Collection

Ships

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

Showing 5,601–5,650

Name	Type	Hull Num	Class	Status	Comm Is Date	Decom Sunk Or Reclass	Reclass Num	Builder	Built City	Built State	Home Port	Historynotes
Erie	PG	50	Ontario	Sunk	1936-07-01 00:00:00.000	1942-12-05 00:00:00.000		New York Navy Yard	New York	NY		2nd Erie WW II Torpedoed Nov 12 1942. Sunk from effects o… 2nd Erie WW II Torpedoed Nov 12 1942. Sunk from effects of fires, exploding munitions, and flooding on Dec 5 1942
Ernest G. Small	DD	838	Gearing	Decom	1945-08-21 00:00:00.000	1952-01-15 00:00:00.000	*	Bath Iron Works	Bath	ME		Named for RADM Ernest G. Small, qv Korean War Decommission… Named for RADM Ernest G. Small, qv Korean War Decommissioned Jan 15 1952 Reclassified DDR-838, qv, Jul 18 1952 4 Battle Stars Korean War
Ernest G. Small	DDR	838			1952-12-02 00:00:00.000			Bath Iron Works	Bath	ME		Named for RADM Ernest G. Small, qv Ex DD-838, qv Reclassif… Named for RADM Ernest G. Small, qv Ex DD-838, qv Reclassified DDR-838 Jul 18 1962, while decommissioned for conversion Recommissioned Dec 2 1952 1955, Operation Teapot
Ernest Hinds	Transport			Transferred			*	Wm. Cramp Sons Shipbuilding & EB Co.	Philadelphia	PA		Built 1918 Ex Santa Teresa, qv Purchased by Army Apr 1941 … Built 1918 Ex Santa Teresa, qv Purchased by Army Apr 1941 and renamed Ernest Hinds. Also cited as Ernest R. Hinds (DANFS Vol 8 pg 366) WW II Transferred to Navy Jul 21 1941 Commissioned as Navy ship Kent (AP-28), qv. Decommissioned and transferred to Army in Mar 1942, renamed Ernest Hinds again. Converted to hospital ship 1943-44. Reconverted to transport in 1945 Transferred to War Shipping Administration Transferred to US Public Health Service 4/1946 Scrapped 1957
Ernest L. Dawson					1945-05-02 00:00:00.000			New England Shipbuilding Corp.	South Portland	ME		Maritime Commission E Hull 3108 Merchant ship Original ope… Maritime Commission E Hull 3108 Merchant ship Original operator, War Shipping Administration WW II
Ernest W. Gibson					1944-07-02 00:00:00.000			New England Shipbuilding Corp.	South Portland	ME		Maritime Commission E Hull 3033 Merchant ship Original ope… Maritime Commission E Hull 3033 Merchant ship Original operator, International Freight WW II
Ernie Pyle	Cargo				1945-10-02 00:00:00.000			Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver	Vancouver	WA		Maritime Commission Hull 2361 Merchant ship Original opera… Maritime Commission Hull 2361 Merchant ship Original operator, Luckenbach Steamship
Ernie Pyle	Ferry boat							Moore Drydock	Oakland	CA		Built 1927 Army vessel WW II
Errol	AG	133	Camano	Reclas	1947-07-09 00:00:00.000	1949-03-31 00:00:00.000	*	Wheeler Shipbuilding Co.	Whitestone, L.I.	NY		Ex FS-274, qv Acquired by Navy Apr 3 1947 and commissioned … Ex FS-274, qv Acquired by Navy Apr 3 1947 and commissioned as AG-133 Pacific Reclassified AKL-4, qv. Mar 31 1949
Errol	AKL	4	Camano	Decom	1949-03-31 00:00:00.000	1952-01-29 00:00:00.000		Wheeler Shipbuilding Co.	Whitestone, L.I.	NY		Ex FS-274, qv Acquired by Navy Apr 3 1947 and commissioned … Ex FS-274, qv Acquired by Navy Apr 3 1947 and commissioned as AG-133 Reclassified AKL-4, qv. Mar 31 1949 Decommissioned 7/31/1951 and loaned to Interior Department Transferred to Interior Department 1/29/1952
Escalante	AO	70	Chiwawa	Decom	1943-01-30 00:00:00.000	1945-12-12 00:00:00.000		Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc.	Sparrows Point	MD		Maritime Commission Hull 518 WW II Atlantic 1945, Pacific… Maritime Commission Hull 518 WW II Atlantic 1945, Pacific Feb 1945, Invasion of Iwo Jima 1945, Operation Iceberg, Okinawa operations Decommissioned Dec 12 1945 Transferred to Maritime Commission for disposal 4 Battle Stars WW II
Escalante River	LSMR	502						Brown Shipbuildinc Co., Inc	Houston	TX		Ex LSM(R)-502, no name, qv Named Escalante River at some po… Ex LSM(R)-502, no name, qv Named Escalante River at some point
Escambia	AO	80	Escambia	Decom	1943-10-28 00:00:00.000	1946-02-20 00:00:00.000		Marinship Corp.	Sausalito	CA		Maritime Commission Hull 1259 WW II Feb 1944, Invasion of … Maritime Commission Hull 1259 WW II Feb 1944, Invasion of Marshall Islands Oct 1944, Invasion of Leyte, LCDR R. Goorigian Decommissioned Feb 20 1946 Transferred to Maritime Commission Jun 1946 for disposal Reqcquired Jan 1948 Transferred to Military Sea Transportation Service Jul 18 1950 5 Battle Stars WW II
Escanaba	WPG	77	Algonquin	Sunk		1943-06-13 00:00:00.000						WW II Coast Guard Ship Aug 5 1942, Atlantic Fleet, Greenla… WW II Coast Guard Ship Aug 5 1942, Atlantic Fleet, Greenland Patrol 6/13/43, sunk by German submarine torpedo of Ivigtut, Iceland during convoy duty
Escanaba	WMEC	907		Active
Escanaba Victory				Renamed	1944-06-29 00:00:00.000	1954-02-03 00:00:00.000	*	Oregon Shipbuilding Corp.	Portland	OR		2nd Regulus Maritime Commission Victory Hull 112 Merchant … 2nd Regulus Maritime Commission Victory Hull 112 Merchant ship Original operator, American South African Lines WW II Acquired by Navy May 5 1952 Commissioned as Regulus (AF-57), qv, Feb 3 1954
Escape	ARS	6	Diver		1943-11-20 00:00:00.000			Basalt Rock Co.	Napa	CA		WW II Homeported primarily Norfolk and Carribbean LT W. T.… WW II Homeported primarily Norfolk and Carribbean LT W. T. Williams Decommissioned 7/20/1946 Recommissioned 7/12/1951 Jan 1960, Project Mercury Active at least through 1960
Escatawpa	AOG	27	Mettawee	Decom	1944-08-18 00:00:00.000	1946-03-20 00:00:00.000		East Coast Shipyards, Inc.	Bayonne	NJ		Maritime Commission Hull 1524 WW II Pacific Decommissione… Maritime Commission Hull 1524 WW II Pacific Decommissioned Mar 20 1946 Transferred to Maritime Commission
Escolar	SS	294	Gato	Lost	1944-06-02 00:00:00.000			Cramp Shipbuilding Co.	Philadelphia	PA		WW II Sep 1944, at Midway Island to top off fuel Sep 30 19… WW II Sep 1944, at Midway Island to top off fuel Sep 30 1944, surface action with Japanese small craft Last communication Oct 17 1944. Never heard from again. Presumed she struck a mine, since Japanese records show no antisubmarine action in the area at that time
Escondido	PC(C)	1169										Originally PC(C)-1169, qv Named Escondido at some point
Esek Hopkins					1942-05-23 00:00:00.000			Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Inc.	Baltimore	MD		Maritime Commission E Hull 34 Merchant ship Original opera… Maritime Commission E Hull 34 Merchant ship Original operator, Moore-McCormack WW II
Esmeraldo County	LST	761						American Bridge Co.	Ambridge	PA		Originally LST-461, no name, qv Renamed Esmeraldo County (L… Originally LST-461, no name, qv Renamed Esmeraldo County (LST-761) Jul 1 1955, after decommissioning
Esparta					1945-09-01 00:00:00.000			Gulf Shipbuilding Corp.	Chickasaw	AL		Maritime Commission Hull 1651 Merchant ship Original opera… Maritime Commission Hull 1651 Merchant ship Original operator, United Fruit Co.
Essayon												Army vessel Seminole Wars Broken up for scrap 1839
Essayons	Tug								Muskegon	MI		Built 1908 ST-size tug WW II Army vessel
Esselen	AT	147		Reclas	1943-08-21 00:00:00.000	1944-05-15 00:00:00.000	*	Harlan & Hollingsworth Co.	Wilmington	DE		Built 1893 Acquired by Navy Jun 18 1943 WW II 10th Naval … Built 1893 Acquired by Navy Jun 18 1943 WW II 10th Naval District Reclassified ATO-147, qv, 5/15/1944
Esselen	ATO	147		Decom		1944-11-11 00:00:00.000		Harlan & Hollingsworth Co.	Wilmington	DE		Ex AT-147, qv Reclassified ATO-147 May 15 1944 WW II 10th… Ex AT-147, qv Reclassified ATO-147 May 15 1944 WW II 10th Naval District Dcommissioned 11/11/1944 Struck 11/27/1944 Transferred to War Shipping Administration
Essex	Fr			Surrendered	1799-12-17 00:00:00.000			Enos Briggs	Salem	MA		1st Essex Launched Sep 30 1799 Presented to United States … 1st Essex Launched Sep 30 1799 Presented to United States Dec 17 1799 Quasi-war with France Became first man-of-war to cross the equator. Commanded by CPT Edward Preble, CPT William Bainbridge, and CPT David Porter War of 1812. Commanded with distinction by Commodore David Porter. Surrendered to British as Valparaiso, Chile, Feb (?) 1814
Essex	Gbt			Decom		1865-07-20 00:00:00.000			St. Louis	MO		2nd Essex Built 1856 as ferry Ex New Era Purchased by Arm… 2nd Essex Built 1856 as ferry Ex New Era Purchased by Army Sep 20 1861. Renamed Essex Army controlled by commanded by Naval Officer Civil War Feb 1862, Battle of Fort Henry May-Jul 1863, bombardment of Port Hudson LA Decommissioned Jul 20 1865 Sold Nov 29 1865
Essex	ScStr			Struck	1876-10-03 00:00:00.000	1930-10-27 00:00:00.000		Donald Mackay	East Boston	MA		3rd Essex North Atlantic Squadron South Atlantic Squadron … 3rd Essex North Atlantic Squadron South Atlantic Squadron 1881-82 Pacific Station Decommissioned May 1889 Used as training ship Struck Oct 27 1930 Sold Dec 23 1930
Essex	LHD	2	Wasp	Active	1992-10-17 00:00:00.000			Ingalls Shipbuilding Co.	Pascagoula	MS	Sasebo	5th Essex
Essex	CV	9	Essex	Reclas	1942-12-31 00:00:00.000	1952-10-01 00:00:00.000	*	Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.	Newport News	VA		4th Essex WW II Aug 31 1943, attack on Marcus Island Oct … 4th Essex WW II Aug 31 1943, attack on Marcus Island Oct 5-6 1943, attack on Wake Island Nov-Dec 1943, Operation Galvanic, Gilbert Islands operation, CPT D. B. Duncan, TG 50.3 Dec 4 1943, attack on Kwajalein Jan-Feb 1944, Ivasion of Marshall Islands Feb 17-18 1944, attack on Truk Feb 23 1944, attaack on Saipan, Tinian and Guam May 19-20 1944, attack on Marcus Island Jun-Aug 1944, Invasion of Marianas Islands June 19-20 1944, Battle of the Philippine Sea, CPT R. A. Ofstie Sep 6-8 1944, attack on Palau Islands Sep 9-10 1944, attack on Mindanao Sep 1944, Invasion of Palau Islands Oct 10 1944, attack on Okinawa Oct 12-14 1944, attack on Formosa Oct 1944, Invasion of Leyte, CPT C. W. Weiber Oct 24-25, Battle for Leyte Gulf Nov 25 1944, attacked by kamikaze. 15 killed, 44 wounded Jan 1945, Invasion at Lingayen Gulf Feb 16-17 1945, attack on Tokyo Feb 25 1945, attack on Tokyo Feb 1945, Invasion of Iwo Jima Apr 1945, Operation Iceberg, Okinawa Campaign, Task Group 58.3, CPT C. W. Weiber (spelled Wieber by SEM in this operation) Decommissioned Jan 9 1947 Recommissioned Jan 15 1951 Korean War Reclassified CVA-9, qv, Oct 1 1952 Presidential Unit Citation and 13 Battle Stars WW II 4 Battle Stars and Navy Unit Citation Korean War as CV and CVA
Essex	CVA	9		Reclas	1952-10-01 00:00:00.000	1960-03-08 00:00:00.000	*	Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.	Newport News	VA		4th Essex Originally commissioned CV-9, qv Reclassified CV… 4th Essex Originally commissioned CV-9, qv Reclassified CVA-9 Oct 1 1952 Reclassified CVS-9, qv, Mar 8 1960
Essex	CVS	9		Decom	1960-03-08 00:00:00.000	1969-06-30 00:00:00.000		Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.	Newport News	VA		4th Essex Originally commissioned CV-9, qv, and reclassifi… 4th Essex Originally commissioned CV-9, qv, and reclassified CVA-9, qv Reclassified CVS-9 Mar 8 1960 Decommissioned Jun 30 1969 Struck Jun 1 1973 Sold Jun 1 1975 for scrapping
Essex Junior	whaler			Captured								War of 1812 Former British whaler Atlantic Captured by CPT… War of 1812 Former British whaler Atlantic Captured by CPT David Porter in Essex off Galapagos Islands 4/29/1813 Captured by British in 1814. Used to transport paroled prisoners of war to New York Condemned Sold 8/26/1814
Esso Albany	Tanker			Renamed			*	Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.	Chester	PA		Built 1941 Original operator, Standard Oil Co. of New Jerse… Built 1941 Original operator, Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey Acquired by Navy Jan 9 1942 and renamed Housatonic, qv
Esso Albany	Tanker			Renamed	1940-09-25 00:00:00.000	1940-09-19 00:00:00.000	*	Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc.	Sparrows Point	MD		Maritime Commission Hull 10 Launched Apr 27 1940 Renamed S… Maritime Commission Hull 10 Launched Apr 27 1940 Renamed Sabine (AO-25) qv., Sep 19 1940 Purchased by Navy Sep 25 1940 Also see Esso Albany that was later renamed Housatonic (AO-35)
Esso Albany II	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Annapolis				Renamed	1940-01-26 00:00:00.000		*	Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc.	Sparrows Point	MD		Maritime Commission Hull 9 Merchant ship Original operato,… Maritime Commission Hull 9 Merchant ship Original operato, Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey Later purchased by Navy and renamed Chemung, qv
Esso Annapolis II	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Aruba	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Augusta	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Balboa	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Baltimore	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Baton Rouge	Tanker			Sunk		1943-02-23 00:00:00.000		Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc.	Sparrows Point	MD		Built 1938 Merchant ship Operator, Esss WW II Sunk by to… Built 1938 Merchant ship Operator, Esss WW II Sunk by torpedo from German submarine in Atlantic Feb 23 1943
Esso Bayonne	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Baytown	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Bayway	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Belgium	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso WW II
Esso Bolivar	Tanker											Merchant ship Operator, Esso 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.