Type C1 ship
Encyclopedia
Type C1 was a designation for small cargo ship
s built for the U.S. Maritime Commission
before and during World War II
. The first C1 types were the smallest of the three original Maritime Commission designs, meant for shorter routes where high speed and capacity were less important. Only a handful were delivered prior to Pearl Harbor. But many C1-A and C1-B ships were already in the works and were delivered during 1942. Many were converted to military purposes including troop-transports during the war.
The Type C1-M ship was a separate design, for a significantly smaller and shallower draft vessel. This design evolved as an answer for the projected needs for military transport and supply of the pacific island campaigns.
ships, that comprised the bulk of the U.S. Merchant Marine.
From 1939 through the end of World War II, MARCOM funded and administered the largest and most successful merchant shipbuilding effort in world history, producing thousands of ships, including Liberty ship
s, Victory ships, and others, notably type C1 ships, type C2 ships, type C3 , type C4 ships, T2 tankers, Landing Ship Tank (LST)s and patrol frigates. By the end of the war, U.S. shipyards working under MARCOM contracts had built a total of 5,777 oceangoing merchant and naval ships.
What was later known as the C1-A was among the three original cargo ship designs including the basic C2 and C3. The further developments included the C1-B which included minor changes and turbine engines, and then more radical departures for special needs to meet the exigencies of the war, including troop ships based on the C1-B. Deliveries of the C1-B began before the other models, in mid 1941.
The C series of ships differed from the Liberty and Victory ships. The first C series vessels were designed prior to hostilities and were meant to be commercially viable ships to modernize the US Merchant Marine, and reduce the US reliance on foreign shipping. The Liberty ships were a throwback to late 19th century British designs with reciprocating steam engines, but were very cheap to build in large quantities; Victory ships evolved from the Liberty ships but used modern turbine engines. The C series ships were more expensive to produce, but their economic viability lasted well into the late 1960s and early 1970s in military and merchant fleets. Several ships are still in operation.
ships. There were many adaptations of the design for special purposes from hospital ships to petroleum gas carriers. The C1-M was the type with the largest production; it was a significant variation from the original C1 design in size, performance and profile; these were shorter, narrower, slower and the superstructure was farther toward the stern.
With the exception of ships built for specific shipping lines before the war, the majority of the C1-A and C1-B ships were given two-word names beginning with "Cape", such as SS Cape Hatteras.
, with another 19 being built by Pusey and Jones
in Wilmington, Delaware
. Most were built with diesel motors, though 19 were built with steam turbine engines. These were shelter deck ships, having a very light upper deck, the sides of which are open ports to the second or main deck.
The first keels were laid in 1939. Two of the Pusey and Jones ships were converted to PT boat
tenders before entering service, including the USS Cyrene (AGP-13)
.
Some of the diesel vessels were powered by 2-6 cylinder Nordberg 2 stroke engines (sulzer type) driving the single shaft via magnetic couplings and a reduction gear-box. The engine speed was 220 rpm and the shaft 110 rpm. This configuration made maneuvering very easy when entering port, as one engine was run in reverse and the other ahead; change of direction was simply performed by energizing the appropriate magnetic coupling. All auxiliary equipment was electric. The engine room was a pleasure to operate and the workmanship outstanding.
in Wilmington, California. All but ten of the C1-B ships had steam turbine engines; these were all built at Seattle-Tacoma SB Corp., Tacoma, Washington
and Western Pipe & Steel Co., San Francisco, California, with each producing five ships. These were full scantling ships with three decks in which the frames hold the same dimensions as the upper deck. Full scantling ships have deck gear sufficient to completely unload their cargoes.
The C1-S-AY1 subtype of thirteen ships built by Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon, was modified from the C1-B design for use as troopships by Great Britain
under lend-lease
. These ships were all given two-word names beginning with "Empire", such as SS Empire Spearhead. The was lost at the Normandy Invasion
, to a mine. was sunk by a torpedo from a German U-boat on 28th December 1944.
. These ships were shorter, narrower, and had less draft than the earlier C1 designs, and were rated at only 11 knots (22 km/h). The USS Alamosa
is an example of a C1-M ship.
The C1-M-AV1 subtype, a general cargo ship with one large diesel engine, was the most numerous. About 215 of this type were built in ten different shipyards. Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd. of Wilmington, California built the largest number — about a quarter of all built. These ships were either named for knot
s, such as SS Emerald Knot, or with a two-word name beginning with "Coastal", such as SS Coastal Ranger; a large number built for lend-lease were also given two-word names, this time beginning with "Hickory". About 65 of this subtype were complete for the U.S. Navy
. Those ships were generally named after counties in the U.S.
One C1-ME-AV6 subype was built, SS Coastal Liberator. Instead of the diesel engine direct drive of the AV1 subtypes, it had a diesel engine which produced electricity, and an electric motor with 2,200 horsepower actually powered the vessel. Four of the C1-MT-BU1 subtype were built as lumber carriers, with twin screws. The lumber carriers were given U.S. State-and-tree names, such as SS California Redwood.
The final subtype, C1-M-AV8, had a variable pitch propeller. Only one ship was planned as this type, but five previously launched C1-M-AV1 ships were converted to this type for France
.
Note any ship in the control of the Ministry of War Transport took an Empire name even if being built as another name eg Cape Turner
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
s built for the U.S. Maritime Commission
United States Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and replaced the U.S. Shipping Board which had existed since World War I...
before and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The first C1 types were the smallest of the three original Maritime Commission designs, meant for shorter routes where high speed and capacity were less important. Only a handful were delivered prior to Pearl Harbor. But many C1-A and C1-B ships were already in the works and were delivered during 1942. Many were converted to military purposes including troop-transports during the war.
The Type C1-M ship was a separate design, for a significantly smaller and shallower draft vessel. This design evolved as an answer for the projected needs for military transport and supply of the pacific island campaigns.
Origins
The United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) was an independent executive agency of the US Federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, passed by Congress on June 29, 1936 and replaced the U.S. Shipping Board which had existed since World War I. It was intended to formulate a merchant shipbuilding program to design and build five hundred modern merchant cargo ships to supplement and replace the World War I vintage vessels, including Hog IslanderHog Islander
Hog Islanders is the slang for ships built to Emergency Fleet Corporation designs number 1022 and 1024. These vessels were cargo and transport ships, respectively, built under government direction and subsidy to address a shortage of ships in the United States Merchant Marine during World War...
ships, that comprised the bulk of the U.S. Merchant Marine.
From 1939 through the end of World War II, MARCOM funded and administered the largest and most successful merchant shipbuilding effort in world history, producing thousands of ships, including 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, Victory ships, and others, notably type C1 ships, type C2 ships, type C3 , type C4 ships, T2 tankers, Landing Ship Tank (LST)s and patrol frigates. By the end of the war, U.S. shipyards working under MARCOM contracts had built a total of 5,777 oceangoing merchant and naval ships.
What was later known as the C1-A was among the three original cargo ship designs including the basic C2 and C3. The further developments included the C1-B which included minor changes and turbine engines, and then more radical departures for special needs to meet the exigencies of the war, including troop ships based on the C1-B. Deliveries of the C1-B began before the other models, in mid 1941.
The C series of ships differed from the Liberty and Victory ships. The first C series vessels were designed prior to hostilities and were meant to be commercially viable ships to modernize the US Merchant Marine, and reduce the US reliance on foreign shipping. The Liberty ships were a throwback to late 19th century British designs with reciprocating steam engines, but were very cheap to build in large quantities; Victory ships evolved from the Liberty ships but used modern turbine engines. The C series ships were more expensive to produce, but their economic viability lasted well into the late 1960s and early 1970s in military and merchant fleets. Several ships are still in operation.
Variations
The Type C1-A and C1-B ships were similar in design, All had a rated top speed of 14 knots. The primary difference between them was that C1-A ships were shelter deck ships, while C1-B ships were full scantlingScantling
Scantling is a measurement of prescribed size, dimensions, or cross sectional areas. For comparison, see Form Factor: -Shipping:In shipbuilding, the scantling refers to the collective dimensions of the various parts, particularly the framing and structural supports. The word is most often used in...
ships. There were many adaptations of the design for special purposes from hospital ships to petroleum gas carriers. The C1-M was the type with the largest production; it was a significant variation from the original C1 design in size, performance and profile; these were shorter, narrower, slower and the superstructure was farther toward the stern.
With the exception of ships built for specific shipping lines before the war, the majority of the C1-A and C1-B ships were given two-word names beginning with "Cape", such as SS Cape Hatteras.
C1-A
Forty-six Type C1-A ships were built at Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc. in Beaumont, TexasBeaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, with another 19 being built by Pusey and Jones
Pusey and Jones
The Pusey and Jones Corporation was a major ship and equipment manufacturer from 1846 to 1959. Ship building was the primary focus from 1853 until the end of World War II, when the company converted the shipyard to production of paper manufacturing machinery...
in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. Most were built with diesel motors, though 19 were built with steam turbine engines. These were shelter deck ships, having a very light upper deck, the sides of which are open ports to the second or main deck.
The first keels were laid in 1939. Two of the Pusey and Jones ships were converted to PT boat
PT boat
PT Boats were a variety of motor torpedo boat , a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships. The PT boat squadrons were nicknamed "the mosquito fleet". The Japanese called them "Devil Boats".The original pre–World War I torpedo boats were...
tenders before entering service, including the USS Cyrene (AGP-13)
USS Cyrene (AGP-13)
USS Cyrene was a motor torpedo boat tender for the United States Navy.She was laid down as Cape Farewell, a Maritime Commission type hull under a Maritime Commission contract, at Pusey and Jones Corp., Wilmington, Delaware....
.
Some of the diesel vessels were powered by 2-6 cylinder Nordberg 2 stroke engines (sulzer type) driving the single shaft via magnetic couplings and a reduction gear-box. The engine speed was 220 rpm and the shaft 110 rpm. This configuration made maneuvering very easy when entering port, as one engine was run in reverse and the other ahead; change of direction was simply performed by energizing the appropriate magnetic coupling. All auxiliary equipment was electric. The engine room was a pleasure to operate and the workmanship outstanding.
C1-B
The Type C1-B ships were built in six different yards, the majority at Consolidated Steel CorporationConsolidated Steel Corporation
Consolidated Steel Corporation was an American steel and shipbuilding business. Consolidated built ships during World War II in two locations: Wilmington, California and Orange, Texas...
in Wilmington, California. All but ten of the C1-B ships had steam turbine engines; these were all built at Seattle-Tacoma SB Corp., Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
and Western Pipe & Steel Co., San Francisco, California, with each producing five ships. These were full scantling ships with three decks in which the frames hold the same dimensions as the upper deck. Full scantling ships have deck gear sufficient to completely unload their cargoes.
The C1-S-AY1 subtype of thirteen ships built by Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon, was modified from the C1-B design for use as troopships by Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
under lend-lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...
. These ships were all given two-word names beginning with "Empire", such as SS Empire Spearhead. The was lost at the Normandy Invasion
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, to a mine. was sunk by a torpedo from a German U-boat on 28th December 1944.
C1-M
The C1-M Type ships were a separate design from the C1-A and C1-B, meant for shorter runs and shallow harbors, either along the coasts, or for "island hopping" in the PacificPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. These ships were shorter, narrower, and had less draft than the earlier C1 designs, and were rated at only 11 knots (22 km/h). The USS Alamosa
USS Alamosa (AK-156)
USS Alamosa was a cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone...
is an example of a C1-M ship.
The C1-M-AV1 subtype, a general cargo ship with one large diesel engine, was the most numerous. About 215 of this type were built in ten different shipyards. Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd. of Wilmington, California built the largest number — about a quarter of all built. These ships were either named for knot
Knot
A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load"...
s, such as SS Emerald Knot, or with a two-word name beginning with "Coastal", such as SS Coastal Ranger; a large number built for lend-lease were also given two-word names, this time beginning with "Hickory". About 65 of this subtype were complete for the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Those ships were generally named after counties in the U.S.
One C1-ME-AV6 subype was built, SS Coastal Liberator. Instead of the diesel engine direct drive of the AV1 subtypes, it had a diesel engine which produced electricity, and an electric motor with 2,200 horsepower actually powered the vessel. Four of the C1-MT-BU1 subtype were built as lumber carriers, with twin screws. The lumber carriers were given U.S. State-and-tree names, such as SS California Redwood.
The final subtype, C1-M-AV8, had a variable pitch propeller. Only one ship was planned as this type, but five previously launched C1-M-AV1 ships were converted to this type for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Final disposition
Many of these ships have been sold and scrapped but numerous examples are still in service with Non Governmental Organizations (NGO)s such as “Friend Ships”. That organization is still using the ex “Pembina” built in Superior Wisconsin and currently called the "Spirit of Grace". Several are sailing in merchant service around the world making port calls and delivering cargo.Type C1 specifications
| Type | C1-A Shelter deck | C1-B full scantling | C1-M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 412.25 ft (125.6 m) | 417.75 ft (127.3 m) | 338.5 ft (103.2 m) |
| Beam | 60 ft (18.3 m) | 60 ft (18.3 m) | 50 ft (15.2 m) |
| Depth | 37.5 ft (11.4 m) | 37.5 ft (11.4 m) | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Draft | 23.5 ft (7.2 m) | 27.5 ft (8.4 m) | 18 ft (5.5 m) |
| Gross tons | 5,028 | 6,750 | 3,805 |
| Deadweight tons, steam | 6,240 | 7,815 | N/A |
| Deadweight tons, diesel | 6,440 | 8,015 | 5,032 |
| Speed | 14 knots (27 km/h) | 14 knots (27 km/h) | 11 knots (22 km/h) |
| Power | 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) | 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) | 1,750 hp (1.300 kW) |
Quantities of Type C1 ships
| Type | Quantity | Naming Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| C1-A | 67 | "Cape" names, SS Cape Hatteras, SS St Cape Elias |
| C1-B | 95 | also "Cape" names, other names, specific shipping lines names include SS Mormacgull (II) |
| C1-S-AY1 | 13 | took "Empire" names after transfer to the British Ministry of War Transport, several became Landing Ship, Infantry (Large) Landing Ship, Infantry Landing Ship, Infantry was a British term for a type of ship used to transport infantry in amphibious warfare during the Second World War... such as SS Empire Spearhead |
| C1-M-AV1 | 217 | "Knot" ships, SS Emerald Knot "Coastal" ships, SS Coastal Ranger |
| C1-MT-BU1 | 4 | "Tree" ships, SS California Redwood |
| C1-ME-AV6 | 1 | Only one, SS Coastal Liberator |
| C1-M-AV8 | 11 | Originally knots |
Note any ship in the control of the Ministry of War Transport took an Empire name even if being built as another name eg Cape Turner
See also
- Type C2 shipType C2 shipType C2 ships were designed by the United States Maritime Commission in 1937-38. They were all-purpose cargo ships with five holds, and U.S. shipyards built 173 of them from 1939-1945. Compared to ships built before 1939, the C2s were remarkable for their speed and fuel economy. Their design speed...
- Type C3 shipType C3 shipType C3 ships were the third type of cargo ship designed by the United States Maritime Commission in the late 1930s. As it had done with the Type C1 ships and Type C2 ships, MARCOM circulated preliminary plans for comment...
- Type C4 shipType C4 shipThe Type C4 class ship were the largest cargo ships built by the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. The design was originally developed for the American-Hawaiian Lines in 1941, but in late 1941 the plans were taken over by the MARCOM.Seventy-five ships were built as cargo and...
- T2 tankerT2 tankerThe T2 tanker, or T2, was an oil tanker constructed and produced in large quantities in the United States during World War II. The largest "navy oilers" after the T3s at the time, nearly 500 of them were built between 1940 and the end of 1945....
- Liberty shipLiberty shipLiberty 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...
- Victory shipVictory shipThe Victory ship was a type of cargo ship produced in large numbers by North American shipyards during World War II to replace shipping losses caused by German submarines...
- Hog IslanderHog IslanderHog Islanders is the slang for ships built to Emergency Fleet Corporation designs number 1022 and 1024. These vessels were cargo and transport ships, respectively, built under government direction and subsidy to address a shortage of ships in the United States Merchant Marine during World War...