Untitled Document

These ships were originally designed for an over-all length of 377'. Shortly after the first of this class had been completed, it was decided to lenghten the hulls fourteen feet. This made it necessary to change all of the basic hull plans from bulkhead 100 aft, as the lines had to be faired, machinery foundations changed, and other modifications made to the original design of these ships. The fact that the first long-hull destroyers were delivered to the Fleet in 1944 can be attributed, to a certain extent, to the attitude of the contractor. It was his desire, if he had to change from a short-hull to a long-hull destroyer, to change his first ship so he would not have to lay down additional lines. From information available, plans would not be obtainable until some time in August 1944. Therefore, the Supervisor, with the contractor, went to the Bureau of Ships and to Gibbs & Cox, the design agent, and got the plans in May of 1944. Consequently, the first of the long-hull destroyers at Consolidated was delivered in January 1945.

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	These ships were originally designed for an over-all length of 377'. Shortly after the first of this class had been completed, it was decided to lenghten the hulls fourteen feet. This made it necessary to change all of the basic hull plans from bulkhead 100 aft, as the lines had to be faired, machinery foundations changed, and other modifications made to the original design of these ships. The fact that the first long-hull destroyers were delivered to the Fleet in 1944 can be attributed, to a certain extent, to the attitude of the contractor. It was his desire, if he had to change from a short-hull to a long-hull destroyer, to change his first ship so he would not have to lay down additional lines. From information available, plans would not be obtainable until some time in August 1944. Therefore, the Supervisor, with the contractor, went to the Bureau of Ships and to Gibbs & Cox, the design agent, and got the plans in May of 1944. Consequently, the first of the long-hull destroyers at Consolidated was delivered in January 1945.
	This hull change, coupled with the fact that the subsequent ten ships were converted into picket ships, again put quite a work load on the contractor's personnel; but the job was completed.
	There are one or two interesting things connected with the construction of these vessels, one being that it was at the suggestiong of this office that the shafting which had been delivered to this yard for short-hull ships be adapted to long-hull ships. This resulted in a saving to the Government on shafting. This is the only yard, as far as is known, which absolutely completed a destroyer picket ship so that the vessel could be sent immediately to the combatant area without the necessity of going to a Navy Yard.
	Contracts NObs-378 and NObs-403 - NOb-334 and NObs-844 - DE's:
	In January, 1942 Consolidated Steel Corporation, Shipbuilding Division, Orange, Texas, was awarded contract NObs-378 for construction of twenty-four destroyer escorts, and Brown Shipbuilding Company, Houston, Texas, was awarded contract NObs-403 for construction of eighteen destroyer escorts.
	This program entailed building additional facilities, including six building ways, three of which were launching ways, at the yard of Consolidated Steel Corporation, and a complete shipyard at Brown Shipbuilding Company. These facilities were built at Consolidated Steel Corporation under contract NObs-396 and at Brown Shipbuilding Company under contract NObs-421. Work on facilities started in January 1942.
	When the contracts were awarded, a rather marked departure from conventional shipbuilding practice was made. It was the opinion of this office, which was definitely proved by both the contractor and the Navy, that jig construction of Naval vessels was not only practical but in many ways highly desirable. So jigs were constructed and these vessels were built in sections, which sections were put together on the ways. The success of this method of construction was so great that keels could be laid and vessels launched and completed in a saving of at least sixty day's time.
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