EFC Design 1133 (Los Angeles modified type):
Notes & Illustrations
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Notes: After contracting for a total of thirty Design 1013 cargo ships between May 1917 and April 1918, all of which it delivered, the Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. received a contract for ten more on 23 August 1918. Following the end of the war these ten were suspended on 25 January 1919 although a large percentage of the materials for them was alreay on hand at the yard. With the cessation of hostilities and the slowing of the USSB's building program, the EFC began to consider building larger vessels (see Design 1117). In an effort to use the materials on hand and at the same time obtain an increased deadweight capacity, the shipbuilder prepared a modified design which was a development of the 8800-ton vessel and submitted it to the USSB for approval. In the modified design the same lines were used as for the 8800-ton ships, with the addition of 20.25' in the length of the midship body, making the length between perpendiculars 430.4' instead of 410.1'. The forecastle, bridge, and poop decks were made continuous over the entire length, producing a vessel with a flush upper deck and two 'tween decks for a total of three decks (upper, second, and third) in the hull, the upper deck being the strength deck. The scantlings for the modified design were worked out in accordance with ABS rules, and by making the upper deck the strength deck and relocating the other materials it was found possible within the rules of the American Bureau of Shipping to utilize the steel which was already on hand for the 8800-ton ships. The ships were thus full scantling instead of shelter deck type ships. In the modified design about 600 tons more steel were required than for the 8800-ton vessels with an increase in carrying capacity of about 2700 tons. Instead of the two masts serving four hatches and two small derrick posts serving a small fifth hatch in Design 1013, the new design had seven pairs of tall derrick posts or kingposts serving six large hatches. The foremost and aftermost pairs of derrick posts were connected at the top by a lattice bridge, on which topmasts were stepped to carry the wireless antennae, halyards, etc. Hold pillars were located at hatch corners only, making the five cargo holds particularly spacious and free from obstructions. For propulsion the shipyard gave the new ships the same 3500 ihp reciprocating engine of its own design that it had fitted to 22 of its Design 1013 ships. This engine was generously proportioned, having developed over 4000 ihp on the loaded sea trials of some of the 8800-ton ships, and was expected to produce the same designed speed in the new ships although they were to carry 2700 additional tons. On 19 September 1919 the last five of the ten suspended ships (EFC Hulls 2248 and 2357-2360) were cancelled and the earlier five (EFC Hulls 2243-2247) were reinstated with their deadweight tonnage increased to 11,000 tons. According to a magazine report on the launch of the third of these large ships, West Greylock, "The particular point of interest to the shipping men apart from the good speed and economy in fuel shown by this type of freighter lay in their provision and admirable arrangement of hatchways and cargo handling appliances. The design for the vessel was worked out at the plant of the builders folowing suggestions made by practical shipping men who had found that the docks of most ports were seldom provided with sufficient cargo handling machinery, consequently causing considerable delay and loss of time in unloading the cargo of a freighter. It was particularly to obviate this trouble that deck derricks were provided in quantity and capacity sufficient to assure rapid discharging of cargo, thus making the ship practically independent of the cargo-handling equipment of the ports at which she might call. While in San Francisco recently, the West Lewark ... found it possible to employ at the same time nine separate gangs of stevedores." The magazine had previously commented that "this class of freighter marked the biggest advance in cargo carrying ships made by any shipyard in the United States in the past four years." However the glut of war-built ships and the postwar depression in the shipping market helped limit the further development of this type. (Special sources: Pacific Marine Review, June 1921 pp. 331-333; Marine Engineering and Shipping Age, September 1921 p. 717, and October 1921 p. 787.) Specifications: Design 1133 (S.S. West Lewark, EFC Hull 2243): Steel Cargo. Deadweight tons: 11000 designed, 10972 actual. Dimensions: 430.4' length pp x 54' beam mld. x 38.25' depth mld. to upper deck, 28.9' draft loaded. Propulsion: 1 screw, 1 triple expansion engine, 3 Scotch boilers, 3500 IHP, 10.5 kts. Configuration: Flush upper deck, 3 decks, 5 holds, 6 hatches. |
| S.S. West Greylock (EFC Design 1133, EFC Hull 2245) on her trial trip on 25 August 1921. This ship was built by the Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., where in September 1919 the last ten ships of Design 1013 were cancelled and replaced by five ships of this larger design. (NARA: RG-32-UB) (Click photo to enlarge) |
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S.S. West Lewark (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2243) This photo, dated 15 or possibly 25 June 1921, was part of an inspection report on the ship by the 11th [Naval] District Section of the Joint Merchant Vessel Board. At the time the ship was owned by the Emergency Fleet Corporation and operated by the Williams Diamond S.S. Co. of San Francisco, Calif. Photo No. Photo No. NH 102524 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command |
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S.S. West Lewark (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2243) On her trial trip on 16 June 1921, probably a day after the above photo. Photo No. None Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-S |
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S.S. West Faralon (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2244) This photo was distributed by the International Newsreel after the "big freighter" picked up the crew and passengers from the burning liner City of Honolulu after they had taken to the lifeboats. City of Honolulu, ex USS Huron, ex German Friedrich der Grosse, burned on 12 October 1922 while returning to San Pedro on her first round trip in the Hawaiian-California service. West Faralon transferred the 218 rescued personnel to the Army transport Thomas and then resumed her voyage to the Dutch West Indies. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe |
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S.S. Greylock, ex West Greylock (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2245) Photographed after her ownership and name were changed in 1923. She was torpedoed under this name on the Murmansk run in 1943. Photo No. None Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, MSC Collection. |
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S.S. Golden Dragon, ex West Chopaka (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2245) In Los Angeles Harbor while being operated by the Oceanic & Oriental Navigation Co. between 1927 and 1938. The Catalina boats Cabrillo (large, 1904) and Betty O (small, 1921) are laid up across the pier. O&O was a joint venture involving Matson and American-Hawaiian, and a handwritten caption on the original poor quality photo called Golden Dragon a "Hawaiian cruise ship." Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe |
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USAT Meigs, ex West Lewark (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2247) Photographed by the Army Signal Corps with a deck load of trucks. An Executive Order of 7 January 1922 directed her transfer to the War Department and she was renamed on 25 May 1922. She was a refrigerator/supply ship and also an animal transport with stalls for 268 animals. The photo number indicates a date of late 1941, although the ship is still in peacetime colors and without guns. Photo No. SC 131485 (Army Signal Corps photo) Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-111 |
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S.S. Mokihana, ex West Prospect (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2246) In the Port of Los Angeles with neutrality markings. She was operated by the Matson Line. Photo No. Mokihana_9839_010 Source: vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/9839 |
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S.S. Mokihana, ex West Prospect (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2246) In the Port of Los Angeles with neutrality markings. Photo No. Mokihana_9839_011 Source: vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/9839 |
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S.S. Mokihana, ex West Prospect (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2246) Departing a U.S. port on 16 September 1941 wearing neutrality markings. Photo No. Mokihana_9839_012 Source: vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/9839 |
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S.S. Mokihana, ex West Prospect (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2246) Departing a U.S. port on 1 October 1941 wearing neutrality markings. Photo No. Mokihana_9839_013 Source: vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/9839 |
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S.S. Mokihana, ex West Prospect (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2246) Departing a U.S. port on 18 June 1943 armed and with deck cargo. Photo No. Mokihana_9839_007 Source: vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/9839 |
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S.S. Mokihana, ex West Prospect (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2246) Departing a U.S. port on 27 February 1944. Photo No. Mokihana_9839_014 Source: vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/9839 |
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S.S. Frixos, ex West Prospect (Design 1133, EFC Hull 2246) At sea after being renamed for the last time in 1948. Between 1927 and 1938 she had been operated by the Oceanic & Oriental Navigation Co. under the name Golden Sun along with Golden Dragon (above) and Golden Hind (ex West Faralon). Matson then operated her as Mokihana from 1938 to 1948. She went to the breakers in 1954. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe |
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