| Back | knack in handling as well as having certain peculiarities due to hull construction. Therefore, it became the duty of the Supervisor not only to supervise the construction and fitting out of these vessels but also it was necessary for this office to set up a definite training program for the handling and operation of them before they could be released for duty. In conjunction with the Section Base at Sabine Pass, Texas, this office operated a training school for the benefit of the officers and crews. A like program was carried on under the supervision of the Resident Officer in Charge for the LCI(L)'s constructed at Brown Shipbuilding Company. | Next | ||||||
One very interesting event developed in connection with the wiring of these LCI(L)'s. They were equipped with D.C. current and were not built according to Navy specifications but according to best shipbuilding practices. Quite a little trouble was experienced with grounds. The most notable ground which developed at this activity operated to produce a phantom helmsman. Under certain electrical conditions the ground took over the steering gear so that the ship's helmsman was powerless. This condition was not conceivable at first, but it was definitely proved by going into the engine room and testing by assimilating grounds on different sides of the circuit that one could get either left or right rudder at will. As a result of this, the controls on the steering engines were modified to eliminate this possibility. |
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APD's - Contract NObs-1791: |
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Contract NObs-1791 was awarded to Consolidated Steel Corporation for completion and conversion of DE669-674, DE721-722 to APD's on June 13, 1944. In connection with this contract, a representative of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding and of Consolidated Steel Corporation visited the Dravo Corporation at Neville Island and examined the vessels before they were delivered to Orange to obtain estimates of the completion of the ships as originally designed, and to gather pertinent information regrding items which had to be changed or reworked due to faulty workmanship. |
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Experience with these vessels was very interesting as the first ship was approximately 75% completed and laid up with preservatives. These preservatives had to be removed and all machinery and armament checked for operation. A check was made on the necessary structural changes to be made in connection with conversion to APD's, which conversion involved, among other things, a change in the armament from 3" to 5" guns. |
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This yard had been constructing vessels from the keel up. They were now confronted with a job of alteration, something that had not been performed by the workmen at this activity previously. This conversion job was very instructive as it gave the employees an opportunity to examine the type of work being done by other shipbuilders and served to create a pride on the part of Consolidated Steel Corporation's workers in the work they were turning out, all of which, of course, went for the benefit of the Navy in obtaining a better job. |
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The APD's were completed and converted. Because APD117-119 were completed in accordance with plans issued by the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Quincy, Massachusetts, and APD69-74 were completed in accordance with plans, |
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