Collection

Ships

Ships, builders, home ports, specifications, and histories.

Showing 3,601–3,650

Name	Type	Hull Num	Class	Status	Comm Is Date	Decom Sunk Or Reclass	Reclass Num	Builder	Built City	Built State	Home Port	Historynotes
City of Alma					1945-05-04 00:00:00.000			Gulf Shipbuilding Corp.	Chickasaw	AL		Maritime Commission Hull 1609 Merchant ship Original opera… Maritime Commission Hull 1609 Merchant ship Original operator, Waterman Steamship WW II Probably sunk Jun 2 1942
City of Alton	Hog Islander							American International Shipbuilding	Philadelphia	PA		WW I - Built for the war but not completed in time to parti… WW I - Built for the war but not completed in time to participate
City of Alton	Steamboat											Civil War Used by Army March 1862, used to transport Union… Civil War Used by Army March 1862, used to transport Union troops for the Battle of Shiloh. (Hurst List) December 1862, lower Mississippi
City of Atlanta				Sunk		1942-01-19 00:00:00.000						WW II Sunk Jan 19 1942 by German submarine off Caper Hatter… WW II Sunk Jan 19 1942 by German submarine off Caper Hatteras
City of Birmingham	Passenger			Sunk		1942-06-30 00:00:00.000						WW II Sunk by torpedo in North Atlantic. 7 crew members an… WW II Sunk by torpedo in North Atlantic. 7 crew members and 2 passengers lost
City of Corpus Christi	SSN	705	Los Angeles	Active	1983-01-08 00:00:00.000			General Dynamics, Electric Boat Div.	Groton	CT	Groton
City of Dalhart												Merchant ship WW II Mar-Apr 1942, unloaded material at Umm… Merchant ship WW II Mar-Apr 1942, unloaded material at Umm Qasr in Iraq for construction of Docks. Probably the same as IX-156, qv
City of Dalhart	IX	156		Decom	1944-06-02 00:00:00.000	1946-01-28 00:00:00.000		Oscar Daniels Co.	Tampa	FL		Probably the same as the commercial ship City of Dalhart WW… Probably the same as the commercial ship City of Dalhart WW II Decommissioned Jan 28 1946 and returned to her owner
City of Dallas	Cargo							Toledo Shipbuilding	Toledo	OH		Built 1919 Acquired by Army Oct 30 1942 Army vessel Bareb… Built 1919 Acquired by Army Oct 30 1942 Army vessel Bareboat charter WW II Troop lift
City of Fairbury	Hog Islander							American International Shipbuilding	Philadelphia	PA		WW I - Built for the war but not completed in time to parti… WW I - Built for the war but not completed in time to participate
City of Flint	Hog Islander			Sunk		1943-01-25 00:00:00.000		American International Shipbuilding	Philadelphia	PA		WW I - Built for the war but not completed in time to parti… WW I - Built for the war but not completed in time to participate Merchant ship WW II Oct 9 1939, seized by German armored cruiser Deutschland as contraband carrier en route from New York to UK. Eventually freed. Damaged by collision Jan 1 1940 in Murmansk route Sunk by torpedo in approach to Mediterranean. 3 crew and 1 Armed Guard lost. I POW
City of Fort Worth	Cargo							McDougall-Duluth	Duluth	MI		Built 1919 Acquired by Army Oct 13 1942 Army vessel Bareb… Built 1919 Acquired by Army Oct 13 1942 Army vessel Bareboat charter WW II
City of Houston												Built 1919 Acquired by Army Jun 14 1943 WW II Troop lift
City of Houston	Cargo							McDougall-Duluth	Duluth	MI		Built 1919 Army vessel Bareboat charter WW II
City of Joliet				Sunk		1942-05-28 00:00:00.000						Merchant ship WW II May 1942, Convoy PQ-16 for Archangel. … Merchant ship WW II May 1942, Convoy PQ-16 for Archangel. Sunk May 28 en route
City of Lewes	AM			Decom	1917-05-12 00:00:00.000	1917-09-08 00:00:00.000		W. G. Abbott	Milford	DE		No. 383 Purchased by Navy May 18 1917 WW I Decommissioned… No. 383 Purchased by Navy May 18 1917 WW I Decommissioned Sep 8 1919 and sold
City of Louisiana	Steamboat											Civil War Used by Army December 1862, lower Mississippi
City of Lowell	Troopship							Bath Iron Works	Bath	ME		Built 1894 WW II Army vessel
City of Madison	Steamer											Civil War March 1862, used to transport Union troops for th… Civil War March 1862, used to transport Union troops for the Battle of Shiloh. (Hurst List) Under charter to Army when destroyed by Confederate agents at Vicksburg Aug 1863
City of Memphis	Freighter			Sunk		1917-03-16 00:00:00.000						WW I - Commericial vessel Sunk by German submarine
City of Memphis	Steamboat											Civil War Used by Army March 1862, used to transport Union… Civil War Used by Army March 1862, used to transport Union troops for the Battle of Shiloh. (Hurst List) December 1862, lower Mississippi
City of Omaha												Merchant ship WW II 1943, Murmansk Run
City of Pekin	Transport											Civil War 1864, Tennessee River
City of Philadelphia												Built 1919 Acquired by Army May 27 1943 WW II Troop lift
City of Philadelphia	Cargo							Great Lakes Engineering Works	Ashtabula	OH		Built 1919 Army vessel Bareboat charter WW II
City of Rayville				Sunk		1940-11-09 00:00:00.000						Merchant ship WW II Nov 9 1940, sunk by German mine off C… Merchant ship WW II Nov 9 1940, sunk by German mine off Cape Otway, Bass Strait, Australia. (Navy chronology says 11/8) First United States merchant vessel sunk in WW II
City of Richmond	Str											Civil War Confederate blockade runner chartered, probably i… Civil War Confederate blockade runner chartered, probably in London, during last year of the war. Conveyed officers, crew and military stores to ironclad Stonewall of Quiberon France in early 1865
City of Richmond	SwStr			Destroyed		1862-03-09 00:00:00.000			Washington	DC		Ex George Page, qv Civil War Captured by Confederates May … Ex George Page, qv Civil War Captured by Confederates May 1861 Acqurired by Confederate States Navy Renamed City of Richmond Operated around Quantico Creek Destroyed by crew Mar 9 1862 when Evensport batteries were abandoned
City of South Haven	AP			Decom	1918-11-09 00:00:00.000	1919-12-03 00:00:00.000		Craig Shipbuilding Co.	Toledo	OH		No. 2527 Built in 1903 WW I Decommissioned Dec 3 1919 and… No. 2527 Built in 1903 WW I Decommissioned Dec 3 1919 and sold
Claiborne	AK	171	Alamosa	Decom	1945-04-19 00:00:00.000	1946-02-07 00:00:00.000		Froemming Bros., Inc.	Milwaukee	WI		Maritime Commission Hull 2144 WW II Decommissioned Feb 7 1… Maritime Commission Hull 2144 WW II Decommissioned Feb 7 1946 and transferred to War Shipping Administration
Clamagore	SS	343	Gato		1945-06-28 00:00:00.000			Electric Boat Co.	Groton	CT
Clamour	AM	160	Admirable	Decom	1944-03-14 00:00:00.000	1946-06-12 00:00:00.000		Willamette Iron & Steel Co.	Portland	OR		ex AMC-137 WW II Decommissioned Jun 12 1946 Reclassified… ex AMC-137 WW II Decommissioned Jun 12 1946 Reclassified MSF-160 Feb 7 1955, after decommissioning
Clamp	ARS	33	Diver	Decom	1943-08-23 00:00:00.000	1947-05-06 00:00:00.000		Basalt Rock Co.	Napa	CA		Ex Atlantic Salvor, qv Renamed Clamp before commissioning … Ex Atlantic Salvor, qv Renamed Clamp before commissioning WW II Nov-Dec 1943, Operation Galvanic, Gilbert Islands operation, LCDR L. H. Curtis Jun-Aug 1944, Operation Forager, Invasion of Saipan and Tinian May-Jun 1945, Operation Iceberg, Okinawa Campaign Decommissioned 5/06/1947 4 Battle Stars WW II
Clara	Tug							Dravo Construction	Erie	PA		Built 1920 Army vessel WW II
Clara Barton					1942-09-12 00:00:00.000			California Shipbuilding Corp.	Los Angeles	CA		Maritime Commission E Hull 636 Merchant ship Original oper… Maritime Commission E Hull 636 Merchant ship Original operator, Coastwise Steamship WW II Jun 1944, Operation Overlord, Invasion of Normandy
Clara Dolsen	SwStr			Returned					Cincinnati	OH		Built 1861 Civil War In service of Confederate States, cap… Built 1861 Civil War In service of Confederate States, captured by Union ships of St. Charles Expedition on White River, 6/14/1862 Operated with Union army and eventually as USS Clare Dolsen, (frequently written Dolson) Turned over to U.S. marshal May 1864 for delivery to her owners
Clara Dolson												Civil War Captured by Union in 1862. Used as receiving shi… Civil War Captured by Union in 1862. Used as receiving ship
Clara L. Hudgins							*					YP-507, qv, was named Clara L. Hudgins at some time
Clara Poe	Steamboat											Civil War Used by Army March 1862, used to transport Union… Civil War Used by Army March 1862, used to transport Union troops for the Battle of Shiloh. (Hurst List) January 1865, Ohio River
Clarance H. Matson					1944-01-26 00:00:00.000			California Shipbuilding Corp.	Los Angeles	CA		Maritime Commission E Hull 2555 Merchant ship Original ope… Maritime Commission E Hull 2555 Merchant ship Original operator, Matson Navigation WW II
Clare	AC			Decom	1918-09-19 00:00:00.000	1919-02-24 00:00:00.000		Maryland Steel Co.	Sparrows Point	MD		WW I Naval Oerseas Transportation Service Decommissioned F… WW I Naval Oerseas Transportation Service Decommissioned Feb 24 1919 Transferred to U.S. Shipping Board for return to owner
Claremont Victory	XAK				1944-05-23 00:00:00.000			Oregon Shipbuilding Corp.	Portland	OR		Maritime Commission Victory Hull 102 Merchant ship Origina… Maritime Commission Victory Hull 102 Merchant ship Original operator, Isthmian Steamship WW II Apr 10-22 1945, Operation Iceberg, Okinawa Campaign, TG 53.8
Clarence	Half Brig			Burned			*		Baltimore	MD		Built 1857 Also known as Coquette, qv Captured May 6 1863 … Built 1857 Also known as Coquette, qv Captured May 6 1863 by Screw Sloop CSS Florida, qv, en route from Rio de Janeiro to Baltimore with coffee Placed under command of LT C. W. Read, qv, with prize crew Jun 6 1863, captured bark Windward , qv(also known as Whistling Wind) Jun 7 1863, captured schooner Alfred H. Partridge Jun 9 1863, captured brig Mary Alvina, qv Jun 12 1863, captured bark Tacony, qv Jun 12 1863, captured schooner M. A. Shindler, qv Jun 12 1863, captured schooner M. A. Shindler, qv On Jun 12 1863 Lt Read transferred his crew from Clarence to Tacony, which he considered a better ship, and burned Clarence
Clarence B. Randall					1943-07-16 00:00:00.000			Great Lakes Engine Works	Ashtabula	OH		Maritime Commission Hull 583 Merchant ship Original operat… Maritime Commission Hull 583 Merchant ship Original operator, Pioneer Steamship Co. WW II
Clarence Darrow					1943-06-06 00:00:00.000			California Shipbuilding Corp.	Los Angeles	CA		Maritime commission E Hull 1660 Merchant ship Original ope… Maritime commission E Hull 1660 Merchant ship Original operator, Matson Navigation WW II
Clarence F. Peck					1945-02-26 00:00:00.000			New England Shipbuilding Corp.	South Portland	ME		Maritime Commission E Hull 3101 Merchant ship Original ope… Maritime Commission E Hull 3101 Merchant ship Original operator, Shepard Steamship WW II
Clarence K. Bronson	DD	668	Fletcher	Decom	1943-06-11 00:00:00.000	1960-06-29 00:00:00.000		Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.	Kearny	NJ		Named for LTJG Clarence K. Bronson, qv WW II Feb 1944, Inv… Named for LTJG Clarence K. Bronson, qv WW II Feb 1944, Invasion of Marshall Islands Mar 1944, landings on Bismark Archipelago Jun-Jul 1944, Invasion of Marianas Islands June 19-20 1944, Battle of the Philippine Sea Sep 1944, Invasion of Palau Islands Oct 1944, Invasion of Leyte, CDR Gifford Scull Feb 1945, Invasion of Iwo JIma Decommissioned Jul 16 1946 Recommissioned Jun 7 1951 Korean War Decommissioned Jun 29 1960 9 Battle Stars WW II 1 Battle Star Korean War
Clarence King					1943-07-13 00:00:00.000			Permanente Metals Corp, Shipbuilding Div.	Richmond	CA		Maritime Commission E Hull 1585 Merchant ship Original ope… Maritime Commission E Hull 1585 Merchant ship Original operator, Mississippi Shipping WW II
Clarence L. Evans	DE	113	Buckley	Decom	1944-06-25 00:00:00.000	1947-05-29 00:00:00.000		Dravo Corp.	Wilmington	DE		Named for Marine Clarence L. Evans, qv WW II Atlantic Dec… Named for Marine Clarence L. Evans, qv WW II Atlantic Decommissioned May 29 1947 Loaned to France under Military Assistance Program Mar 29 1952 Named changed to Berbere
Clarence Roberts					1944-11-17 00:00:00.000			Todd-Houston Shipbuilding Corp.	Houston	TX		Maritime Commission E Hull 2972 Merchant ship Original ope… Maritime Commission E Hull 2972 Merchant ship Original operator, Norton Lilly Corp. WW II

Background and Sources Collection notes, historical context, and related resources

Ships

Purpose

The Ships table is the most comprehensive and nearly complete of the tables in this site. It includes tens of thousands of different vessels. It is primarily, but not exclusively, Navy ships, that have helped make American history.

Fewer than half of the vessels in the table are named. Most of the others are identified only by a number but one that is unique to that vessel (called hull numbers by the Navy). The most famous of the latter is PT-109, John Kennedy’s PT boat that was sunk in World War II. Another famous group is the “LSTs”, the Landing Ships-Tank of World War II fame. (Some crew members who served on these big, ungainly vessels said that LST stood for Large Slow Target.) Following World War II, the Navy started giving the LSTs names, but those in the war were identified only by their hull numbers.

DANFS

The most authoritative and most common source of information about the Navy’s commissioned and named ships, plus the LSTs, is the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS). This series of eight books was published by the Navy and was not available through commercial book stores. The books are now out of print, but are available through the used book market. Much if not all of their content is now also available online at the Naval History and Heritage Command’s DANFS site.

Many thousands of watercraft had non-unique numbers, or semi-unique numbers, the latter including landing craft that carried the number of the transport that carried them plus a number of their own (such as PA-91-15). I have not tried to include these latter craft in this project.

The World War II Commercial Fleet

The Navy in World War II utilized many commercial vessels, even in the dangerous landing operations, the most famous being the Liberty Ships, which were mostly freighters, and their larger replacements, the Victory Ships. These and other commercial vessels from that war are included in the table. The U.S. built thousands of these ships and other commercial type ships during and shortly after World War II. Lists of the various types of commercial design ships built for the war, and separate lists of what ships were built by each shipyard, are at the Maritime Commission site.

Some of these were turned over to the Navy to operate, but most were operated by commercial shipping companies, even in battle and particularly in dangerous convoys crossing the Atlantic.

The liberty ships were named for people, and a book has been published that identifies who these people were. It is Liberty Ships, the People Behind the Names, compiled by Capt. Robert Deschamps and published in 1999. It is probably available online.

The Army’s Ships

The Army has also used thousands of ships and other watercraft over the years, especially in the Civil War and World War II. Major sources of information about these vessels are:

The Army’s Navy Series Volume I, Marine Transportation in War. The U.S. Army Experience 1775-1860, by Charles Dana Gibson and E. Kay Gibson.

The Army’s Navy Series Volume II, Assault and Logistics Union Army Coastal and River Operations 1861-1866, by Charles Dana Gibson and E. Kay Gibson.

U.S. Army Ships and Watercraft of World War II, by David H. Grover.

Smaller Vessels

Many books and web sites have been published about the tens of thousands of smaller vessels that the Navy used during World War II. I have found several of them and am sure there are many more that I’m not aware of.

Two fine examples are:

Ten Thousand Men and One Hundred Thirty “Mighty Midget” Ships–The U.S.S. LCS(L)s in World War II, by Raymond A. Baumler. This is about the Landing Ship Support (Large) vessels. This book was privately published and printed in 1991 by PIP Printing, Rockville MD.

At Close Quarters, PT Boats in the United States Navy, by Robert J. Bulkley, Jr. This book has extensive information about the history of each PT-Boat, many of the men who served on them, and their organizations. This book was first printed in 1962 for the Navy by the Government Printing Office, and has been reprinted by the Naval Institute Press.