Thomas T. Tucker: A Beached US Liberty Ship in Cape Point Nature Reserve, South Africa

Summary

Thomas Tucker, a US Liberty ship operated by the Merchants and Miners Company on behalf of the US Maritime Commission, was part of the 42-ship convoy carrying material to the African Front during World War II. The ship was reported lost in action – torpedoed at Cape Point. The cargo included 25 Sherman tanks, 16 tank cars, 200 motor vehicles, and barbed wire. This disarticulated beach shipwreck site provides an ideal educational opportunity for students to conduct basic pre-disturbance archaeological recording, geo-referencing and digital mapping. This case study analyzes site formation processes on the site, examines the concept of in situ preservation of beached wrecks in South Africa, and discusses Liberty ships as part of a global maritime heritage.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2015   •
• Sea Ports and Sea Power: South African Maritime Cultural Landscapes and Shipwreck Case Studies

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 245