Type C2 ship


Type 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 to 1945. Compared to ships built before 1939, the C2s were remarkable for their speed and fuel economy. Their design speed was, but some could make on occasion. The first C2s were long, broad, and deep, with a draft. Later ships varied somewhat in size. Some, intended for specific trade routes, were built with significant modifications in length and capacity.
In 1937, MARCOM distributed tentative designs for criticism by shipbuilders, ship owners, and naval architects. The final designs incorporated many changes suggested by these constituencies. The ships were to be reasonably fast but economical cargo ships which, with some government subsidies to operators, could compete with vessels of other nations. Building costs were to be minimized by standardization of design and equipment, and the ships were to have sufficient speed and stability that they could be used as naval auxiliaries in time of national emergency.
The basic specifications called for a five-hold steel cargo ship with raked stem and cruiser stern, complete shelter and second decks, and a third deck in Nos. 1–4 holds. Dimensions of the hatches were, except for No. 2, which was, allowing such cargo as locomotives, naval guns, long bars, etc. Ventilation to the holds was provided by hollow kingposts, which also served as cargo masts. Cargo handling gear consisted of fourteen 5-ton cargo booms, plus two 30-ton booms at Nos. 3 and 4 hatches.
Living accommodations were much improved over previous designs, with crew accommodations amidships, officers quarters on the boat deck, and the captain's quarters on the bridge deck, along with the wheelhouse, chartroom, gyro and radio room. Hot and cold running water was provided throughout.
Many of the ships such as SS Donald McKay were converted by the U.S. Navy for service during World War II. The commercial versions were operated by the government during the war. Beginning in late 1945, the commercial ships were sold to merchant shipping lines, with service until the early 1970s.

Cost

According to the War Production Board, in 1943 the C-2 had a relative cost of $313 per deadweight ton for $3,380,400 at $14 to $1 inflation of 1945 to 2020 amounts to $48,136,896

Ships in class

TypeDWTBuildersExample
C29,758five builders
C2-S9,970Bethlehem Steel of Sparrows Point. Maryland
C2-SU9,620Sun Yards of Chester, Pennsylvania
C2-SU-R8,595Sun Yards
C2-T8,656Tampa Shipbuilding Company of Tampa, Florida
C2-G9,020Federal Shipbuilding of Kearny, New Jerseytwo ships and were both torpedoed in 1942.
C2-F9,390Federal
C2-S-A18,130Bath Iron Works of Bath, MaineSS Empire Oriole
C2-S-B1-R7,640Moore Dry Dock Company of Oakland, Californiasix ships as in
C2-S-B19,150Federal, Moore Dry Dock, Western Steel of San Francisco, California
C2-S-E110,565Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation of Chickasaw, Alabama
C2-S-AJ110,755North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, Wilmington, North Carolina and USS Great Sitkin
C2-S-AJ210,350North Carolina
C2-S-AJ311,300North Carolina
C2-S-AJ49,652North Carolina as in SS Santa Luisa
C2-S-AJ510,400North CarolinaSS American Scout
C2-S-E110,565Gulf SB
C2-S1-DG28,720Federalthree cargo-passenger ship: SS Santa Monica, SS Santa Clara and SS Santa Sofia
C2-N6,350Tampathree ships:, and

Notable incidents