The Type B ship is a United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) designation for World War II barges. Barges are very low cost to build, operate, and move, and can transport bulky cargo. Because barges lack engines for self-propulsion, they are usually moved by a tugboat, some classed as Type V ships. Once the barge is moved into position, the tugboat departs and can do another task. This means there is no immediate rush to load or unload the barge.
Toward the end of World War II, some ships that had not been completed in time for the war were converted into barges. US Navy water barges are given the hull classification symbols YWN or YW. Some barge classification symbols contain -N, indicating that the barge was not self-propelled. Due to the shortage of steel during World War II, concrete ship constructors were given contracts to build ferrocement barges for oil or gasoline, which were given the hull symbols YO, YOG, and YOGN; built in 1944 and 1945, some were named after chemical elements.
YF barges were self-propelled. YFN barges were not self-propelled. YFN worked near shore in harbors, rivers, and other protected waters, and could carry a load of 550 long tons. They had steel hulls, were 110 feet long, had a 32-foot beam and maximum draft of 8 feet. The Pacific Bridge Company built 27 YFN freight barges in 1943 (YFN-576 â YFN-603). Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company built FN-619 to FN-742 and YFN-998 to YFN-1016.
YFR Barges were self-propelled. YFRN barges were not self-propelled. Olson & Winge of Seattle made 10 (YFRN-833 â YFRN-841) in 1943 for the war. The Defoe Shipbuilding Company of Bay City, Michigan, built three (YFR-888, YFR-889, and YFR-890) in 1945. Long Beach Naval Shipyard of Long Beach, California, built the YFRN-997 in 1945. A few barges were converted to refrigerated barges, also called reefer barges.
Yard Repair Berthing and Messing (barracks ships) are repair barges type TR, YR, YRB, YRBM, YRDH, YRDM, YRR, LBE built in 1944 for World War II. Repair Barges were self-sustaining, 530 tons and 153 feet long. They had a beam of 36 feet and a draft of 6 feet. Repair barges had a machine shop and living quarters. They repaired small boats and craft. The barge had generators, a distilling plant, an air compressor, and a steam boiler. The living space had berths and a mess hall to support a crew of 48 men.
The US Navy Barracks Barges, also called berthing barges, were each 1,300 tons and 261 feet long. They were used as a temporary barracks for sailors or other military personnel. A barracks ship also saw use as a receiving unit for sailors who needed temporary residence prior to being assigned to their ship. Barracks Barges are a type of auxiliary ship, called an APL (auxiliary personal living).
Landing Barge, Kitchen (LBK) was a landing craft used to support amphibious landings in northwestern Europe during and after the Normandy invasion of World War II. Its primary purpose was to provide hot meals to the crews of the many minor landing craft not fitted with galley facilities. Constructed of steel, this shallow-draft lighter had storage and serving space to feed 900 men for one week. The kitchen capacity was able to provide 1,600 hot meals and 800 cold meals a day. They were used by both the US and British on D-Day.
Landing Barge, Vehicle (LBV 1, mark 1) was a barge with a ramp added to load and unload vehicles like jeeps and trucks during World War 2. A nine-foot, four-inch ramp was added to the stern for loading and unloading. LBV 2, Mark 2, had an engine that could propel the LBV at 4.5 knots. They were powered by two Chrysler RM gas engines and were used by both the US and British on D-Day. Built in three sizes: small (70 feet long), medium (78 feet long), and large (82 feet long). Each had a draft of about 4 feet when loaded.
Landing Barge, Oiler (LBO; also YO and YON) stored fuel oil or diesel fuel for landing craft. They had a 40-ton fuel tank, with two compartments and an engine that could propel them at 4.5 knots. They were used by both the US and British on D-Day.
Landing Barge, Water (LBW or YW) were barges with a 33-ton freshwater tank and an engine that could propel them at 4.5 knots. They were World War 2 landing support vessels. Used by both the US and British on D-Day. YWN are non-self propelled.
Landing Barge, Flak (LBF) were landing barges with a 40mm anti-aircraft gun, manned by a crew of five. They also had two 20-mm Hispano AA guns or two twin Lewis guns. The LBF were 60 to 90 feet long. They could transport 15 troops. Used by both the US and British on D-Day.
Deck Barges offered a large flat platform, on which many types of gear could be moved. The only downside was the cargo had a slightly higher center of gravity. A number of shipyards built deck barges. Kyle and Company of Stockton, California, built US Army BC-522 to BC-535 deck barges in 1942, that had a length of 110 feet, a beam of 35 feet, a draft of 6 feet, light displacement of 170 tons, full displacement of 500 tons, and deadweight of 330 tons.
Concrete Barges were built by Concrete Ship Constructors in National City, California, in 1944 and 1945. These were a type of concrete ship built with ferrocement. Steel shortages led the US military to order the construction of small fleets of ocean-going concrete barge and ships. Typical displacement: , full load: 12,910 tons; length: , beam: , draft: ; crew: 52 officers and men. Ship armament one to four 40 mm AA gun.
Concrete ships were fitted as needed. Some had diesel-electric power generators for refrigeration or tool use, or equipment for water distilling. Others were used to store fuel or water (up to 60,000 barrels), while others served as the Quartermaster general store.
Type MC B7-A2 were concrete tank barges (5,786 deadweight tons) made by Concrete Ship Constructors Inc in National City, CA.
Type B5-BJ1 were covered dry cargo barges mostly operated by the Army. They were 265 feet long with a deadweight of 1,632 tons.
1950s
Trefoil-class concrete barge â Type: B7-D1 were built by Barrett & Hilp in South San Francisco, California. They had a tonnage of M.C. deadweight: 5,687; full load: 10,970 tons; dimensions: length: 366'4", beam: 54', with max draft 26'.
B7-A1 were 5,786 deadweight tons concrete barges.
A number of different types of wood barges were used in the war. A flat bottom wood barge could be used in shallow ports or be towed onto beaches. They had low construction cost and could be abandoned after used if needed. To stop wooden hull rot, many had copper-sheathed hulls. With the shortage of steel, a fleet of wood barges and a fleet of concrete barges were also built.
United States Army barges were given the prefix of "B". For World War II over 6,000 barges were built for the Army, by 130 different shipyards. Often used for assault landings; if there was no harbor, a bulldozer or tank could tow the barge onto the beachhead, so supplies would be available to the troops. Barges were also used for ship-to-ship transfers and quick unloading, and were moved by a tugboat (also called a sea mule).
Many World War I barges were used in World War II, due to the high demand.
Louis L. Brown built concrete barges at Verplank, New York.
(12 Concrete ships were also built, like the SS Atlantus.)
Thames Lighters, or dumb barges, were non-self-propelled barges. The original Thames barges were sailing vessels that were converted for the war. Some LB (Landing Barge) vessels had ramps added and were called LBR (Landing Barge, Ramped). Some had engines and rudder added and were referred to as LBV (Landing Barge Vehicle). They were used for different tasks: Landing Barge Oiler (LBO), Water (LBW), Kitchen (LBK), and Emergency Repair (LBE), Landing Barge Flak (LBF) and Gun (LBG). There was also one Landing Barge Cable (LBC). Many brought supplies to Normandy.
Other MARAD designs