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User:Nowakki/USSB Diesel

< User:Nowakki

On June 6, 1924 the United States Congress amended section 12 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, authorizing the USSB to utilize no more than $25,000,000 from the construction loan fund for the purpose of installing modern internal combustion engines in USSB-owned ships. 43 Stat. 468 (1924)

At a cost of approximately $22 million, 23 Ships were converted in three groups:

  • 12 ships each fitted with one direct-connected engine, 2,700 to 3,300hp, completed between November 1926 and April 1928
  • 8 ships each fitted with one direct-connected engine, 3,625 to 4,000hp, completed between June and October 1929
  • 3 ships each fitted with four engines and one electric motor of 4,000hp, completed between December 1928 and April 1929

Background edit

In 1916, the fleet oiler Maumee was fitted with two 1,600hp 6-cylinder 2-stroke single acting engines built in the Brooklyn Navy Yard from designs of the New London Ship & Engine Company of Groton, Connecticut.[1]

On June 23, 1921 the William Penn (12,500dwt) was completed, the last of the requisitioned hulls and the first large American Vessel to rely on diesel propulsion. She carried two direct-connected Burmeister & Wain 6-cylinder 4-cycle engines with a combined 4,200hp, installed by Cramp & Sons.[2][3]

During fiscal year 1923 the USSB sold 10 ships with a special provision mandating the conversion to motor ships by the new owners.[4][5]

Ship Type DWT To Sold Price
Courtois cargo 4,125 Munson SS Line 14 Jul 22 $25,000
Covedale $25,000
Ashbee Design 1012 5,740 New York Shipbuilding Co. 4 Aug 22 $45,000
Jacksonville 5,732 26 Aug 22 $45,000
Lake Sunapee cargo 2,922 W. J. Gray Co. 12 Sep 22 $25,000
Bidwell tanker 10,265 Sun Shipbuilding Co. 28 Feb 23 $131,015
Miller County 10,254 $153,810
Challenger cargo 11,850 $65,175
Magunkook cargo 6,000 Moore DD Co. 3 Apr 23 $40,000
Waukesha 3,909 Frank W. Irvine not sold?[a]

Covedale was renamed Muncove, Courtois renamed Munmotor, both were fitted with 6-cylinder 4-stroke McIntosh & Seymour engines.[7]

Ashbee and Jacksonville were fitted with a 6-cylinder 4-stoke New York-Werkspoor engine of 1,540shp, built under license from the Werkspoor Engineering Works of Amsterdam, Holland.[8][9]

Lake Sunapee was renamed Frank Lynch and fitted with a Pacific Diesel Engine Co. single-acting 6-cylinder 4-stroke engine.[10]

Bidwell, Miller County and Challenger each received a 3,000hp direct-connected Sun-Doxford Engine.[11]

Magunkook was renamed Carriso and fitted with two single-acting 6-cylinder 4-stroke Pacific Diesel Engine Co. engines.[12]

During fiscal year 1924 the USSB sold 3 ships with the same provision.[13]

Ship Type DWT Gross Price To
Allentown tanker 7,057 4,908 $88,212.50 The Atlantic Refining Co.
Lake Weir cargo 2,875 2,018 $25,000 Construction Materials Co.
Lio tanker 10,250 7,245 $153,750 General Petroleum Corp.

Allentown was fitted with 3 840hp Ingersoll-Rand engines in a diesel-electric configuration and renamed J. W. Van Dyke.[14]

Lake Weir was converted to a dredge, renamed Sandmaster and fitted with two 600hp Worthington Pump & Machinery engines and 2 electric motors direct-connected to the 2 screws.[15]

Lio was fitted with a 6-cylinder 2-stroke 3,000hp Bethlehem diesel engine at the Union Iron Works yard and at a cost of $750,000.[16]

Engine contracts edit

In a resolution dated November 8, 1924 and unsubstantially amended December 2 the board resolved to enter into contracts for the delivery of 13 single-acting and 5 double-acting engines. A proposed contract with the Cramp Ship & Engine Building Co. of Philadelphia for 4 single-acting engines was not entered into, because the engines would be burdened by foreign patents, which would not allow full freedom to examine their mechanisms.[17]

Company abbreviations
BS Busch-Sulzer Diesel Engine Co., St. Louis, Missouri
McS McIntosh & Seymour Corporation, Auburn, New York
PacD Pacific Diesel Engine Co., Oakland, California
HOR Hooven, Owens, Rentschler Co, Hamilton, Ohio
NLSE New London Ship & Engine Co., Groton, Connecticut
WPM Worthington Pump & Machinery Corporation, Buffalo, New York
Contract Company # BHP Cyl. Cycles Acting Amount Ref
22 Dec 24 BS 4 3,000 6 2 single $979,568 [18]
22 Dec 24 McS 3 2,700 6 4 $685,649
22 Jan 25 PacD 2 2,900 8 4 $474,400
22 Dec 24 HOR 1 3,300 4 2 double $236,857
McS 1 2,700 4 4 $228,550
NLSE 1 3,300 4 2 $246,857
WPM 2 2,900 4 2 $414,378
Total fiscal year 1925 14 41,000 $3,280,056.40[19]
27 Sep 27[20] McS 2 3,900 5[21] 4 double $577,200 [22]
WPM 2 3,625 2 $536,500
HOR 2 4,000 4[21] 2 $592,000
BS 2 3,950 4[21] 2 single $584,600
13 Oct 27 McS 12 1,200 8 4 single $792,600 [23][24]
Total fiscal year 1928 20 45,350 $3,082,900

Pacific Coast Engine Co. advertisement for sale at half cost of USSB ordered diesel engines (1928): [25]

Conversion contracts edit

For the first round of conversions, 14 ships were chosen as follows:

  • 8 built by Oscar Daniels in Tampa, Florida (9,400dwt)
    • Yomachichi, Wilscox, Tampa, Seminole
    • Unicoi, Sawokla, City of Rayville, City of Dalhart
  • 4 built by the Los Angeles Shipbuilding Co. in San Pedro, California (8,800dwt)
    • Crown City, West Honaker, West Cusseta, West Grama
  • 2 built by Columbia River Shipbuilding in Portland, Oregon (8,800dwt)
    • West Harts, West Hartland[26]

When the Pacific Diesel Engine Co. failed to deliver, the program was reduced to 12 ships.

For round two, the board resolved on September 15, 1927 to convert 8 of the 10 Design 1027 ships (9,500dwt) built by Doullut & Williams for the USSB in New Orleans, Louisiana.[27].

By a resolution of the USSB dated October 13, 1927, 3 ships of 11,800dwt: Courageous, Triumph and Defiance, built by Bethlehem in Alameda, California were selected for conversion to diesel-electric propulsion. The electric motors for the first were built by General Electric and for the other two by Westinghouse.[28] The system utilized per ship four 1,280hp 250rpm engines, each direct connected to one 375V generator of 800kw for propelling the ship and one 240V of 100kw for excitation and auxiliary power. The single screw was direct connected to a 1,500V 4,000hp DC motor, turning at 60rpm.[29][30][31]

Ship Engine[32] Contract With Amount Ref
Group 1
Tampa WPM-2900-DA 21 Apr 26 NNSB $353,500 [33]
Unicoi $353,500
West Honaker McS-2700-SA 10 May 26 Fore River[34] $410,120
West Cusseta $410,120
Crown City 10 Jun 26 $411,620
Fiscal year 1926 total $1,938,860
Sawokla BS-3000-SA 9 Jul 26 NNSB $385,950 [35]
City of Rayville 18 Aug 26 $385,950
City of Dalhart 31 Dec 26 $396,100
Yomachichi 12 Apr 27 $400,000
Seminole HOR-3300-DA 15 Apr 27 Tietjen&Lang $436,260
West Grama McS-2700-DA 27 May 27 Fore River[36] $410,000
Fiscal year 1927 total $2,414,260
Wilscox NLSE-3300-DA FY28[b] Fore River[36] $413,000 [38]
Group 3
Courageous FY28 Federal SB $1,319,000 [28][c]
Triumph Boston NY $1,350,000
Defiance Norfolk NY $1,192,000
Fiscal year 1928 total $4,274,000
Group 2
Galveston 24 Sep 28 Maryland DD Co $507,071 [40]
Oldham 26 Sep 28 $507,071
City of Elwood 20 Oct 28 NNSB $559,700
Ward $559,500
New Orleans 22 Oct 28 Federal SB $566,500
Wichita 23 Oct 28 $566,400
Potter 30 Oct 28 Maryland DD Co $547,062
Jeff Davis 19 Nov 28 $547,062
Fiscal year 1929 total $4,360,366

todo: [41]

Trials edit

Ship Date Speed Ref
Group 1
Tampa 8 Nov 1926 11.49 [42]
Unicoi 22 Dec 1926 11.75
West Honaker 29 Nov 1926 12.08 [43]
West Cusseta 16 Jan 1927 7.76[d]
Crown City 26 Feb 1927 10.6[d]
Sawokla 12 Mar 1927 12.86 [44]
City of Rayville 27 Apr 1927 13.17
City of Dalhart 26 Jul 1927 12.879
Yomachichi 11 Oct 1927 13.20
Seminole 27 Oct 1927 12.70 [45]
Wilscox 18 Apr 1928 13.3
West Grama 6 Dec 1927 12.64 [46]
Group 2
City of Elwood 12 June 1929 14.71 [47]
Ward 1 Aug 1929 14.27
New Orleans 26 June 1929 14.49 [48]
Wichita 23 July 1929 14.7
Galveston 19 Apr 1929 15 [49]
Oldham 9 July 1929 14.79
Potter 12 Sep 1929 14.91 [50]
Jeff Davis 17 Oct 1929 14.54
Group 3
Courageous 1 Dec 1928 15.3 [51]
Defiance 23 Mar 1929 14
Triumph 23 Apr 1929

Dieselization Fund edit

FY Transfer In Misc Receipts Disbursement (Conversion) Misc Disbursements Transfer Out Balance Ref
1925 $8,550,222.94 $333,062.74 $8,217,160.20 [52]
1926 $4,998,404.27 $221,500 $2,792,995.59 $221,500 $5,191,151.31 $5,231,417.57 [53]
1927 $5,469,340.83 $255.44 $4,678,345.11 .31 $4,197,657.27 $1,824,722.15 [54]
1928 $6,169,072.96 $500,000 $4,129,471.31 $4,364,323.80 [55]
1929 $6,264,929.60 $7,826,988.94 $267,796.87 $2,534,467.59 [56]
1930 $93,783.78 $16,159.04 $2,307,366.73 $101,282.74 $234,760.94 [57]
1931 $165,000 $2,767.09 $23,669.68 $373,324.17 [58]
1932 $1,670.71 $17,955.67 $22,526.18 $334,513.03 [59]
1933 $8,082.65 $31,376.70 $31,085.58 $280,133.40 [60]
Total $31,720,507.74 $737,914.48 $22,120,329.88 $221,500.31 $9,835,169.63

Notes edit

  1. ↑ Still USSB property and carrying a steam turbine in 1925.[6]
  2. ↑ Completion of main engine was delayed[37]
  3. ↑ Includes cost of engines[39]
  4. ↑ a b Trip to New York in rough weather

References edit

  1. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  2. ↑ Annual 21, 127
  3. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  4. ↑ Annual 23, p. 149
  5. ↑ (1925) Exhibit 146-2 to Testimony, H.R. 186, 68th Congress, First Session
  6. ↑ Lloyd's register of shipping 1925 Steamers
  7. ↑ (1925) Lloyd's register of Shipping 1925 Steamers
  8. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  9. ↑ (1925) Lloyd's register of Shipping 1925 Steamers
  10. ↑ (1933) Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1933 Steamers
  11. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  12. ↑ (1925) LLoyd's Register of Shipping 1925 Steamers
  13. ↑ Annual 24, p. 97
  14. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  15. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  16. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  17. ↑ Annual 25, p. 72
  18. ↑ Annual 26, p. 49
  19. ↑ Annual 26, p. 49
  20. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  21. ↑ a b c Annual 29, p. 56
  22. ↑ Annual 28, p. 46
  23. ↑ Annual 28, p. 47
  24. ↑ Template:Cite newspaper
  25. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  26. ↑ Annual 25, p. 75
  27. ↑ Annual 28, p. 47
  28. ↑ a b Annual 28, p. 47
  29. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  30. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  31. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  32. ↑ Annual 27, p. 51
  33. ↑ Annual 26, p. 51
  34. ↑ Template:Cite newspaper
  35. ↑ Annual 27, p. 49
  36. ↑ a b Template:Cite newspaper
  37. ↑ Annual 27, p. 52
  38. ↑ Annual 28, p. 45
  39. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  40. ↑ Annual 29, p. 55
  41. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  42. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 56.
  43. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 39.
  44. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 25.
  45. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 31.
  46. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 45.
  47. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 66.
  48. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 70.
  49. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 75.
  50. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 79.
  51. ↑ Data Relating to the Diesel Conversion Program (Report). Bureau of Construction, USSB. 1 March 1932. p. 84.
  52. ↑ Annual 25, p. 198
  53. ↑ Annual 26, p. 116
  54. ↑ Annual 27, p. 129
  55. ↑ Annual 28, p. 126
  56. ↑ Annual 29, p. 136
  57. ↑ Annual 30, p. 120
  58. ↑ Annual 31, p. 118
  59. ↑ Annual 32, p. 107
  60. ↑ Annual 33, p. 84
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