# Type B ship

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. Barges were needed to move large bulky cargo. A tug boat, some classed as Type V ships, could move a barge, then depart and move on to the next task. That meant the barge did not have to be rushed to be unloaded or loaded. Toward the end of World War 2, some ships that had not been completed in time for the war were converted to barges. US Navy water barges are given the hull classification symbols YWN or YW. Due to shortage of steel during World War II, concrete ship constructors were given contracts to build concrete barges for oil or gasoline, with ferrocement and given the hull symbols YO, YOG, YOGN. Built in 1944 and 1945, some were named after chemical elements.

## World War II barge types
### Steel Barge

* Built by Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company in Mobile, AL, Type Coal, Design # 1039
* USSB # 301 Name Darien Barge sold to Debardeleben Marine III, Texas in 1969
* USSB # 302 Name Mamai Barge sold renamed Patricia Sheridan in 1969
* Built by Union Bridge & Construction Company in Morgan City, LA, Design #1067
* USSB #2005 Barge
* USSB #2006 Barge
* USSB #2007 Barge
* Built by Nashville Bridge Company in Nashville, TN, Design # 1096
* USSB #2776 Barge, Tank
* USSB #2777 Barge, Tank
* USSB #2778 Barge, Tank
* USSB #2779 Barge, Tank

### Freight Barges YF – YFN

YFN barges were not self-propelled. YF barges were self-propelled. A YFN could carry a load of 550 long tons. YFN worked near shore and had a steel hull. They worked in harbors, rivers and other protected waters. They 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 to YFN 603. Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company built: FN 619 to FN 742 YFN 998 to YFN 1016.

### Refrigerated Freight Barges YFR – YFRN

YFRN Barges were not self-propelled. YFR Barges were self-propelled. Olson & Winge of Seattle WA made 10 YFRN: YFRN-833 to YFRN-841 in 1943, for the war. 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 a reefer barge.

### Repair Barges

Yard Repair Berthing and Messing are repair Barges type TR, YR, YRB, YRBM, YRDH, YRDM, YRR, LBE were built for World War 2. Repair Barges were self sustaining, 530 tons and 153 feet long. Built in 1944, 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 steam boiler. The living space had berths, a mess hall to support a crew of 48 men.
* Floating Workshops are YR, 96 built, 24 built before ww2
* Repair and Berthing Barges are YRB, 36 built
* Repair, Berthing and Messing Barges were YRBM, 56 built. YRBM-18 (formerly APL-55) received the Presidential Unit Citation for service during the Vietnam War from 6 December 1968 to 31 March 1969.
* Dry-Dock Workshops – Hull are YRDH, 8 built
* Dry-Dock Workshops – Machinery are YRDM, 8 built
* Radiological Repair Barges are YRR, 14 built. Used to support nuclear plant overhauls of nuclear ships and submarines, also refueling and decontamination of used equipment.
* LBE Landing Barge, Emergency repair used in WW2 to repair landing craft.

### Barracks Barge

US Navy Barracks Barges, also called berthing barge was 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 for auxiliary personal living.
* APL-1 to 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. Sample see USS Mercer (APL-39).
* APL-59 to APL-72 are post WW2 Barracks Ships.

### Aircraft Barge – YCV

YCV Barge were built to transport Aircraft, but by Alameda Works Shipyard and Pearl Harbor NSY at 480 tons.

### Landing Barge, Kitchen

Landing Barge, Kitchen or LBK, was a landing craft used to support amphibious landings in Northwestern Europe during and after the Normandy invasion of Second World War. 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

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 2 Chrysler RM Gas engines and were used by both the US and British on D-Day. Built in three sizes: small (S) 70 feet long, medium (M) 78 feet long and large (L) 82 feet long. Each had a draft of about 4 feet when loaded.

### Landing Barge, Oiler

Landing Barge, Oiler (LBO) and 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

Landing Barge, Water (LBW or YW) a barge with a 33-ton fresh water 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) a Landing Barge with a 40mm anti-aircraft gun, manned by a crew of five. 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 built 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

* 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: 5,636 long tons (5,726 t), full load: 12,910 tons. Length:366 ft 4 in (111.66 m), beam: 54 ft (16 m), draft: 26 ft (7.9 m), crew 52 officers and men. Ship armament 1 to 4 40 mm AA gun Concrete Ships were fitted as needed. Some had diesel-electric power generators for refrigeration or tool use. Others were used to store fuel or water (up to 60,000 barrels). Some were used for water distilling. Others were the Quartermaster general store.
* Type MC B7-A2 tank barges made by Concrete Ship Constructors Inc in National City CA.
B7-A2 were 5,786 deadweight tons concrete barges.
* 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 Jan 1944
* YO-160 Atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll on 25 Jul 1946
* YO-161 Sank Eniwetok 29 Nov 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 Sep. of 1946
* YO-185 Sank off Saipan 16 March 1946.
* YOG-83 Sank off Kwajalein 16 Sep. 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 Nov 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
* Built by Manitowoc SB in Manitowoc WI, 174 feet long, 440 tons.
* YOGN-196 renamed Ex-YO 196, sunk as target 2000
Trefoil-class concrete barge 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" by Beam: 54' with max. Draft: 26'
* Trefoil
* Quartz
* Silica
* Carmita (ex-Slate)
* Asphalt
* Bauxite
* Limestone
* Feldspar
* Marl
* Barite
* Lignite
* Cinnabar
* Corundum
B7-A1 B7-A1 were 5,786 deadweight tons concrete barges.
* MacEvoy Shipbuilding Corp. of Savannah, Georgia made seven B7-A1 concrete barges in 1944.
* San Jacinto Shipbuilding Corp. of Houston TX made four B7-A1 concrete barges in 1943.

### Wood Barge

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 were low cost to build 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 was built and a fleet of concrete barges were also built.
* YS-110 was an 80-foot wood barge with a 40-foot beam. She had a flat deck and was built in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in 1943.
* YS-88 was a 100-foot wood barge with a 42-foot beam. Built in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in 1941.
* YC-843 to YC-847 were built by Martha's Vineyard Ship Building Company in Vineyard Haven, MA, 110-foot wood barges for the US Navy at 250 tons in 1942
* Built by American Lumber in Millville, Florida
** Millville EFC # 2432 USSB Design #1067
* Built by Beaumont Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in Beaumont, TX:
** Shelbank EFC #2127 later completed as sailing ship Marie F. Cummins, scrapped in 1947
** Shelby EFC #2128 later completed as sailing ship Albert D. Cummins, now rest in mud in the Delaware River.
* Built by Coastwise Shipbuilder in Baltimore, MD
** Catonsville EFC #2141
** Sherwood EFC #2142
** Carroll EFC #2143
* Built by Cobb & Company, F. in Rockland, ME
** Whitehead EFC #2481
* Built by Crook, H. E. Baltimore MD
** Druid Hill EFC #2594
** Ruxton EFC #2595
* Built by Crosby Navigation in Richmond, VA
** Hallowell EFC #2577
** Richmond EFC #2578

## YFNB

YFNB Large Covered Lighter, non-self-propelled barge, such as US Navy YFNB_47, a 152 feet, 36 feet beam barge that was used for repair, e.g. YR 47 and YRR 9 .

## YFNX

YFNX were Special Purpose Barges, that were non-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.

## YFND

YFND or Dry Dock Companion Craft, were non-self-propelled barges. YFND were a special purpose barge used to support the auxiliary floating drydocks, which had little crew support space.

## YFP

YFP were Floating Power Barges, a non-self-propelled barge with fuel and a generator to make a mobile power station, and were able to produce up to 20,000 kilowatts of power.

## YOG – YOGN - YG

YOG were self propelled Gasoline Barges, with tanks for gasoline that had a capacity of 8,200 Bbls. YOGN were non-self-propelled Gasoline Barges.

## YG

YG were Garbage Barges, also called Lighter, and were self-propelled with one direct-drive Atlas diesel engine to a single propeller, 240 shp.

### YGN

YGN were Garbage Barges that were non-self-propelled.

## YPD

YPD were Floating Pile Drivers, and were non-self-propelled barges, used to build piers.

## YSR

YSR were Sludge Removal Barges, a non-self-propelled sludge removal barge 110 foot long with a 34-foot beam. Built for cleaning fuel oil or other tanks that have sludge and/or foreign matter.

## US Army

The 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 as a way to unload ships quickly, then move by a tugboat, also called a Sea mule.
* Type B: Barge
* Type BC: Deck barge (Med. 110'-130')
* Type BW: Water barge
* Type BD: Derrick crane barge
* Type BSP: Self-propelled barge
* Type BG: Gasoline tank barge, or other liquid
* Type BTL: Truck (Tank) Landing barge
* Type BCL: Dry cargo large barge (Large - 210' or more)
* Type BCS: Dry cargo small barge (Sm. 45' - 60')
* Type BB: Balloon barge, for Barrage balloons
* Type BBP: Balloon Barrage Leader, self-propelled barge
* Type BCLF: Causeway barge (lighter pier into water)
* Type BPL: Pier lighter
* Type BK: Knockdown barge, Deck barge modules that can be connected together
* Type BKC: Knockdown barge, Deck barge modules that can be connected together (Med. 110'-130')
* Type BKR: Refrigeration barge, Knockdown
* Type BKO: Tank barge knockdown
* Type BKSC: Nesting barge knockdown
* Type FMS: Repair Shop barge
* Type JMLS: Joint Modular Lighter System
* Type BDL: Beach discharge lighter
* Type BCDK: Enclosed barge Knockdown

## World War I barge types

Many World War I barges were used in World War II, due to the high demand.

### Steel

* Built by American Steel Barge Company in Superior, WI, from 1891 to 1945.
* YW , YW-1 to YW-132, Water Barge self-propelled
* Water Barge non-self-propelled
** YWN-145 (was YW-145)
** YWN-146 (was YW-146)
** YWN-147
** YWN-148 ex YON-187
** YW-149
** YW-150
** YW-151
** YW-152
** YWN-153
** YWN-154
** YW-155
** *YWN-156 ex YOGN-116
** YWN-157 ex YOG-32

### Wood

* Built by Anacortes Shipways in Anacortes, WA in 1918
* USSB Barden type# 1001, LDT 2,551,
* USSB Dacula type# 1001, LDT 2,551,
* USSB Western Larch I type# B5-G1
* USSB Western Larch II type# B5-G1
* USSB Western Larch III type# B5-G1
* Built by Allen Shipbuilding in Seattle, WA in 1919, Design # 1115
* USSB Allenhurst type 1115
* USSB Ahmik type 1115
* Built by Coastwise Shipbuilding in Baltimore MD in 1919, design # 1067
* USSB Sherwood
* USSB Catonsville
* USSB Carroll
* Built by Crook, H. E. in Baltimore MD, design # 1067
* USSB Druid Hill (1919)
* USSB Ruxton (1920)
* Built by Crosby Navigation in Richmond VA, design # 1067
* USSB Hallowell
* Built by Gildersleeve Shipbuilding in Gildersleeve, CT, Coal Barge, design#115
* USSB YC 600
* USSB YC 601
* USSB YC 602
* Built by Johnson Shipyards in Mariners Harbor, NY, 1919, design#1067
* USSB Tompkinsville
* Built by Machias Shipbuilding in Machias, ME, 1919, design#1067
* USSB Wellesley
* USSB Jonesport
* Built by McEachern Shipbuilding in Astoria, OR, 1920
* USSB Cabria
* Built by Meacham & Babcock in Seattle WA, 1919, design#1001
* USSB Chalois
* USSB Charnis
* Built by Midland Bridge in Houston, TX, 1919, design#1067
* USSB Aransas
* USSB Matagorda
* Built by Sloan Shipyards in Anacortes, WA, 1918, design#1001
* USSB Cabacan
* USSB Dacula
* Built by . Johns River Shipyard Co. in Jacksonville, FL, 1919, design#1067
* USSB Anastasia
* USSB Daytona
* USSB Ormond
* Built by Tacoma Shipbuilding in Tacoma, WA, 1918, design#1001
* USSB Dione
* Built by Wright Shipyards in Tacoma WA, 1918, design#1001
* USSB Endymeon

### Concrete

Concrete Barges were used in WW1. Louis L. Brown built concrete barges at Verplank, New York.
* YC-516 – Barge # 1 (Coal Barge #516), built 1918.
* YC-442 – Barge # 442 – Built 1918, displacement 922 tons.
* For WW1 12 emergency fleet concrete barges were ordered for the war, but they were not completed in time and were sold to private companies.
(12 Concrete ships were also built, like the SS Atlantus.)

## Notable incidents

* YOG 42, Gasoline barge. Under tow by Navajo – AT64, when Navajo was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-39 on 12 September 1943, 150 miles East of Espiritu Santo. Recovered by USS Sioux (AT-75).
* YO-64 Sank due to enemy action in the Philippines in January 1942.
* YO 41 and YO 42 Fuel oil barges. Sank 22 Feb 1942 during enemy action in the Philippines.
* YSP- 44, YSP- 46, YSP- 47, YSP- 48, YSP- 49 Salvage barges and the YSR-2, a sludge barge, sank 22 Feb. 1942 during enemy action in the Philippines.
* YW-54 Water barge, destroyed in early 1942 in enemy action in the Philippines.
* YW-50, YW-55 and YW-58 water barges, captured 10 December 1941 with the surrender of American forces on Guam.
* YC-891 Sank on 18 April 1945, while under tow by the tug Mauvila (YT-328) off Key West, Florida.
* USS YOG-76 Sank on 13 November 1969 in Cua Viet Cove, South Vietnam after two underwater explosions hit her. Refloated and taken to Da Nang, South Vietnam. Not repaired due to severe damage.
* Syncline YO-63 A Bullwheel Class Fuel Oil Barge, Self-propelled, sank in 1972 north of Tahiti.
* YW-114 A YW-83 Class Self-propelled Water Barge. Sank when cargo shifted at Tongass Narrows near Ketchikan, Alaska on 12 August 1989.
* YF-1079 Ran aground and damaged at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, after Typhoon Louise in October 1945. YF-757 also sank in the storm.
* YON-184 Sank at Eniwetok in a typhoon in September 1946.
* Winifred Sheridan A sea-going coal barge. Sank with the Mary E. O’Hara a sailing fishing ship after they collided on January 20, 1941, in blinding snowstorm off The Graves Light.
* Chickamauga While under tow by the steamer Samuel Mitchell, she collided with the Mitchell at Houghton Point, Lake Superior on May 18, 1908, in fog.
* Dunaj 2 Sank after striking a mine in the Sea of Azov on 29 Sep 1943.
* YC21 Sank in a storm on 15 November 1968.
* Allegheny Shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 9.5 nautical miles (17.6 km) east south east of the Metopkin Inlet, Virginia (37°34′N 75°25′W﻿ / ﻿37.567°N 75.417°W﻿ / 37.567; -75.417) by U-boat U-754 on 31 March 1942. All three crewmembers were rescued by USCGC CG-4345 ( United States Coast Guard).
* YCK-8 Wooden barge sank 2.7 miles off Key West, Florida on 12 December 1943. She was under tow by Army tug LT-4.
* USS YO-159 A self-propelled fuel oil barge. Torpedoed and damaged 250 nautical miles (460 km) east of Espiritu Santo (15°27′S 171°28′E﻿ / ﻿15.450°S 171.467°E﻿ / -15.450; 171.467) by Ro-42 on 14 January 1944. Two torpedoes hit YO-159's concrete hull, causing the loss of her fuel oil cargo which caught fire. She was scuttled the following day by USS PC-1138.
* USS Asphalt (IX-153) An S-class Trefoil concrete barge was wrecked at Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands in a storm on 6 October 1944.
* USS YO-156 and USS YO-157 World War II self-propelled fuel oil barges. Lost at Sitka, Alaska in May 1945.
* USS Silica An S class Trefoil concrete barge. Ran aground on 9 October 1945 during a Typhoon Louise off Okinawa.
* YON-160 Sank in Operation Crossroads. The fuel oil barge was sunk as a target by an atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll on 25 July 1946.
* USS Lignite (IX-162) Wrecked by a typhoon, 9 October 1945.
* YC-442, Barge # 442 sank 11 September 1923.

## United Kingdom

* Thames lighters, or dumb barges, were non-self-propelled barges. The original Thames barges were sailing vessels, many were converted for the war. Some LB vessels had ramps added and were called LBR or Landing Barge, Ramped. Some had engines and rudder added and were referred to as LBV or 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.

## Current barge classes

Type B I barge hull. Designed to ensure no uncontrolled release of cargo to the water or atmosphere.
Type B II barge hull. Designed to carry products which require substantial preventive measures to ensure no uncontrolled release of cargo to the water or atmosphere, but only if the release does not constitute a long term hazard.
Type B III barge hull. Designed to transport products classed as minor hazards, thus needing less degree of control.