Gibbs & Cox
Encyclopedia
Gibbs & Cox is a U.S.
naval architecture
firm that specializes in designing surface warships. Founded in 1922 in New York City
, Gibbs & Cox is now headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
The firm has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Hampton, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Adelaide, Australia (Gibbs & Cox Australia PTY LTD).
In 2003, more than 150 ships on active duty in nearly 20 navies around the globe, including 60 percent of the U.S. Navy's surface combatant fleet, were built to the firm's designs.
Among the ship classes designed by Gibbs & Cox are:
and his brother Frederic H. Gibbs. The name was changed when architect Daniel H. Cox of Cox & Stevens
joined the firm in 1929.
In 1931, Gibbs & Cox designed the MV Savarona
, a large luxury yacht
.
According to company officials, more than 70 percent of U.S. tonnage launched during World War II was built to Gibbs & Cox designs. Ship types included destroyers, LST landing craft, minesweepers, tankers, cruisers, Liberty Ship
s, and a variety of conversions.http://www.ss-united-states.net/WebPages/PagesGibbs.htm
In 1950, Gibbs & Cox designed the , the largest liner ever built in the United States and the fastest liner built anywhere.
From 1939 until 1962, the firm operated a model shop that produced high-quality ship models that are considered among "the very finest examples of the steel ship modeler's art ever to be seen." Of these, the most expensive and elaborate was a 1/24-scale cutaway model of the . This model, which is over 16 feet long, shows the complete inner structure on the starboard, and the exterior on the port.
Another notable model is the as she appeared on September 2, 1945, at 9:02 in the morning, the time of the Japanese surrender. This 1/48-scale ship required 77,000 man-hours to construct, and is as of January 2009 on display at the Washington Naval Yard Museum.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
naval architecture
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
firm that specializes in designing surface warships. Founded in 1922 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Gibbs & Cox is now headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
The firm has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Hampton, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Adelaide, Australia (Gibbs & Cox Australia PTY LTD).
In 2003, more than 150 ships on active duty in nearly 20 navies around the globe, including 60 percent of the U.S. Navy's surface combatant fleet, were built to the firm's designs.
Among the ship classes designed by Gibbs & Cox are:
- Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigateOliver Hazard Perry class frigateThe Oliver Hazard Perry class is a class of frigates named after the American Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the naval Battle of Lake Erie...
- Arleigh Burke-class destroyerArleigh Burke class destroyerThe Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers is the United States Navy's first class of destroyer built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. The class is named for Admiral Arleigh "31-Knot" Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of...
- Freedom Class Littoral Combat ShipFreedom class littoral combat shipThe Freedom class is a class of littoral combat ships built for the United States Navy.The Freedom class was proposed by Lockheed Martin as a contender for USN plans to build a fleet of small, multipurpose warships to operate in the littoral zone...
History
The firm was founded as "Gibbs Brothers" by self-taught naval architect William Francis GibbsWilliam Francis Gibbs
William Francis Gibbs was a renowned naval architect who directed the mass production of cargo ships for the United States during World War II, including the famous Liberty ships, of which 2,751 were built...
and his brother Frederic H. Gibbs. The name was changed when architect Daniel H. Cox of Cox & Stevens
Cox & Stevens
Cox & Stevens began in 1905 as a yacht design and commercial brokerage in New York City. The original principal partners were Daniel H. Cox, Irving Cox, and marine engineer Colonel Edwin Augustus Stevens Jr., son of renowned designer Edwin Augustus Stevens....
joined the firm in 1929.
In 1931, Gibbs & Cox designed the MV Savarona
MV Savarona
The MV Savarona is a luxury State yacht. She was the largest in the world when launched in 1931, and remains with a length of 136 m one of the world’s longest...
, a large luxury yacht
Luxury yacht
The term luxury yacht, “Superyacht” and "Large Yacht" refers to very expensive, privately owned yachts which are professionally crewed. Also known as a Super Yacht, a luxury yacht may be either a sailing or motor yacht.-History:...
.
According to company officials, more than 70 percent of U.S. tonnage launched during World War II was built to Gibbs & Cox designs. Ship types included destroyers, LST landing craft, minesweepers, tankers, cruisers, Liberty Ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
s, and a variety of conversions.http://www.ss-united-states.net/WebPages/PagesGibbs.htm
In 1950, Gibbs & Cox designed the , the largest liner ever built in the United States and the fastest liner built anywhere.
Model shop
Another notable model is the as she appeared on September 2, 1945, at 9:02 in the morning, the time of the Japanese surrender. This 1/48-scale ship required 77,000 man-hours to construct, and is as of January 2009 on display at the Washington Naval Yard Museum.
Current contracts
- CG(X)CG(X)The CG program, also known as the Next Generation Cruiser program, was a US Navy program to replace its 22 Ticonderoga class cruisers after 2017. Original plans were for 18-19 ships, based on the 14,500 ton Zumwalt class destroyer but providing ballistic missile defense and area air defense...
: "Awarded a Naval Sea Systems Command multi-year contract for program management support, technical management support, ship design support and engineering" in partnership with Alion Science and TechnologyAlion Science and TechnologyAlion Science and Technology is an employee-owned technology solutions company delivering technical expertise and operational support to the United States Department of Defense, civilian government agencies and commercial customers.... - Freedom classFreedom class littoral combat shipThe Freedom class is a class of littoral combat ships built for the United States Navy.The Freedom class was proposed by Lockheed Martin as a contender for USN plans to build a fleet of small, multipurpose warships to operate in the littoral zone...
Littoral Combat ShipLittoral combat shipA Littoral Combat Ship is a type of relatively small surface vessel intended for operations in the littoral zone . It is "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals." Two ship classes are the first...
: design and support of and subsequent ships