The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-25


The army has just made a
tally and comes up with the
fact that its operating a
fleet Of some 5000 vessels
Only so are oeean-going trans
ports and freighters. The first
are lesser craft, ranging from
20O-foot minsp.snters to 49,
foot assault boats. ar even
smaller row-boats. Each type
plays a vital part in the water
operations Of some particular
army branch.
The transportation division Of
the versatile office Of the quar-
termaster general plans and
maintains nearly all the various
types Of craft. The only eNeep-
tons sre the L. S. engineers as
sault boats. waterway mainten-
snce equipment and pentons
that's the army version Of pom
toons.'
Use Of the army fleet. other
than boats Of the corps Of en-
gineers. is divided among the air
corps. signal corps and coast
artillery. with the quartermaster
corps directly controlling the
army transport service.
Uncle Sans navy has to range
far and wide, ready to lombard
enemy ships and harbors. and be
on guard TO intercept invaders OF
American waters. But IT'S up To
the coast artillery 10 keep the
shore-based harhor defenses UP
To snuff Hence IT must have
mineplanters to make harbor
entry tough for the enemy. And
mineplanters must be assisted
by "DB" boats which carry the
distribution boxes TO wire mines
for electric decorating current.
Lastly, little Notwithstanding
mine yawls finish up the job
towering mines into their exact
place, anchoring them securely.
and seeing that no wires are
crossed M.
To give coast artillery guns
realistic moving objects to prao-
tice on, the quartermaster corps
has developed a type Of RADIO
controlled speed boat which can
tow targets on fast. zigzag
courses. Though barely out of
the experimental stage, these
boats offer great possibilities for
future adaptation.
Designed to speed to the aid
of crashed planes or disabled
ships in harbors or neighboring
coastal waters are some smooth
looking. fast moving rescue
boats, equipped with litters and
first-aid materials. The smallest
are 20-footers. The largest are
100 feet long and are capable
of carrying a complete diving
outfit.
Even larger salvage boats and
barges have been added to the
air corps branch of the fleet.
Their derricks and towing de-
vices enable them to tackle real
ly large-scale jobs
One of the newest additions
TO the army's navy is the tank
lighter, self-propelling barge,
specially adapted to ferry tanks
across rivers and harbors. When
one Of the scow-shaped ends is
lowered. it forms a broad gang
plank up which the tank can
easily roll. These lighters come
in various sizes, tailormade to
fit the tank.
The engineer corps can also
put its barge like aluminium
ponton-bridge supports to use as
ferries. Eight oars are a part of
regular equipment for each unit,
and % horsepower motors are
provided for quick attachment.
Few Americans realize that
the u. s. corps of engineers,
beside fulfilling a military
function, has a civilian job
as well. It is the guardian and
repairer of all navigable water
ways in the u. S. AS one army
officer puts it, IF you want to
dig canal fro: your own back
yard to the nearby river, you
have to consult the engineers.
They pass on bridge clearance,
too, and see that lake and river
ports are dredged properly for
navigation. They're just about
the largest scale "handy-men" in
the country, and need hundreds
or tugs, dredges and utility boats
to keep them j. business.
But whichever way you look
at it, top-billing in the roster Of
the army fleet should be given
to the quartermaster corps
transports. Last year there were
only nine active transports. busy
toting men and their families
from one sea-coast garrison to
another, and not in too much Of
a hurry.
Now the service operates so
ocean-goIng ships, and mas pep
ped up its schedule no end.
Family Jitneying IS completely
out Maximum use IS made Of
cargo space, even 10 the point
Of carrying commercial cargo to
fill extra space and help spread
tonnage IN the present ship
shortage. Right now 10000 men