Misplaced Pages

#167832

66-764: In 1916 the California Shipbuilding Company built a few submarines in the Craig Shipbuilding Company yard in Long Beach. There is no relationship other than the name of the company. The Calship shipyard was created at Terminal Island in Los Angeles, California , United States as part of America's massive shipbuilding effort of World War II. W. A. Bechtel Co. was given sponsorship and executive direction of Calship. As of 1940, Los Angeles shipyards had not built

132-822: A Norwegian design with a prefix – Bel- ( Belmoira and Belpareil were two of this type) intended to carry bulky and heavy cargo such as locomotives and tugs. The ships had three large unobstructed cargo holds and heavy lifting equipment. The first pair of ships built for the Ministry of War Transport, Empire Charmian and Empire Elaine were diesel powered. The remainder, Empire Admiral , Empire Athelstan , Empire Byng , Empire Canute , Empire Ethelbert (launched as Beljeanne in 1946), Empire Marshal , Empire Viceroy and Empire Wallace , were powered by steam turbines to provide more speed and power. These ships were able to carry smaller vessels, such as tugs and landing craft, to support combat operations around

198-451: A deadweight of 400 tons. They measured 148 ft oa by 27 ft beam. They had oil engines giving them a speed of 7½ knots. Chant 12 and Chant 28 were sold to France in 1946 retaining their names. The remaining survivors served various ship owners until their eventual scrapping mostly in the fifties and sixties. The last Chant vessel ( Success III , ex- Chant 12 ) was scrapped in 2002. The 'Ocean' type tankers were sometimes known as

264-486: A fast cargo liner of around 9,900 gross tons was introduced with a length of 475 feet (145 m) and a breadth of 64 feet (19.5 m). Thirteen "Empire"-prefixed standard class cargo liners were completed. Another was laid down intending to be given the prefix but was acquired by the Royal Netherlands Government and completed as Modjokerto . The design of the heavy lift ship was based on

330-403: A flight deck of 413 feet (126 m) to 424 feet (129 m) ft and a breadth of 62 feet (18.9 m). A hangar on the lower deck was equipped with a lift to the flight deck and accommodated four Fairey Swordfish aircraft. The oil tankers had longer flight decks – 461 feet (141 m) – but no hangars. Three Swordfish reconnaissance planes were stowed at the aft end of the flight deck. In

396-417: A gross tonnage of 410 GT. with one single diesel engine, two holds and two 1.5 tons derricks. The hull was the same as the small coastal tanker series (CHANT); despite being a completely separate class from the tankers, the dry cargo Empire Fs were always known by coasting seamen as "CHANTs", possibly because they had the same hull form and initially all the tankers were sold to foreign owners and therefore there

462-583: A large ship in 20 years. By late 1941 though, shipbuilding had become the second largest manufacturing industry in the Los Angeles area. Calship was created from scratch with ground broken on January 27, then for a planned 8-way yard. It began production of Liberty Ships in May 1941. In the early 1940s, contracts from the U.S.Department of Maritime Commission and a number of U.S. Navy contracts led to prosperity shipbuilding business in Los Angeles . The yard

528-613: A number of Liberty type ships were transferred to Belgium between the years 1941 and 1943. Twenty-nine Empire ships were transferred or built for the Netherlands and several American-built ships including Ocean Athlete , Ocean Merchant and Ocean Victory were also transferred. Twenty-four Empire ships were purchased by the French Government after liberation in 1945. All were transferred in 1945–46. Empire Gala and Empire Jupiter were later placed with

594-463: A particular hull was towed to them for outfitting or their engine delivered to the yard. Other notable ships built at Long Beach Shipbuilding Company Long Beach Yard (1918-1921): This company was established in 1915 with John F. Craig as president, but due to World War I, it was a dormant operation until its service was inaugurated with the launch of the MS ; Mazatlan . The line was to establish

660-811: A severe gale, damaged many of the Mulberry harbours and wrecked some of the blockships. Additional blockships were added in July 1944, including one more Empire ship, Empire Bittern , and two of the former Empire ships that had been transferred to the Norwegians: Norfalk (formerly Empire Kittiwake ) and Norjerv (formerly Empire Eagle ). Empire ships were armed. There were merchant seamen gunners. Also many British and Canadian merchantmen carried volunteer naval gunners called Defensively equipped merchant ship or DEMS gunners. The American ships carried Naval Armed Guard gunners. Merchant seamen crewed

726-453: A speed of 11 to 12 knots to enable them to catch up with the convoys travelling at 10 knots after completing their rescue operations. Convoy rescue ships were also generally armed with AA guns for protection when they were separated from the convoy and vulnerable to enemy attack. The five Empire ships were 1,333 gross tons, length 236 feet (72 m), breadth 36 feet (11.0 m) with a speed of 16 + 1 ⁄ 2 knots (30.6 km/h). After

SECTION 10

#1732773028168

792-506: A standardised prefabricated design. The ships were 425 feet (130 m) in length with a beam of 56 feet (17.1 m), with a deadweight of around 10,000 tons and a speed of around 10 knots (19 km/h). The first standard to be used was the PF(B) of about 7,050  GRT . These incorporated one 30-ton, two 10-ton and eight 5-ton derricks for cargo handling. The PF(C) design was introduced in 1942 to handle heavier military equipment, and

858-406: A trade route between Los Angeles and ports on the west coast of Mexico north of Mazatlán . The round trips were planned to include La Paz, Topolobampo, Mazatlan, San Bias, Manzanilio and at times Guaymas and last 25 days. J. McMillan was general manager and Chas. G. Krueger, Los Angeles agent was also local agent for Swayne & Hoyt on their traffic passing through San Pedro. In August 1921

924-691: Is a merchant ship that was given a name beginning with "Empire" in the service of the Government of the United Kingdom during and after World War II . Most were used by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), which owned them and contracted their operation to various shipping companies of the British Merchant Navy . Empire ships came from two main sources: new construction, and capture and seizure. New Empire ships were built for

990-802: Is in Tampa, Florida and the SS Lane Victory is in Los Angeles. They are open to the public for dockside tours and also sail periodically. 33°45′40″N 118°15′05″W  /  33.76111°N 118.25139°W  / 33.76111; -118.25139 First keels laid on slipways 1 through 14, marking the completion steps of the shipyard facilities Launching of Liberty tankers, missing on shipbuildinghistory See also, similar role:- Empire ship , Fort ship , Park ship , Ocean ship . Craig Shipbuilding Company 33°46′14″N 118°12′50″W  /  33.770586°N 118.213819°W  / 33.770586; -118.213819 Craig Shipbuilding

1056-658: The American Ship Building Company . Run today by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority : On May 19, 1908, the Western Dredging and Marine Construction Co. , of which John F. Craig was president and C. H. Windham general manager and treasurer was contracted to complete for $ 600,000 all dredging of the harbor, including that of Channels 1, 2, 3 and Slips 4 and 6, the turning basin and the ocean entrance at

1122-639: The Mediterranean Sea ; Empire Parkeston and Empire Wansbeck operated as troopships between Harwich and the Hook of Holland . In 1942, shipowners who had lost ships (either as a casualty of war or requisitioned by the Government) during the war, were able to buy ships built for the Government. Such ships were then managed by the shipowner on behalf of the Ministry of War Transport, until

1188-765: The World War 2 demand for ships. Craig leased the Long Beach Shipbuilding yard to the Consolidated Steel Corporation . Consolidated Steel built Type C1-B and C1-M cargo merchant ships and two Type P1 passenger ships at the leased yard from prefabricated sections erected at their Maywood plant inland. Consolidated Steel operated two other large shipyards, one nearby in the Port of Los Angeles West Basin in Wilmington , which

1254-454: The 'Three twelves type', being about 12,000 tons deadweight with a speed of around 12 knots (22 km/h) and a fuel consumption of 12 tons per day. They were used for the transport of fuel and also for refuelling at sea. Some were fitted with triple expansion steam engines ; others were diesel powered . The 'Norwegian' type were slightly larger and were constructed only by two builders, Sir James Laing & Sons, at Sunderland (who had built

1320-478: The Craig Shipyard, including two submarines and a lighthouse tender. In 1921, Craig purchased his original shipyard back and renamed it back to Craig Shipbuilding. At the same time he renamed the Long Beach Shipbuilding to Craig Shipbuilding and ran both as one company. The tow shipyard did repair work on built yachts. The United States Maritime Commission started a shipbuilding program in 1939, to support

1386-662: The Gouvernement Generale de L'Indo-Chine, along with 10 Park -type Canadian-built ships. Nineteen Empire ships were transferred to the Norwegian Government in 1941–42. More were transferred to the Norwegian Government in 1946. Three Empire ships and a number of US ships were built or transferred to the Polish Government in 1942–43. One was built directly for Poland in 1942 as Bałtyk . A number of Empire ships were transferred to

SECTION 20

#1732773028168

1452-758: The MoWT or obtained from the United States to increase Britain's shipping capacity and offset losses to German U-boats , commerce raiders , bombing and other enemy actions in the tonnage war Germany was waging against Britain's sea transport around the globe. Others were captured or seized from enemy powers and some were acquired by requisition or normal purchase or lease. New Empire ship construction represented an enormous undertaking that included classes of freighters, tankers, aircraft carriers, fast cargo liners, tank landing ships, deep-sea salvage and rescue tugs and several other categories. Total production numbered in

1518-577: The assault phase, and Empire coasters were involved in the beaching of supplies and in ferrying cargo from the larger merchant ships anchored off-shore. The success of the Normandy invasion depended on the successful construction of the Mulberry ports . These were prefabricated ports, constructed at Southampton , Gosport , Portsmouth , Tilbury Docks , and even as far north as Birkenhead and Hartlepool . Two hundred tugs then took three months to tow

1584-488: The beach and sunk by a British destroyer. Chant 69 , this time carrying water performed a similar evolution a short while later. It was then decided to bring all the class into the confines of the gooseberry shelters until a Royal Navy Constructor could carry out stability tests. Others carried out sterling service, Chant 23 lying off Sword Beach had been hit by an enemy shell in her engine room and disabled but still continued to fuel anything that came alongside. Chant 7

1650-450: The channel. Empire tugs were used to ensure the safe crossing. On reaching Normandy they were scuttled in five groups, codenamed Gooseberry 1 to Gooseberry 5 . Gooseberry 4 at Juno Beach included four Empire ships: Empire Bunting , Empire Flamingo , Empire Moorhen and Empire Waterhen . Gooseberry 5 at Ouistreham included three Empire ships: Empire Defiance , Empire Tamar and Empire Tana . Between 19 and 23 June 1944

1716-714: The company advertised as representing Swayne & Hoyt (whose volume of course was much bigger than the company's own sailings), and as having offices in 794 Pacific Electric Building and operating on the Fifth Street Wharf in Los Angeles Harbor. The Llewellyn Iron Works, builder of marine engines for ships launched from Long Beach during World War I was one of the companies merged into Consolidated Steel. Consolidated did not build any engines during World War II. See: Consolidated Steel Corporation#Long Beach shipyard Empire ship An Empire ship

1782-486: The components of the harbours from where they were constructed to assembly areas on the South Coast. Between 7 June 1944 and the end of July, the tugs towed the materials across the channel to Normandy. Before D-Day, sixty old merchant ships and four old warships were selected as blockships , to be scuttled in a line to give protection to the small craft. The blockships were stripped before setting out in convoy across

1848-487: The convoys. Catapult-armed merchantmen or CAM ships, were merchant cargo ships operating with the convoys and converted to launch a Sea Hurricane fighter by means of a catapult . As there was no means to land the Hurricane on the ship again, it was only possible for a single launch and the aircraft then had to return to land or ditch in the sea. However they did provide important convoy cover when no other air cover

1914-490: The defence of Malta and Arctic convoys to North Russia. They took an active role supporting the invasions of North Africa , Sicily and Italy and in the Normandy assault and in the assaults on German-held ports of Western Europe. In June 1944 ninety-seven Empire merchant ships were involved in the cross-channel convoys that carried troops and supplies ready for the Normandy invasion. Empire landing craft were involved in

1980-407: The early part of the war shipyard capacity was fully engaged with naval ships, including aircraft carriers, repairs to ships following Dunkirk , and orders for tankers and tramps. By 1941 there was criticism that ships being built were too slow. A few fast ships (capable of 15 to 16 knots (28 to 30 km/h)) were however being built; many of them with refrigerated capacity. In 1942 a new standard for

2046-645: The end of hostilities. Seven were charted from the Ministry of War Transport as ferries and given the "Empire" prefix, operating between Tilbury and Hamburg from September 1946 and also between Preston and Larne from May 1948. Twelve of the landing craft were recalled to service and given "Empire" names in 1956 during the Suez Crisis and used as military transport ferries in Malta , Aden and Singapore . These were: Three Empire ferries ( Empire Chub , Empire Dace and Empire Roach ), were completed to

California Shipbuilding Corporation - Misplaced Pages Continue

2112-649: The end of the war, tankers were released from requisition as they completed voyages after 31 December 1945 and dry cargo ships after voyages completed after 2 March 1946. However, passenger and troopships were still involved in the repatriation of servicemen, prisoners of war and refugees. The government therefore converted several captured German passenger ships to Empire troop ships. These included Empire Fowey , Empire Halladale , Empire Ken , Empire Orwell , Empire Trooper and Empire Windrush . Empire Comfort , Empire Lifeguard , Empire Peacemaker and Empire Shelter were smaller troopships operating in

2178-409: The end of the war. Tramps and colliers built before 1942 were sold on in this way, although some smaller ships remained unsold. Empire ships were also transferred to the representatives of governments of countries that had been invaded by Germany, in recognition of the losses suffered by the fleets of Britain's allies. Ten Empire ships and one Ocean type American tramp, Ocean Veteran , as well as

2244-578: The exhaust end of the triple-expansion engine to increase the speed of the ships. The yard was the smallest of the three steel shipyards in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach active during the World War I shipbuilding boom, responsible for 17% of the tonnage produced there. The Llewellyn Iron Works of Los Angeles produced engines for a number of yards on the West Coast. It is unknown whether

2310-563: The fitting-out docks were even completed. The yard's workers came from every region of the United States, reaching a force of 40,000 men and women, only 1% of whom had any shipbuilding experience whatsoever. The Calship Log, aimed at "Calshippers" and "Calshipperettes", was published on the 1st and 15th of each month. The log covered the progress of working for the war effort, safety rules, policies and procedures, as well as leisure activities and information on public transport, gasoline rations, personal tax increases and war bonds. A Victory Edition

2376-686: The hundreds . Empire ships were supplements to Britain's normal peacetime merchant fleet, swelling its wartime numbers to 12,000, then the largest merchant ship fleet in the world. Approximately 4,000 ships on the British register were lost between 1939 and 1945, a considerable number being sunk during the Battle of the Atlantic . Significantly before Britain entered the Second World War on 3 September 1939, preparations had been in hand to put

2442-479: The landings had been completed most returned to the UK and after the war were sold on to commercial operators. In wartime all ships carried the prefix "Chant" followed by a number. A total of 43 were built and were named Chant 1–12; Chant 22–28; Chant 42–45 and Chant 50–69. Chant 7 , Chant 61 , Chant 63 and Chant 69 were lost during the war. They were all built in 1944 and had a gross register of just over 400 tons and

2508-542: The merchant ships of the British Merchant Navy which kept the United Kingdom supplied with raw materials, arms, ammunition, fuel, food and all of the necessities of a nation at war throughout World War II literally enabling the country to defend itself. In doing this they sustained a considerably greater casualty rate than almost every branch of the armed services and suffered great hardship. Seamen were aged from fourteen through to their late seventies. At

2574-506: The mouth of San Gabriel River. Included was the purchase of the new electric dredge for $ 65,000. Notable ships built at Craig Shipbuilding Long Beach Yard (1906 to 1 January 1916, when it was bought by the California Shipbuilding Company ) and (1922-1934): In 1932 Craig reconditioned 2 cargo vessels ( Point Ancha , Point Lobos ) for Swayne & Hoyt , including the installation of a low pressure turbine at

2640-679: The only distinctions being that they were crewed by Merchant Seamen and flew the Red Ensign instead of the White. Two classes of ship were based on the Scandinavian design general cargo ship. The smaller 'three island' type of around 2,800 gross tons were built between 1941 and 1944. These vessels played an important role as crane ships in unloading the Arctic convoys at the Russian ports. In

2706-489: The peak of shipbuilding in California were involved 282 000 persons. Shipbuilding became a highly efficient wartime industry. The building of vessels and the number of jobs in the shipbuilding peaked in mid-1943. The Calship yard was known as "the city built on invisible stilts." It was situated on marshy ground, and was built on artificial earth supported by 57,000 piles driven into the mud. Shipbuilding commenced before

California Shipbuilding Corporation - Misplaced Pages Continue

2772-563: The prefix was also extended to purchased or requisitioned ships and to those acquired as prizes . From 1 February 1940, the Admiralty took control of all shipbuilding and repairs, including merchant shipping. From that date, ships could only be built either on orders of the Admiralty or, for private owners, under licences that required the ships to be built to Admiralty specifications of wartime requirements. Tramp ships were built to

2838-453: The prototype) and by Furness Shipbuilding Co, Ltd. The first of the type were fitted with 3,800 horsepower (2,800 kW) triple expansion steam engines, later models with 3,300 horsepower (2,500 kW) diesel engines and finally with 4,000 horsepower (3,000 kW) diesel engines. The design for the 'Wave' prefixed faster tankers was introduced in 1943. With a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h), these fast tankers were able to operate outside

2904-867: The same design as an order from the Government of Turkey. They had ramps at both ends and could carry passengers and vehicles but could also be converted for minelaying. They were also equipped with a 25-ton derrick at the front of the superstructure amidships. They were 716 gross tons, length 179 feet (55 m) and breadth 40 feet (12.2 m). Three vessels of 215 to 222 gross tons were built as water carriers. These were Empire Barnaby , Empire Billow and Empire Fulham Four vessels all of 2,922 gross tons, length 315 feet (96 m) and breadth 44 feet (13.4 m) were built as ore carriers. These were Empire Moat , Empire Ness , Empire Ridge and Empire Stream Five Castle-class corvettes were completed as Empire convoy rescue ships to join 29 previously-requisitioned ships. The requisitioned passenger ships had

2970-460: The sea bed. The tank landing ships (LST Mark 3) had a speed of eleven knots and were 4,820 tons when loaded. The length was 330 ft and the breadth 54 ft. The bridge and engines were aft. A bow ramp gave access to the interior and onto the open upper deck. 168 troops could be accommodated in narrow dormitories. Landing craft were generally only identified by number (for example LST 3512 ). However, some were completed as merchant ships after

3036-548: The shipping industry of Britain on a war footing. All shipbuilders had specified the capability of their yards to produce cargo ships , cargo liners , tramps , tankers , colliers , coasters and naval ships . The Ministry of Shipping , formed in October 1939 quickly adopted a standard naming system, applying the prefix "Empire" for all merchant ships built in Great Britain for the Government . With some exceptions,

3102-520: The ships and barges albeit dressed in naval uniform; the ten CHANTS (Channel Tankers) were allocated to the Beach services of the Royal Navy. The bulk of these ships came under the Ministry of War Transport and carried oil to the storage tanks at Port-en-Bessin , others under control of the Royal Navy carried diesel, petrol and water, all destined for the advancing armies. This particular class of ship

3168-576: The shipyard to the short-lived California Shipbuilding Company . but then opened a new shipyard next to the one he just sold and called it the Long Beach Shipbuilding Company . The Long Beach Shipbuilding Company built cargo ships in 1918, 1919, and 1920 for the United States Shipping Board . In 1918 California Shipbuilding started to have difficulties completing contracts that it had purchased with

3234-512: The three island class, the boiler was amidships and the cargo handling was grouped around three 'islands' on the superstructure, at the stern, bow and amidships. Ten ships were built in the later and larger (3,500 gross tons) Empire Malta class, which had the boiler aft and the cargo handling grouped around the fore- and main-mast. Dredging and hopper vessels were used for the collection or discharge of aggregates for example in maintaining clear navigation channels and to acquire aggregates from

3300-538: The value of World War II military production contracts. In 1947 the Calship facility was taken over by National Metal & Steel Corporation which operated a scrap yard there. Ironically, 55 of the Liberty and Victory ships that were built at Calship were scrapped on the same site. The surviving museum ships : SS American Victory and SS Lane Victory , were built in the Calship yard. The SS American Victory

3366-466: The vessels in which they were fitted. Four Empire F class and one Empire S class vessels crossed the Atlantic in the late fifties for service on the St. Lawrence River: Empire Fairway , Empire Fabric , Empire Fang , Empire Fathom , and Empire Seagreen . The beach craft were refuelled by a shuttle service of coastal tankers that bunkered in southern UK ports whilst five 12,000 ton tankers carried

SECTION 50

#1732773028168

3432-732: The war they were used as troopships in the Eastern Mediterranean. Empire ships were generally involved in convoy duty, including the Atlantic convoys bringing essential supplies from the United States ; military convoys to North Africa ; military convoys around the Cape of Good Hope to prosecute the war in the Middle East ; coastal convoys around the shores of Britain; Mediterranean convoys, including those supporting

3498-530: The water, two always at the beachhead with the remaining three in transit. From the two tankers at the beachhead other smaller tankers then shipped the water to depot ships and warships they also replenished the LBWs. This method of replenishment was in operation until D-Day plus forty when it became possible to use the captured channel ports. Their respective peacetime crews manned the Store and Replenishment crews of all

3564-579: The world. A number of Salvage and Rescue Tugs were built during the war and most were owned by the MoWT and operated by Merchant Shipping companies (notably the United Towing Co.). These ocean going vessels (armed under the DEMS programme ) bore little resemblance to the small Harbour or Docking tugs seen in most large ports and often worked alongside the naval tugs of His Majesty's Rescue Tug service,

3630-576: The yard broke the record by delivering 15 Liberty Ships in June 1942. It delivered 111 ships in 1942, more than any other yard in the United States. In June 1943, it broke the record again by delivering 20 ships for the month, and yet again in December 1943, delivering 23 ships. Large Navy contracts developed shipbuilding in California. As a result of that, many workers migrated to the work area. Many shipyards sprang up from San Francisco to San Diego . At

3696-581: Was a shipbuilding company in Long Beach, California . To support the World War I demand for ships Craig Shipbuilding shipyard switched over to military construction and built: US Navy Submarines and Cargo Ships. Craig Shipbuilding was started in 1906 by John F. Craig. John F. Craig had worked in Toledo, Ohio with his father, John Craig (1838-1934), and Blythe Craig, both shipbuilders, their first ship

3762-632: Was also supplied by Maywood, the other in Orange, Texas , and two other small boatyards. After World war 2, the Consolidated-leased yard closed. Craig shipyard continued to do repair work as the Long Beach Marine Repair and closed in 1970. Notable ships built at Craig Shipbuilding Toledo (1864-1905), later purchased by a syndicate of investors in 1905 and renamed Toledo Shipbuilding Company , and then purchased in 1945 by

3828-556: Was available. Eight requisitioned private ships and 27 Empire ships served as CAM ships. Ten of the Empire ships were lost in service. Merchant aircraft carriers or MAC ships superseded the CAM ships. Their role was defensive in protection of the convoys. Unlike the CAM ships, they carried a flight deck so the aircraft were able to land again. The merchant air carriers were adapted standard grain ships or oil tankers. The grain ships had

3894-498: Was built in 1864 at Craig Shipbuilding Toledo . John F. Craig opened his shipbuilding company in Port of Long Beach on the south side of Channel 3, the current location of Pier 41 in the inner harbor, becoming the port's first shipyard. In 1908 Craig Shipbuilding was given the contract to finishing dredging of the Port of Long Beach inner harbor and to dredge the channel connecting it to the Pacific Ocean . In 1917 Craig sold

3960-400: Was driven ashore after capsizing during the gales of 18/20 June when loaded with petrol and Chant 26 drove ashore on the crest of a wave, straight up the beach, through a hedge and landed in a field the right way up. After discharging her precious cargo to army bowsers she was dragged back to her natural element and towed home, the author Captain E. E. Sigart made the observation that Chant 26

4026-459: Was equipped with one 50-ton, one 30-ton, five 10-ton and five 5-ton derricks. PF(C) were around 7,320 gross tons. The later PF(D) was similar to PF(C), at 7,370 tons, but could be distinguished by a full-height poop (which was only half height in the PF(C)). Some had 250,000 cubic feet (7,100 m ) of refrigerated space. Empire F was a series of small coasters of 142 feet (43 m) in length with

SECTION 60

#1732773028168

4092-471: Was located on 175 acres on the north side of Terminal Island, north of Dock Street, near present-day berths 210-213. It initially had 8 ways , and later increased this to 14. 40,000 men and women worked under the military contract to construction of 467 vessels over 5 years. The combination of these ships were known as the "Liberty Fleet". These cargo ships were designed for rapid construction with lower costs for them. Thirteen months after commencing production,

4158-464: Was no conflict in nomenclature. Accommodation was good because the five berth cabin for the DEMS gunners was available and several vessels were modified after the war to make better use of all the spaces. The major shortfall of the class was undoubtedly their poor deadweight carrying capacity coupled with their varied engine fit, particularly those with the Petters engine which caused problems in all

4224-404: Was not renowned for its stability and when loaded had to carry much ballast, as well as cargo in their tanks they also carried up to ten tons of lubricating oil on deck and were well armed considering their vulnerability. On D-Day plus three Chant 60 turned turtle when manoeuvring under full helm, fortunately her entire crew were rescued later, carrying a full load of petrol she was towed away from

4290-584: Was published on September 27, 1945. After the war, the Maritime Commission and the Navy department cancelled their contracts with Calship. As the result of that, the level of shipbuilding began to decline. Calship closed in September 1945, after launching the last Victory ship, "four years to the minute after the first slid into the water ." Calship ranked 49th among United States corporations in

4356-433: Was the only British merchantman to fly proudly the Red Ensign and discharge her cargo, literally in a foreign field. Chant 24 beached at Le Hamel carrying 200 tons of oil fuel for the RAF needed for the building of runways previously LBO's had carried out this duty with the muscle power supplied by the infantry on their hand pumps. Finally some of the Chants were used as accommodation ships as there uses diminished and after

#167832