World War II barges From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Type B ship is a United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) designation for World War IIbarges. Barges are very low cost to build, operate and move. Barges were needed to move large bulky cargo. A tug boat, some classed as Type V ships, could move a barge, then depart and move on to the next task. That meant the barge did not have to be rushed to be unloaded or loaded. Toward the end of World War 2, some ships that had not been completed in time for the war were converted to barges. US Navy barges are given the prefix: YWN or YW. Due to shortage of steel during World War II, concrete ship constructors were given contracts to build concrete barges, with ferrocement and given the prefix YO, YOG, YOGN. Built in 1944 and 1945, some were named after chemical elements.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
This article may require copy editing for random capitalization throughout. (November 2023)
USSB # 301 Name Darien Barge sold to Debardeleben Marine III, Texas in 1969
USSB # 302 Name Mamai Barge sold renamed Patricia Sheridan in 1969
Built by Union Bridge & Construction Company in Morgan City, LA, Design #1067
USSB #2005 Barge
USSB #2006 Barge
USSB #2007 Barge
Built by Nashville Bridge Company in Nashville, TN, Design # 1096
USSB #2776 Barge, Tank
USSB #2777 Barge, Tank
USSB #2778 Barge, Tank
USSB #2779 Barge, Tank
FY-273 covered lighter bargeYFN-958 a covered lighter barge, non-Self-propelled. Built by Mare Island Navy Shipyard in 1944. Light Displacement 188 tons. Full Displacement 688 tons
Freight Barges YF – YFN
YFN barges were not self-propelled. YF barges were self-propelled. A YFN could carry a load of 550 long tons. YFN worked near shore and had a steel hull. They worked in harbors, rivers and other protected waters. They were 110 feet long, had a 32-foot beam and maximum draft of 8 feet.
The Pacific Bridge Company built 27 YFN Freight Barges in 1943: YFN 576 to YFN 603. Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company built: FN 619 to FN 742 YFN 998 to YFN 1016.
[9][10]
Yard Repair Berthing and Messing, YRBM-20 at San Diego Naval Base. Built in 1945
Yard Repair Berthing and Messing are repair Barges type TR, YR, YRB, YRBM, YRDH, YRDM, YRR, LBE were built for World War 2. Repair Barges were self sustaining, 530 tons and 153 feet long. Built in 1944, they had a beam of 36 feet and a draft of 6 feet. Repair Barges had a machine shop and living quarters. They repaired small boats and craft. The barge had generators, a distilling plant, an air compressor and steam boiler. The living space had berths, a mess hall to support a crew of 48 men.[12][13][14]
Floating Workshops are YR, 96 built, 24 built before ww2
Radiological Repair Barges are YRR, 14 built. Used to support nuclear plant overhauls of nuclear ships and submarines, also refueling and decontamination of used equipment.
LBE Landing Barge, Emergency repair used in WW2 to repair landing craft.
Barracks Barge
US Navy Barracks Barges, also called berthing barge was 1,300 tons and 261 feet long. They were used as a temporary barracks for sailors or other military personnel. A barracks ship also saw use as a receiving unit for sailors who needed temporary residence prior to being assigned to their ship. Barracks Barges are a type of auxiliary ship, called an APL for auxiliary personal living.[16][17]
APL-1 to 58 are Non-self-propelled Barracks Ships built in 1944 and 1945. APL displaced 2,600 tons at full load. Dimensions are 261.2 feet long, 49.2 feet beam, draft 8.5 feet when fully loaded. WW2 armament was four 20mm guns. Crew quarters could accommodate 71 officers and 583 men. Some are still in use. Sample see USS Mercer (APL-39).[18]
YCV Barge were built to transport Aircraft, but by Alameda Works Shipyard and Pearl Harbor NSY at 480 tons.[20]
Landing Barge, Kitchen
Landing Barge, Kitchen or LBK, was a landing craft used to support amphibious landings in Northwestern Europe during and after the Normandy invasion of Second World War. Its primary purpose was to provide hot meals to the crews of the many minor landing craft not fitted with galley facilities. Constructed of steel, this shallow-draft lighter had storage and serving space to feed 900 men for one week. The kitchen capacity was able to provide 1,600 hot meals and 800 cold meals a day. They were used by both the US and British on D-Day.[21][22]
Landing Barge, Vehicle, ramp up and down
Landing Barge, Vehicle
Landing Barge, Vehicle (LBV 1, mark 1) was a barge with a ramp added to load and unload vehicles like: jeeps and trucks during World War 2. A nine-foot, four-inch ramp was added to the stern for loading and unloading. LBV 2, Mark 2, had an engine that could propel the LBV at 4.5 knots. They were powered by 2 Chrysler RM Gas engines and were used by both the US and British on D-Day. Built in three sizes: small (S) 70 feet long, medium (M) 78 feet long and large (L) 82 feet long. Each had a draft of about 4 feet when loaded.[23][24]
Landing Barge, Oiler and Landing Barge, Water
Landing Barge, Oiler
Landing Barge, Oiler (LBO) and YO and YON stored fuel oil or diesel fuel for landing craft. They had a 40-ton fuel tank, with two compartments and an engine that could propel them at 4.5 knots. They were used by both the US and British on D-Day.[25][26][27][28]
Landing Barge, Water
Landing Barge, Water (LBW or YW) a barge with a 33-ton fresh water tank and an engine that could propel them at 4.5 knots. They were World War 2 landing support vessels. Used by both the US and British on D-Day. YWN are non-self propelled.[29][30]
Landing Barge, Flak
Landing Barge, Flak (LBF) a Landing Barge with a 40mm anti-aircraft gun, manned by a crew of five. Also had Two 20-mm Hispano AA guns or two twin Lewis guns. The LBF were 60 to 90 feet long. They could transport 15 troops. Used by both the US and British on D-Day.[25][31]
Deck barge
World War 2 type deck barge
Deck barges offered a large flat platform, on which many types of gear could be moved. The only downside was the cargo had a slightly higher center of gravity. A number of shipyards built deck barges. Kyle and Company built of Stockton, California built US Army BC 522 to BC 535 deck barges in 1942, that had a length of 110 feet, a beam of 35 feet, a draft of 6 feet, light displacement of 170 tons, full displacement of 500 tons, and deadweight of 330 tons.[32][33]
Concrete Barge
Built by Concrete Ship Constructors in National City, California in 1944 and 1945. These were a type of concrete ship built with ferrocement. Steel shortages led the US military to order the construction of small fleets of ocean-going concrete barge and ships. Typical Displacement: 5,636 long tons (5,726t), full load: 12,910 tons. Length:366ft 4in (111.66m), beam: 54ft (16m), draft: 26ft (7.9m), crew 52 officers and men. Ship armament 1 to 4 40 mm AA gun[34][35][36][37] Concrete Ships were fitted as needed. Some had diesel-electric power generators for refrigeration or tool use. Others were used to store fuel or water (up to 60,000 barrels). Some were used for water distilling. Others were the Quartermaster general store.[38]
Type MC B7-A2 tank barges made by Concrete Ship Constructors Inc in National City CA.
B7-A2 were 5,786 deadweight tons concrete barges.
YOG-85
YO-144
YOG-40
YOG-41
YOG-42 Beached off a Hawaiian island, visible from the shore
YOG-64 Service history unknown, now wrecked at the Staten Island boat graveyard, currently known as the Donjon Iron and Metal Scrap Facility
YO-145
YO-146 Sank in accident July 1957
YOG-53
YO-159 Sunk by Japanese submarine RO-42 off New Hebrides 14 Jan 1944
YO-160 Atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll on 25 Jul 1946
YO-161 Sank Eniwetok 29 Nov 1946
YO-162
YO-163
YO-182
YO-183
YOGN-82 Sunk on June 23, 2018, to form an artificial reef in Powell River, B.C.[39]
YO-184 Sank at Eniwetok during typhoon Sep. of 1946
YOGN 104 built by Alabama Dry Dock Mobile AL Ex-C 105, disposed of 1947
1950s Built by Trinity Industries in Nashville TN, 165 feet long, 245 tons.
YOGN-110
YOGN-111
YOGN-112
YOGN-113
Built by Albina Engine & Machine in Portland OR, 165 feet long, 245 tons.
YOGN-114
YOGN-115 used to support cooling efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power [40][41]
YOGN-116
YOGN-117
YOGN-118
YOGN-119 renamed YON 367, sunk as target 1973
YOGN-120 renamed Ex-BG 1165, sunk as target 1978
YOGN-121
YOGN-122 Ex-BG 8452, scrapped 1986
YOGN-123 Ex-BG 6380, YON 252
YOGN-124 Ex-BG 6383, struck 2006
YOGN-125 Ex-YWN 154, now YON
Built by Manitowoc SB in Manitowoc WI, 174 feet long, 440 tons.
YOGN-196 renamed Ex-YO 196, sunk as target 2000
Trefoil-class concrete barge
Type: B7-D1 were built by Barrett & Hilp in South San Francisco, California. They had a tonnage of M.C. Deadweight: 5,687, Full Load: 10,970 tons.
Dimensions: Length: 366'4" by Beam: 54' with max. Draft: 26'
The Trefoil, when she was known as the Midnight in 1944
B7-A1
B7-A1 were 5,786 deadweight tons concrete barges.
MacEvoy Shipbuilding Corp. of Savannah, Georgia made seven B7-A1 concrete barges in 1944.
San Jacinto Shipbuilding Corp. of Houston TX made four B7-A1 concrete barges in 1943.
C1-S-D1
C1-S-D1 were made by McCloskey & Company Shipyard in Hookers Point, Tampa, Florida in 1944. McCloskey built 24 C1-S-D1. Many were sunk after the as war as breakwater barriers. B7-A1 were 5,004 deadweight tons concrete barges.
Name – Completed – Fate
Vitruvius Dec-43 Sunk as a breakwater at Normandy
David O. Saylor Nov-43 Sunk as a breakwater at Normandy
Arthur Newell Talbot Feb-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Kiptopeke VA
Richard Lewis Humphrey Mar-44 Sold in Mexico
Richard Kidder Meade Mar-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Kiptopeke VA
Willis A. Slater Feb-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Kiptopeke VA
Leonard Chase Watson Jun-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Kiptopeke VA
John Smeaton Apr-44 Afloat as a breakwater at Powell River BC
Joseph Aspdin May-44 Wrecked and lost 1948
John Grant Jun-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Kiptopeke VA
M. H. Le Chatelier 1055 Jul-44 Afloat as a breakwater at Powell River BC
L. J. Vicat Jul-44 Afloat as a breakwater at Powell River BC
Robert Whitman Lesley 1057 Jul-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Kiptopeke VA
Edwin Thacher Jul-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Kiptopeke VA
C. W. Pasley Aug-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Newport OR
Armand Considere Sep-44 Afloat as a breakwater at Powell River BC
Francois Hennebique Sep-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Newport OR
P. M. Anderson Sep-44 Afloat as a breakwater at Powell River BC
Albert Kahn Oct-44 Abandoned and lost 1947
Willard A. Pollard Nov-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Kiptopeke VA
William Foster Cowham Nov-44 Sunk as a breakwater at Kiptopeke VA
Edwin Clarence Eckel Dec-44 Scuttled 1946
Thaddeus Merriman Nov-44 Afloat as a breakwater at Powell River BC
Emile N. Vidal Dec-44 Afloat as a breakwater at Powell River BC
Wood Barge
YS-110 with crawler crane US Navy wooden barge in 1942Wood Barge
A number of different types of wood barges were used in the war. A flat bottom wood barge could be used in shallow ports or be towed onto beaches. They were low cost to build and could be abandoned after used if needed. To stop wooden hull rot many had copper-sheathed hulls. With the shortage of steel, a fleet of wood barges was built and a fleet of concrete barges were also built.[42][5]
YS-110 was a 80-foot wood barge with a 40-foot beam. She had a flat deck and was built in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in 1943.[43]
YS-88 was a 100-foot wood barge with a 42-foot beam. Built in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in 1941.[43]
YC-843 to YC-847 were built by Martha's Vineyard Ship Building Company in Vineyard Haven, MA, 110-foot wood barges for the US Navy at 250 tons in 1942
YFNB Large Covered Lighter, non-self-propelled barge, such as US Navy YFNB_47, a 152 feet, 36 feet beam barge that was used for repair, e.g. YR 47 and YRR 9 .
YFNX were Special Purpose Barges, that were non-self-propelled and used at shore. Most were a modified YC or YFN hull. The modified barge gave the craft a specialized use, such as a laboratory, sonar research or stowage for submarine goods.[45][46]
YFND or Dry Dock Companion Craft, were non-self-propelled barges. YFND were a special purpose barge used to support the auxiliary floating drydocks, which had little crew support space.[47]
YFP were Floating Power Barges, a non-self-propelled barge with fuel and a generator to make a mobile power station, and were able to produce up to 20,000 kilowatts of power.[48]
YOG were self propelled Gasoline Barges, with tanks for gasoline that had a capacity of 8,200 Bbls. YOGN were non-self-propelled Gasoline Barges.[28]
YG were Garbage Barges, also called Lighter, and were self-propelled with one direct-drive Atlas diesel engine to a single propeller, 240 shp.[49]
YGN
YGN were Garbage Barges that were non-self-propelled.[50]
YPD were Floating Pile Drivers, and were non-self-propelled barges, used to build piers.[51][52]
YSR were Sludge Removal Barges, a non-self-propelled sludge removal barge 110 foot long with a 34-foot beam. Built for cleaning fuel oil or other tanks that have sludge and/or foreign matter.[53]
The United States Army barges were given the prefix of "B". For World War II over 6,000 barges were built for the Army, by 130 different shipyards. Often used for assault landings, if there was no harbor, a bulldozer or tank could tow the barge onto the beachhead, so supplies would be available to the Troops. Barges were also used for ship-to-ship transfers and as a way to unload ships quickly, then move by a tugboat, also called a Sea mule.[54][55]
For WW1 12 emergency fleet concrete barges were ordered for the war, but they were not completed in time and were sold to private companies.[65]
(12 Concrete ships were also built, like the SS Atlantus.)
YOG 42, Gasoline barge. Under tow by Navajo – AT64, when Navajo was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-39 on 12 September 1943, 150 miles East of Espiritu Santo. Recovered by USS Sioux (AT-75).[66]
YO-64 Sank due to enemy action in the Philippines in January 1942.[67]
YO 41 and YO 42 Fuel oil barges. Sank 22 Feb 1942 during enemy action in the Philippines.[68]
YSP- 44, YSP- 46, YSP- 47, YSP- 48, YSP- 49 Salvage barges and the YSR-2, a sludge barge, sank 22 Feb. 1942 during enemy action in the Philippines.[69]
YW-54 Water barge, destroyed in early 1942 in enemy action in the Philippines.
YW-50, YW-55 and YW-58 water barges, captured 10 December 1941 with the surrender of American forces on Guam.
YC-891 Sank on 18 April 1945, while under tow by the tug Mauvila (YT-328) off Key West, Florida.
USS YOG-76 Sank on 13 November 1969 in Cua Viet Cove, South Vietnam after two underwater explosions hit her. Refloated and taken to Da Nang, South Vietnam. Not repaired due to severe damage.[70]
Syncline YO-63 A Bullwheel Class Fuel Oil Barge, Self-propelled, sank in 1972 north of Tahiti.[71]
YW-114 A YW-83 Class Self-propelled Water Barge. Sank when cargo shifted at Tongass Narrows near Ketchikan, Alaska on 12 August 1989.[72]
YF-1079 Ran aground and damaged at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, after Typhoon Louise in October 1945. YF-757 also sank in the storm.
YON-184 Sank at Eniwetok in a typhoon in September 1946.[73]
Winifred Sheridan A sea-going coal barge. Sank with the Mary E. O’Hara a sailing fishing ship after they collided on January 20, 1941, in blinding snowstorm off The Graves Light.[74]
Chickamauga While under tow by the steamer Samuel Mitchell, she collided with the Mitchell at Houghton Point, Lake Superior on May 18, 1908, in fog.[75]
Dunaj 2 Sank after striking a mine in the Sea of Azov on 29 Sep 1943.[76]
YCK-8 Wooden barge sank 2.7 miles off Key West, Florida on 12 December 1943. She was under tow by Army tug LT-4.[79]
USSYO-159 A self-propelled fuel oil barge. Torpedoed and damaged 250 nautical miles (460km) east of Espiritu Santo (15°27′S171°28′E) by Ro-42 on 14 January 1944. Two torpedoes hit YO-159's concrete hull, causing the loss of her fuel oil cargo which caught fire. She was scuttled the following day by USSPC-1138.[80][81]
Thames lighters, or dumb barges, were non-self-propelled barges. The original Thames barges were sailing vessels, many were converted for the war. Some LB vessels had ramps added and were called LBR or Landing Barge, Ramped. Some had engines and rudder added and were referred to as LBV or Landing Barge Vehicle. They were used for different tasks: Landing Barge Oiler (LBO), Water (LBW), Kitchen (LBK) and Emergency Repair (LBE), Landing Barge Flak (LBF) and Gun (LBG). There was also one Landing Barge Cable (LBC). Many brought supplies to Normandy.[86][87]
Type B I barge hull. Designed to ensure no uncontrolled release of cargo to the water or atmosphere.
Type B II barge hull. Designed to carry products which require substantial preventive measures to ensure no uncontrolled release of cargo to the water or atmosphere, but only if the release does not constitute a long term hazard.
Type B III barge hull. Designed to transport products classed as minor hazards, thus needing less degree of control.[88]
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United States Coast Guard).[78]
