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List of World War II vessel types of the United States
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This is a List of World War II vessel types of the United States using during World War II. This list includes submarines, battleships, minelayers, oilers, barges, pontoon rafts and other types of water craft, boats and ships. As of 2014[update] this list is not complete.
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Army
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Under the Army organization of 1940, the Army Quartermaster was charged with the responsibility of providing the Army with all water transport services except those specifically authorized; for the Corps of Engineers in river and harbor work, for the Coast Artillery Corps in mine planting, and for the Signal Corps in cable laying (the Army had no communication ships at this time). In March 1942, most of the transportation functions of the Army Quartermaster were consolidated into the Transportation Division of the newly created Services of Supply and later that same year, on 31 July, the Transportation Corps was established.[1][2]
Coast Artillery Corps Mine Planter Service
The Army Mine Planter Service was responsible for the minefields of the Coast Artillery Corps' coast defenses. The largest vessels of the service were the U.S. Army Mine Planter (USAMP), which was equipped to install mines and associated control cables. Smaller vessels known as "junior mine planters" or "pup planters", were occasionally employed as mine planters, but they mostly served as freight and passenger boats for river and harbor duty with the Harbor Boat Service.[3] In addition to the mine planters, there were distribution box boats, used for servicing the mine-cable distribution boxes and rugged utility boats called motor mine yawls.[4]
Mine ships
One example is:
- Wallace F. Randolph (MP-7)[5] (ex FS-70)
Signal Corps
Cable ships
One example is:
Communication ships
Army communications ships in the South West Pacific theater of World War II provided radio relay services and acted as command posts for forward elements ashore.[6]
Surviving examples include:
- PCER-848[7][8]
- PS Weeroona (1910) (S-195, CSQ-1)[9]
- Schooners
Transportation Corps - Water Division
South West Pacific Area (SWPA) - Services of Supply (USASOS)
Operated in the Southwest Pacific Area.[10]
Small Ships Section
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As there was a need for a fleet of shallow-draft vessels that could navigate among coral reefs, use primitive landing places far up the coast of New Guinea, and land along the outlying islands. An "S" fleet under Army control was created using local Australian vessels crewed largely by civilian Australians and New Zealanders. It was a miscellaneous collection of luggers, rusty trawlers, old schooners, launches, ketches, yawls, and yachts.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]
Water Branch - Army Transport Service (ATS)
The Army Transport Service (ATS), originating with the Quartermaster Corps in 1898 and continuing into Transportation Corps as a division, operated the Army's large ships, most of which were transports, but ATS also manned the Army's large cable ships.
- Troop ships
Troop ships included the following.[19][20][21]
USAT Orizaba in port, 1941
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USS Orizaba (AP-24) underway at se, c. 1944
Surviving examples include:
- Sunk
- USAT Cynthia Olsen (sunk 7 December 1941)
- USAT Meigs
- USAT Liberty
- USAT General John McE. Hyde
- Cargo ships over 1,000 tons
Harbor Branch - Harbor Boat Service (HBS)
FM 55-130 Small Boats and Harbor Craft[24]
- Harbor Vessels
The Harbor Craft Company is organized for the purpose of ferrying to shore cargo from freighters and transports arriving in theaters of operation. The vessels may either be riding offshore at anchor in the open sea or more likely, anchored in a harbor. Cargo from the ships is loaded by Transportation Corps port company personnel onto barges. Then tugs, tow boats, or marine tractors propel the barges to the shore for unloading. Any cargo too heavy for the vessel's gear to lift is handled by a 60-ton floating crane.
- B Barge or Lorcha
- BB Balloon Barge
- BBP Balloon Barrage Leader
- BC Cargo Barge (Med. 110'-130')
- BCS Cargo Barge (Sm. 45' - 60')
- BCL Cargo Barge (Large - 210' or more)
- BD Derrick and Crane Barges
- BDP Pontoon Derrick Barge
- BK Knocked-down barge
- BG Gasoline Barge
- BSP Self-propelled Barge
- BW Water Barge
- BTL Truck Lighter
- C Navy Type Launch (Obsolete designation)
- CL Landing Boat
- D Dory and Dinghie
- G Marine Tractor
- HA Hoisting or Retrieving Vessel
- JR Radio Controlled Boat
- J Launch up to 50'
- MT Motor Towboat (Sm. 26')
- MTL Motor Towboat (Large, over 26')
- OB Outboard Launch - Detachable Motor
- OBM Outboard Motor - Stationary Motor
- Q Launch, more than 60'
- R Rowboat
- TKL Tank Lighter
- V Speed Boat
- Y Tanker - 176'
- Cargo ships under 1,000 tons
Coastwise and inter-island cargo ships, sometimes known as coastal freighters.
- Small Boat Company
The small boat company provided regular coastal and island service to bases in the Aleutian and Pacific Islands to supply food and equipment transported by small coastal and inter-island vessels and water craft that were under 200 feet or under 1,000 gross tons of the following vessel types.[25][26][27][28]
- Ferry
- Tanker
- Water Boat
- Motor Launch
- Seagoing Tug
- Freight-Passenger Vessel
FS-80 to FS-90 were merchant vessels refitted for wartime operation[29]
Built during World War II:
- F-76[30][31]
- FS-64[32][33]
- FS-206[34][35]
- FS-240[36]
- FS-244[37][38]
- FS-246[39][40]
- FS-263
- FS-344
- FS-391
- T-57[41]
- T-89[42]
- T-147[43]
- TP-225[44][45]
Surviving examples include:
Air Corps - Quartermaster Corps (QMC) boat service
Late in 1943 all rescue-boat activities were reassigned to the Army Air Forces.
Unit Designation Chronology
- Air Corps Marine Rescue Service
- Quartermaster Boat Company, Avn. (note; Avn=Aviation)
- AAF Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron (ERBS)
Rescue Boats
Rescue boats included the following.[48][49]
Corps of Engineers
Rivers & Harbors Division
Reorganized 6 June 1942 as Construction Division - Engineering and Operations branches.[50]
Surviving examples include:
Troops Division
The 1943 Engineer Field Manual described a table of organization and equipment for specialized types of engineering units.[51] These included:[52]
- Engineer Units, Combat, with Army Ground Forces
- Engineer Units, Service, with Army Ground Forces
- Engineer Units with Army Air Forces
- Engineer Units with Army Service Forces
- Port Repair Ship
- Port Construction and Repair group
- Engineer Amphibian Brigades
- Port & Harbor Rehabilitation
The engineer Engineer Port Repair ship is equipped with repair facilities that include a heavy crane and a machine shop and maintains channels and ship berths by removing sunken ships and other obstructions. It also maintains channel markings and other aids for pilots. It does needed work on docks and wharves in conjunction with engineer port construction and repair groups.
- Port Construction and Repair Group
The primary mission of the engineer port construction and repair group is to make ready for use the facilities of ports of debarkation in a theater of operations. and to perform work involved in improvement or expansion of such ports, exclusive of harbors. Its work is performed in conjunction with engineer port repair ship operations offshore.
The construction platoon consists of a divers' section under the supervision of an officer, as master diver. Enlisted personnel consists of marine divers and divers' attendants. This section does underwater work incident to construction of quay walls, wharves, piers, etc.[53][54][55][56][57][58]
Surviving examples include:
- Junior N. Van Noy, only one of the ten Port Repair Ships that was not a Maritime Commission type N3-M-A1 type conversion.
- Near-short units
The Engineer Amphibian Brigade, redesignated in 1943 as Engineer Special Brigade provided personnel and equipment for transporting combat troops from a friendly near shore to a hostile far shore when the distance is not over 100 miles. The brigade resupplies these troops during the early stages of establishing a beachhead. The brigade can transport one division when reinforced by naval LCT boats.
- 2+1/2-ton amphibian trucks,
- command and navigation boats
- tank lighters
- patrol boats
- surf-landing boats
- River crossing units
- Treadway bridge company
A Treadway bridge company is attached to an armored division in river-crossing operations to provide a bridge for heavy vehicles.[60] Equipment included a steel-treadway bridge M1, providing a floating bridge about 1,080 feet long, or a steel-treadway bridge M2, providing a floating bridge about 864 feet long.
- Light ponton company
The company is attached to a division in river-crossing operations to provide bridges and rafts. Equipment included two units of M3 pneumatic bridge equipage or two units of M1938 10-ton ponton bridge equipment.
Their stream-crossing equipment included:
- One unit of footbridge, M1938
- Four ferry set, No. 1, Infantry Support
- Twelve raft, set No. 1, Infantry Support
- Seventy assault boats, M2
- Heavy ponton battalion
The Heavy ponton battalion was attached to a corps in river-crossing operations to provide bridges and rafts capable of supporting heavier loads. Bridges and rafts are constructed of four units of 25-ton heavy ponton equipment, M1940.
- Airborne Engineer Battalion (pneumatic reconnaissance boats)
- Combat Engineer Battalion
- 15 boat, reconnaissance, pneumatic, canvas, 2-man
- 14 boat, assault, M-2, with paddles and canvas bag
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Maritime Commission vessels
Vessels operated by the Maritime Commission included Liberty and Victory Ships.
Liberty ship
Surviving examples include:
- SS John W. Brown
- SS Jeremiah O'Brien, the only surviving Merchant Marine ship which was in the D-Day armada.
Victory ship
Surviving examples include:
Navy
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Amphibious warfare type
Amphibious warfare vessels include all ships with organic capability for amphibious warfare and which have characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas. There are two classifications of craft: amphibious warfare ships which are built to cross oceans, and landing craft, which are designed to take troops from ship to shore in an invasion. Some vessels called "landing ships" did not have the capability to off-load troops and supplies onto beaches; they were just transports or command-and-control vessels. [61][62][63][64]
Ships
- class anewed[clarification needed] (1969) too, LCC—Amphibious Command Ship
- AKA: Attack Cargo Ship
- APA: Attack Transport
- APD: High speed transport
- LSD: Landing Ship, Dock
- LSM: Landing Ship, Medium
- LSMR or LSM(R)—Landing Ship, Medium (Rocket)
- LST: Landing Ship, Tank
- LSTH or LST(H)—Landing Ship, Tank (Hospital)
- Landing Craft
- LCC: Landing Craft, Control
- LCFF, LC(FF): Flotilla Flagship
- LCI, LCIL or LCI(L): Landing Craft, Infantry (Large)
- class anewed[clarification needed] (1949) too, LSI—Landing Ship, Infantry
- LCI(G)(M)(R)—Landing Craft, Infantry (Gunboat) (Mortar) (Rocket)
- LCM : Landing Craft, Mechanized
- LCP, LCPL, or LCP(L): Landing Craft, Personnel (Large)
- LCR, LCRS or LCR(S): Landing Craft, Rubber (Small)
- LCR, LCRL or LCR(L): Landing Craft, Rubber (Large)
- LCSS, LCS(S) : Landing Craft, Support (Small), an LCP(L) conversion, fitted with heavy machine guns
- LCS, LCSL or LCS(L): Landing Craft, Support (Large)
- class anewed[clarification needed] (1949) too, LSSL—Landing Ship, Support (Large)
- LCT: Landing Craft, Tank
- class anewed[clarification needed] (1949) too, LSU—Landing Ship, Utility
- class anewed[clarification needed] (1956) too, LCU—Landing Craft, Utility
- LCVP or LCV(P): Landing Craft, Vehicle (Personnel)
- an LCV, fitted with 1/4 inch armor
- LCA—Landing Craft, Assault (British term for LCVP)
Other types
Aircraft Carriers
- Fleet Aircraft Carriers CV
- Light Aircraft Carriers CVL
- Escort Carriers CVE
Battleships
- Battleships BB
Cruisers
- Large Cruisers CB
- Heavy Cruisers CA
- Light Cruisers CL
Destroyers
- Destroyers DD
- Destroyer Escorts DE
Submarines
- Submarines SS
Minesweepers
- Minelayers & Coastal Minelayers CM
- Light Minelayers DM
- Auxiliary Minelayers ACM
- Minesweepers AM
- Coastal Minesweepers AMc
- Fast Minesweepers DMS
- Motor Minesweepers YMS
Patrol Craft
- Gunboats PG
- Converted Yachts PG
- Frigates PF
- River Gunboats PR
- Smaller Converted Yachts PY
- Coastal Yachts PYc
- Escort Patrol Craft PCE
- Eagle Boats PE
- Patrol Craft, Sweepers PCS
- Motor Gunboats PGM
Submarine Chasers
- Submarine Chasers (Steel Hull) PC
- Submarine Chasers (Wooden Hull) SC
Motor Torpedo Boats
- Motor Torpedo Boats PT
- Motor Boat Submarine Chasers PTC
Auxiliaries
- Crane Ship AB
- Advanced Base Section Dock ABSD
- Advanced Base Dock ABD
- Destroyer Tenders AD
- Ammunition Ships AE
- Provision Store Ships AF
- Auxiliary Floating Dock AFD
- Large Auxiliary Floating Dock (non-self-propelled) AFDB
- Small Auxiliary Floating Dock (non-self-propelled) AFDL
- Medium Auxiliary Floating Dock (non-self-propelled) AFDM
- Miscellaneous Auxiliaries AG
- Amphibious Force Command Ships AGC
- MTB Tenders AGP
- Surveying Ships AGS
Hospital Ships
- Hospital Ships AH
Cargo Ships
- Cargo Ships AK
- Attack Cargo Ships AKA
- Net Cargo Ships AKN
- General Stores Issue Ships AKS
- Cargo Ships and Aircraft Ferries AKV
Net-Laying Ships AN Oilers & Tankers
- Oilers AO
- Gasoline Tankers AOG
Transports
- Transports AP
- Attack Transports APA
- Self-Propelled Barracks Ships APB
- Coastal Transports APc
- High-Speed Transports APD
- Evacuation Transports APH
- Barracks Ships APL
- Mechanized Artillery Transport APM
- Transport Submarine APS
- Aircraft Ferries APV
Repair Ships
- Repair Ships AR
- Battle-Damage Repair Ships ARB
- Auxiliary Repair Dock (Concrete) ARDC
- Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ships ARG
- Heavy Hull Repair Ships ARH
- Landing Craft Repair Ships ARL
- Salvage Vessels ARS
- Salvage Craft Tenders ARS(T)
- Aircraft Repair Ships (Aircraft) ARV(A)
- Aircraft Repair Ships (Engine) ARV(E)
Submarine Tenders & Rescue Vessels
- Submarine Tenders AS
- Submarine Rescue Vessels ASR
Tugboats
- Auxiliary Tugs ATA
- Fleet Ocean Tugs ATF
- Old Ocean Tugs ATO
- Rescue Tugs ATR
Seaplane Tenders & Aviation Supply Ships
- Seaplane Tenders AV
- Catapult Lighter AVC
- Seaplane Tenders (Destroyers) AVD
- Small Seaplane Tenders AVP
- Aviation's Supply Ships AVS
Distilling Ships
- Distilling Ships AW
Unclassified Vessels
- Unclassified Vessels IX
Yard and District Craft Coast Guard Cutters
- Cruising Cutters WPG
- Weather Patrol Ships WIX
- Weather Patrol Cutters WPC
- Icebreakers WAG
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References
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