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.shipbuildinghistory.com, Merchant Ships BargeWooden Ships and BargesOpen Lighters (YC) Built or Acquired During WWII shipbuildinghistory
List TypeNotesYFFreight (Lighter) BargeSelf-propelledYFNFreight BargeNon-self-propelledYFRRefrigerated Freight BargeSelf-propelledYFRNRefrigerated Freight BargeNon-self-propelledYRFloating WorkshopYRBRepair and Berthing BargeYRBMYard Repair Berthing and MessingYRBM-18 (formerly APL-55) received the Presidential Unit Citation for service during the Vietnam War (6 December 1968 – 31 March 1969).YRDHDry-Dock Workshops, HullYRDMDry-Dock Workshops, MachineryYRRRadiological Repair BargeUsed to support nuclear plant overhauls of nuclear ships and submarines, also refueling and decontamination of used equipment.YCVAircraft BargeBuilt to transport aircraft; built by Alameda Works Shipyard and Pearl Harbor NSY at 480 tons.LBELanding Barge, Emergency repairUsed in WW2 to repair landing craft.LBKLanding Barge, KitchenLBVLanding Barge, VehicleLBO, YO, YONLanding Barge, OilerLBW, YWLanding Barge, WaterLBFLanding Barge, FlakYFNBLarge Covered LighterNon-self-propelled barge, e.g. YR 47 and YRR 9. See , a 152' long, 36' beam barge used for repairs.YFNXSpecial Purpose BargesNon-self-propelled and used at shore. Most were a modified YC or YFN hull. The modified barge gave the craft a specialized use, such as a laboratory, sonar research, or stowage for submarine goods.YFNDDry Dock Companion CraftNon-self-propelled barges. YFND were a special purpose barge used to support the auxiliary floating drydocks, which had little crew support space.YFPFloating Power BargesNon-self-propelled barges with fuel and a generator to make a mobile power station, and were able to produce up to 20,000 kilowatts of power.YOGGasoline BargeSelf-propelled, with tanks for gasoline that had a capacity of 8,200 Bbls.YOGNGasoline BargeNon-self-propelledYGGarbage Barge, also called LighterSelf-propelled with one direct-drive Atlas diesel engine to a single propeller, 240 shp.YGNGarbage BargeNon-self-propelledYPDFloating Pile DriversNon-self-propelled barges used to build piers.YSRSludge Removal BargeNon-self-propelled barge 110 foot long with a 34-foot beam. Built for cleaning fuel oil or other tanks that have sludge and/or foreign matter.
Types
Freight (Lighter) Barges (YF – YFN) 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 – YFN-603). Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company built FN-619 to FN-742 and YFN-998 to YFN-1016. shipbuildinghistory.com Freight Barges (YF, YFN) and Refrigerated Freight Barges (YFR, YFRN) Built or Acquired Since WWII
Refrigerated Freight Barges (YFR – YFRN) YFR Barges were self-propelled. YFRN barges were not self-propelled. Olson & Winge of Seattle made 10 (YFRN-833 – 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.
Repair 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. +TypeNumber builtNotesYRFloating Workshop96 built, 24 built before WW2YRBRepair and Berthing Barge36 builtYRBMYard Repair Berthing and Messing56 builtYRBM-18 (formerly APL-55) received the Presidential Unit Citation for service during the Vietnam War (6 December 1968 – 31 March 1969).YRDHDry-Dock Workshops, Hull8 builtYRDMDry-Dock Workshops, Machinery8 builtYRRRadiological Repair Barge14 builtUsed to support nuclear plant overhauls of nuclear ships and submarines, also refueling and decontamination of used equipment.LBELanding Barge, Emergency repairUsed in WW2 to repair landing craft.
Barracks Barge 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). APL-1 to APL-58 are non-self-propelled barracks ships built in 1944 and 1945. APL displaced 2,600 tons at full load. Dimensions are 261.2 feet long, 49.2 feet beam, draft 8.5 feet when fully loaded. WW2 armament was four 20 mm guns. Crew quarters could accommodate 71 officers and 583 men. Some are still in use, such as the USS Mercer (APL-39). APL-59 to APL-72 are post-WW2 barracks ships.
Landing Barge, Kitchen 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.Training In Small Landing Craft Operations combinedops.com
Landing Barge, Vehicle 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.Operation Neptune: The Inside Story of Naval Operations for the Normandy, By BB Schofield, page 128 a
Landing Barge, Oiler 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.Operation Neptune, By BB Schofield, page 128 bUS Navy, Landing ships
Landing Barge, Water 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 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 Barge
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 Barge 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.NavSource, YO/YON Fuel Barge
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.Beans, Bullets, and Black Oil, The Story of Fleet Logistics Afloat in the Pacific During World War II, Special Type Ships Useful, page 99-100
Type MC B7-A2 were concrete tank barges (5,786 deadweight tons) made by Concrete Ship Constructors Inc in National City, CA. YOG-85 YO-144 YOG-40 YOG-41 YOG-42 – Beached off a Hawaiian island, visible from the shore YOG-64 – Service history unknown, now wrecked at the Staten Island boat graveyard, currently known as the Donjon Iron and Metal Scrap Facility YO-145 YO-146 – Sank in accident, July 1957 YOG-53 YO-159 – Sunk by Japanese submarine RO-42 off New Hebrides, 14 January 1944 YO-160 – Atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll, 25 July 1946 YO-161 – Sank at Eniwetok, 29 November 1946 YO-162 YO-163 YO-182 YO-183 YOGN-82 – Sunk on June 23, 2018, to form an artificial reef in Powell River, B.C. YO-184 – Sank at Eniwetok during typhoon in September 1946 YO-185 – Sank off Saipan, 16 March 1946 YOG-83 – Sank off Kwajalein, 16 September 1948 YO-186 – Sank at sea off Guam, 5 April 1948 YO-187 – Lost by grounding off Midway Island in 1957 YOG-84 – Lost during typhoon at sea off Saipan, 14 November 1948
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.
Barium Helium Nitrogen Radium Argon Cadmium Chromium Cobalt Iridium Lithium Magnesium Neon Nickel Phosphorus Sodium Sulphur Tellurium Tungsten Uranium Bismuth Bromide Hydrogen – with reefer storage Calcium – with reefer storage Antimony – with reefer storage Cerium – maintenance barges Radon – maintenance barges YOGN 104 – built by Alabama Dry Dock Mobile AL Ex-C 105, disposed of 1947 1950s
Built by Trinity Industries in Nashville, TN (165 feet long, 245 tons) YOGN-110 YOGN-111 YOGN-112 YOGN-113 Built by Albina Engine & Machine in Portland, OR (165 feet long, 245 tons) YOGN-114 YOGN-115 – used to support cooling efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power YOGN-116 YOGN-117 YOGN-118 YOGN-119 – renamed YON 367, sunk as target 1973 YOGN-120 – renamed Ex-BG 1165, sunk as target 1978 YOGN-121 YOGN-122 – Ex-BG 8452, scrapped 1986 YOGN-123 – Ex-BG 6380, YON 252 YOGN-124 – Ex-BG 6383, struck 2006 YOGN-125 – Ex-YWN 154, now YON