Type C1 ship
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Type C1 ships were small cargo ships built for the U.S. Maritime Commission before and during World War II. The C1 types were the smallest of the 3 original Maritime Commission designs.
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[edit] C1-A, C1-B
The Type C1-A and C1-B ships were similar in design. Both types were built with either diesel motors or steam turbine engines, and 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 scantling ships.
In the United States, all Type C1-A ships were built at Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc. in Beaumont, Texas, while the Type C1-B ships were built in six different yards, the majority at Consolidated Steel Corporation in Wilmington, California. 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.
The C1-S-AY1 subtype — all built at Consolidated in California — was modified from the C1-A/C1-B design for use as troopships by Great Britain. These ships were all given two-word names beginning with "Empire", such as SS Empire Spearhead.
[edit] C1-M Type
The C1-M Type ships were designed for shorter runs, either along the coasts, or for "island hopping" for in the Pacific, and were rated at 11 knots.
The C1-M-AV1 subtype, a general cargo ship with steam turbine engines, 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 knots, such as SS Emerald Knot, or with a two-word name beginning with "Coastal", such as SS Coastal Ranger. 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 steam turbine engine, it had a diesel electric motor with 2,200 horsepower. Four of the C1-MT-BU1 subtype were built as lumber carriers. 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.
[edit] Type C1 specifications
| Type | C1-A Shelter deck |
C1-B full scantling |
C1-M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 412.25 ft (125.6 m) | 417.75 feet (127.3 m) | 338.5 feet (103.2 m) |
| Beam | 60 feet (18.3 m) | 60 feet (18.3 m) | 50 feet (15.2 m) |
| Depth | 37.5 feet (11.4 m) | 37.5 feet (11.4 m) | 29 feet (8.8 m) |
| Draft | 23.5 feet (7.2 m) | 27.5 feet (8.4 m) | 18 feet (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 | 14 knots | 11 knots |
| Horsepower | 4,000 | 4,000 | 1,750 |
[edit] Quantities of Type C1 ships
| Type | Quantity | Naming Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| C1-A | 67 | "Cape" names, SS Cape Hatteras |
| C1-B | 95 | also "Cape" names |
| C1-S-AY1 | 13 | "Empire" names, 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 |
[edit] See also
[edit] Source
[edit] References
- From America to United States: The History of the long-range Merchant Shipbuilding Programme of the United States Maritime Commission, by L.A. Sawyer and W.H. Mitchell. London, 1981, World Ship Society
- Ships for Victory: A History of Shipbuilding under the U.S. Maritime Commission in World War II, by Frederic C. Lane ISBN 0-8018-6752-5
