to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), renamed Jayhawk
  • Sank, 11 September 1936 in 10 feet of water in Sheffield Chute
  • Raised, 19 September 1936
  • In January 1938 she was stranded above Chattanooga, half way between the Southern bridge and Chickamauga Dam, and looked like she might break in two but was rescued
  • Final Disposition, sank 25 January 1939 at Mile 240.5 in 28 feet of water and was lost.
    Specifications:
    Displacement unknown
    Length 120'
    Beam 26.4'
    Hull Depth unknown
    Draft 4'
    Speed unknown
    Crew unknown
    Propulsion
    two boiler(s)
    steam engine(s)
    sternwheel
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Ben Franklin
    303030603    		 131k
    Namesake
    Ben Franklin - Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was born in Boston but moved at an early age to Philadelphia where his countless talents and unlimited energies found expression in successful contributions as a statesman, diplomat, scientist, editor-author, and philosopher. During the Revolution he was appointed American Minister Plenipotentiary to the French Court.
    Benjamin Franklin (1785) by Joseph Duplessis, given to the National Portrait Gallery by the Cafritz Foundation in 1987.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Ben Franklin
    303030601    		 132k USED Towboat Ben Franklin No.2 underway with a tow, date and location unknown. Note No.2 has not been removed from her name at the time of the photo.
    University of Wisconsin-Madison LaCrosse Historical Steamboat Collection    		 John Spivey
    Ben Franklin
    303030602    		 122k USED Towboat Ben Franklin No.2 with crew on deck, tied to a river bank, date and location unknown. Note No.2 has not been removed from her name at the time of the photo. This may be a photo of the Franklin Coal Co. towboat Ben Franklin No.2
    University of Wisconsin-Madison LaCrosse Historical Steamboat Collection    		 John Spivey
    There is no history available for USED Towboat Ben Franklin No.2 at NavSource
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 19 May 2023