Craig Shipbuilding Company
Coordinates: 33°46′14″N 118°12′50″W / 33.770586°N 118.213819°W
Craig Shipbuilding was a shipbuilding company in Long Beach, California. To support the World War I demand for ships Craig Shipbuilding shipyard switched over to military construction and built: US Navy Submarines and Cargo Ships. Craig Shipbuilding was started in 1906 by John F. Craig. John F. Craig had worked in Toledo, Ohio with his father, John Craig (1838-1934), and Blythe Craig, both shipbuilders, their first ship was built in 1864 at Craig Shipbuilding Toledo. John F. Craig opened his shipbuilding company in Port of Long Beach on the south side of Channel 3, the current location of Pier 41 in the inner harbor, becoming the port's first shipyard. In 1907 Craig Shipbuilding is given a contract to dredge a channel from the Pacific ocean to the inner harbor. In 1917 Craig sold the shipyard to the California Shipbuilding Company. But then opened a new shipyard next to the one he just sold and called it the Long Beach Shipbuilding Company. The Long Beach Shipbuilding Company built cargo ships in 1918, 1919, and 1920 for the United States Shipping Board.
In 1918 California Shipbuilding started to have difficulties completing contracts that it had purchased with the Craig Shipyard, including two submarines and a lighthouse tender. In 1921, Craig purchased his original shipyard back and renamed it back to Craig Shipbuilding. At the same time he renamed the Long Beach Shipbuilding to Craig Shipbuilding and ran both as one company. The tow shipyard did repair work on built yachts.
The United States Maritime Commission started a shipbuilding program in 1939, to support the World War 2 demand for ships. Craig leased the Long Beach Shipbuilding yard to Consolidated Steel Corporation. Consolidated Steel Corporation built type C cargo merchant ships and two type p1 passenger ships at the leased yard. Consolidated Steel operated two other large shipyards and two other small boatyards. After World war 2, the Consolidated leased yard closed. Craig shipyard continued to do repair work as the Long Beach Marine Repair and closed in 1970.[1]
Craig Shipbuilding Toledo[]
Notable ships built at Craig Shipbuilding Toledo (1864-1905), Sold to American Ship Building in 1905 and renamed Toledo Shipbuilding then American Ship Building. Run today by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority:[2][3][4]
- Two schooners, the James H. Seguine and Edwin Kirk in 1864 at Keyport, New Jersey
- Amelia G. Ireland built at Wicomico Creek, Maryland in 1866
- Schooner Jane Ralston for Robert W. Linn. Craig started partnership with Linn, Linn & Craig
- Manistique in 1882 as John Craig & Son (with George Losee Craig) Son John Franklin Craig joins in 1889 yard moves to Toledo.
- E.G. Crosby (1903)[5]
- City of South Haven
- Lakeside
- City of Benton Harbor
- Indianapolis
- Chippewa
- SS George M. Cox (SS Puritan) 1901 steel passenger screw-steamer 495 tons, Wrecked May 27, 1933.[6][7][8]
- Detroiter 1902
- Light Vessel No.57
- USS City of South Haven (ID-2527)
- SS Harriet B.
- USS Puritan (ID-2222)
- John C. Barr tug
- Grays Reef Light
- SS Grand Haven
- LV55, LV56, and LV57 at the Lansing Shoals Light Station, Light vessels
- United States lightship Nantucket (LV-58)
- Many tugs, propellers, barges, car ferries, light ships and passenger boats
Craig Shipbuilding Long Beach Yard[]
Notable ships built at Craig Shipbuilding Long Beach Yard (1906 to 1917) and (1922-1934):[9]
- USS Malanao (AG-44) built 1912 as 'Paraiso'
- USLHT Cedar 1917
- Cedar (WAGL 207) US Coast Guard Buoy Tender at 1,890 tons 1917
- USS L-6 (SS-45) US Navy Submarine 1917
- USS L-7 (SS-46) US Navy Submarine 1917
- USS Amber 1930 built as Infanta for the actor John Barrymore.
- Velero III 1931 for George Allan Hancock
- USS Amethyst 1931
- USS Gloria Dalton (IX-70) 1925 as Georganna
- Infanta' a 120-foot steel-hulled cruiser in 1930 for actor John Barrymore
- USS Hilo (AGP-2) US Navy motor torpedo boat tender 1931
- Geoanna schooner 1934
Long Beach Shipbuilding Company[]
Notable ships built at Long Beach Shipbuilding Company Long Beach Yard (1918-1921):
- SS West Kasson
- USS Ozaukee (ID-3439)
- World War I cargo Design 1019 ships built in 1918, 1919 and 1920: Silverado, Eldorado, Wallingford, Ozaukee, Oshkosh, Magunkook, West Kasson, West Keene, West Katan, Vinita, Haleakala, West Keats, West Kebar, and West Kedron.
- Edythe yacht for owner John F. Craig. At 186 tons in 1920. Later sold and renamed Melodie.
- Mazatlan 987 ton cargo ship for Swayne & Hoyt shipping. Later renamed San Diegan in 1937.
Consolidated Steel at the Long Beach Shipyard[]
Consolidated Steel at the Long Beach Shipyard (1941 to 1943)
- Seven C1-B cargo ships at 6,679 tons a type C cargo merchant ships: Agwimonte, Agwiprince, Alcoa Pennant, Alcoa Polaris, Cape Trinity, Cape Sandy, and Cape Friendship. See twin sister ship USS Auriga.[10][11]
- Two type p1 passenger ships, model P1-S2-L2. The P1-S2-L2 Doyen-class attack transports were two ships. The first American assault military transports. Made with an aft ramp for the launching of small landing craft or for the unloading of tanks.[12][13]
- USS Doyen, first in class
- USS Feland
See also[]
- California during World War II
- Maritime history of California
- Union Iron Works]
- Richmond Shipyards
- Kneass Boat Works
- Pacific Bridge Company
References[]
- ^ Craig Shipbuilding shipbuildinghistory.com
- ^ Craig Shipbuilding Toledo shipbuildinghistory.com
- ^ Craig Shipbuilding Toledo wrecksite
- ^ Boats Built at Toledo, Ohio
- ^ E.G. Crosby (1903)
- ^ NPS, SS George M. Cox
- ^ NPS SS George M. Cox Wreck
- ^ NPS, SS George M. Cox: Operational History
- ^ Historical Society of Long BeachOctober 2018The Great War as Civic Engagement:Southern California, 1916-1925, by Craig Hendricks
- ^ * Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
- ^ NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-98 Auriga
- ^ navypedia.org, Doyen-class attack transport
- ^ usmaritimecommission.de, Outboard Profiles of Maritime Commission Vessels, The Passenger Ships & Troop Transports
[Category:American Theater of World War II]]
- 1940s in California
- American boat builders
- Ships built in Toledo, Ohio