EFC Design 1057-A: Notes & Illustrations

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Notes: On 13 February 1916 the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, which had been owned since 1905 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., purchased the plant and property of the United Engineering Works in Alameda, Cal., probably in anticipation of an influx of orders for merchant ships from both European and American interests. During the summer of 1916 the company began work on two ships for the British Cunard Line (War Knight and War Monarch) at Alameda, two for an American owner (Eagle and Tiger) at San Francisco, and two for Norwegian interests (Talabot and Bessa) at Alameda. These were built to a common design, a shelter deck freighter with three decks, two 'tween decks, no hull islands (flush decked), and a length between perpendiculars of 410 feet. See the page on EFC Design 1079 for more on three-decked shelter deck ships. The British pair had turbine propulsion while the Norwegian and American pairs had reciprocating engines. Later in 1916 the British added a third ship (War Sword), like their first two but with reciprocating machinery, and during 1917 the yard added for its own account three more ships like the British ones, two with turbines and one with reciprocating machinery. McKellar found evidence that two of these three may have been sold to European interests before being requisitioned. This page covers the four ships of this type with turbines: War Knight (Yard no. 132), War Monarch (Yard no. 133), Volunteer (Yard no. 150) and Challenger (Yard no. 153), the last two being designated Design 1057-A by the EFC. The 410-foot three-decker design was followed at Alameda by a 440-foot two-decker that became EFC Design 1032, q.v.

Requisitioned Ships: On 3 August 1917 the Shipping Board requisitioned the yard's three 410-foot ships that had not yet been begun, along with War Sword, which was quickly released as she had already been completed. The three unbuilt ships were transferred on 31 December 1917 to the contract program as EFC hulls 1220-1222. Volunteer and Challenger which had turbine propulsion were designated Design 1057 Type A (1057-A) and Liberator which had reciprocating machinery became Design 1057 Type B (1057-B, q.v.). These three ships are also covered in the Requisitioned Ships portion of the McKellar list.

Specifications: Design 1057-A (S.S. Volunteer, EFC Hull 1220): Steel Cargo. Deadweight tons: 11850 actual. Dimensions: 410' length pp x 56' beam mld. x 41' depth mld., 30.5' draft loaded. Propulsion: 1 screw, 1 G.E. turbine, 3 Scotch boilers, 2600 SHP, 10.5 kts. Configuration: Flush shelter deck, 3 decks, 4 holds, 5 hatches.

S.S. Challenger (Design 1057-A, EFC Hull 1222), probably photographed on her trial trip circa October 1918. (NHHC: NH 101390 from NARA: RG-19-LCM) (Click photo to enlarge)

S.S. War Monarch (As Design 1057, Yard No. 133) The second in the series of ten 410-foot three-deck shelter deck freighters built by Bethlehem Steel's Union Iron Works in Alameda, Cal., that concluded with the three ships of EFC Design 1057. The first two ships of this type (War Knight and War Monarch) were built for Britain and had turbine machinery as did the later Volunteer and Challenger, although it was of 2400 instead of 2600 shaft horsepower. Photo No. None Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
S.S. Volunteer (Design 1057-B, EFC Hull 1220) Probably photographed on her trial trip. She was delivered on 23 August 1918. Photo No. None Source: NARA RG-32-S
S.S. Challenger (Design 1057-B, EFC Hull 1222) Completing fitting out on 22 September 1918 at the Alameda yard of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Union Plant. She was delivered to the EFC on 4 October 1918. The stern of Invincible is on the right. Photo No. None Source: NARA RG-32-S