Today, 75 years ago, the United States and our allies joined forces for the Normandy Landings, code named Operation Neptune. This operation was the largest seaborne invasion in the history of the world, resulting in five allied beachheads being established in Normandy.
What you may not have known, though, is that our little beach town of Newport Beach was also a major contributor to the war effort. Many of our docks and shipbuilders were re-purposed to build and maintain ships for both the Army and Navy.
Here are a list of over 100 military vessels which touched the water for the very first time right here in Newport Harbor (and this is not even listing the countless others which were repaired here):
Maker | Number | Built For | Type | Dates Built | Notes |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 88 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 5-May-42 | To the USSR 1945 as T-608 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 89 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 11-Jun-42 | Struck 1946 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 90 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 24-Jul-42 | Struck 1946 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 91 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 21-Aug-42 | Sold 1946, active as Marabell in British Columbia |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 92 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 24-Sep-42 | Mined off Okinawa and lost 1945 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 93 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 21-Oct-42 | Struck 1947 |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL 1232 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1943 | Sold as Lohilani |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL 1233 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1943 | Sold as Kolomona |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL 1234 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1943 | Sold as Ehukai, later Little Toot, now Claire |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL 1235 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1943 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL 1236 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1943 | Sold as Wanda K |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL 1237 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1943 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | LCM(3) | US Navy | Lndg. Craft | 1943 | Quantity built not known |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | HDML 1348 | US Navy | Launch | 1943 | To New Zealand |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | HDML 1349 | US Navy | Launch | 1943 | To New Zealand |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | HDML 1350 | US Navy | Launch | 1943 | To New Zealand |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | HDML 1351 | US Navy | Launch | 1943 | To New Zealand |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL ? | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1943 | Sold as Tug 1061, now Viking |
Victory Shipbuilding | SC 1063 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 13-Feb-43 | To USCG 1945 as Air Skimmer (WAVR 463), sold as Perry B |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 259 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 5-Mar-43 | Struck 1946 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 260 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 9-Apr-43 | To the USSR 1945 as T-527 |
Peyton Company | SC 772 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 15-Apr-43 | To USCG 1945 as Air Mallard (WAVR 437), sold 1948 as Lady Goodiver, now B-and-B SC-772 (Canada) |
Victory Shipbuilding | SC 1064 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 4-May-43 | To USCG 1945 as Air Skylark (WAVR 464) |
Peyton Company | SC 773 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 12-May-43 | Sold 1948 as Larry |
Peyton Company | SC 774 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 28-Jun-43 | To the USSR 1945 as BO-323 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 261 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 8-Jul-43 | To Britain 1943 as BYMS 2261, to Greece 1946 as Andromeda, struck 1967 |
Peyton Company | SC 775 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 30-Jul-43 | To USCG 1945 as Air Martin (WAVR 438), sold 1948 as Milmar |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 262 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 11-Aug-43 | Later James M. Gillis (AGS 13) 1945, sold 1960 |
Peyton Company | SC 1362 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 6-Sep-43 | To USCG 1945 as Air Warbler (WAVR 477), sold 1948 as Warbler |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 263 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 10-Sep-43 | Later Simon Newcomb (AGS 14) 1945, scrapped 1950 |
Peyton Company | SC 1363 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 29-Sep-43 | Disposed of 1946 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 264 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 26-Oct-43 | To Britain 1943 as BYMS 2264 |
Peyton Company | SC 1364 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 13-Nov-43 | To the USSR 1945 as BO-331 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 317 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 18-Nov-43 | Later Grosbeak (AMS 14) 1947, struck 1959 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 318 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 30-Dec-43 | Struck 1946 |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1222 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 10/43-11/43 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1223 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 10/43-11/43 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1224 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 10/43-11/43 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1225 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 10/43-11/43 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1226 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 10/43-11/43 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1227 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 10/43-11/43 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1228 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 11/43-12/43 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1229 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 11/43-12/43 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1230 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 11/43-12/43 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MTL 1231 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 11/43-12/43 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 107 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | Sold as Daring |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 108 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 109 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 110 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 111 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 112 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 113 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 114 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 115 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 116 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 117 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 118 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 119 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 120 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | TP 121 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL ? | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | Sold as Nyna Rose |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL ? | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | Sold as New Home |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL ? | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | Sold as Thelma Kay |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL ? | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | Sold as Two Nancies |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL ? | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | Sold as Norman H |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL ? | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | Sold as H F Lauritzen |
Ackerman Boat & Consolidated Steel | MTL ? | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | Sold as Dixie Diver |
TP ? | US Army | Harbor Tug | 1944 | Sold as Tiger-Horse | |
Peyton Company | SC 1365 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 10-Jan-44 | To the USSR 1945 as BO-329 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YMS 319 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 4-Feb-44 | Struck 1946 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | PCS 1396 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 29-Mar-44 | Reclassified Dutton (AGS 8) 1945, sold 1950 as Tarpon |
South Coast Shipbuilding | PCS 1397 | US Navy | Sub Chaser | 16-May-44 | Sold as South Beach, later Hidalgo |
South Coast Shipbuilding | PCS 1398/YMS 449 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 7-Jul-44 | Sold 1947 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | PCS 1399/YMS 450 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 25-Nov-44 | Conversion cancelled, to the Philippines 1948 as Tarlac (P 11), scrapped 1969 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | PCS 1400/YMS 451 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 26-Dec-44 | Completion cancelled, named Coquille 1956, sold 1963 |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1338 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1339 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1340 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1341 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1342 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1343 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1344 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1345 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1346 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1347 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1348 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1349 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1350 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1351 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1352 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1353 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1354 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1355 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1356 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Victory Shipbuilding | MT 1357 | US Army | Harbor Tug | 3/44-7/44 | |
Peyton Company | TP 122 | US Army | Tug, Harbor | Mar to Aug-44 | |
Peyton Company | TP 123 | US Army | Tug, Harbor | Mar to Aug-44 | Sold, later Outlaw V (Canada O.N. 320295) |
Peyton Company | TP 124 | US Army | Tug, Harbor | Mar to Aug-44 | |
Peyton Company | TP 125 | US Army | Tug, Harbor | Mar to Aug-44 | |
South Coast Shipbuilding | C-26646 | US Navy | Crash Boat | 1945 | To RAN as Air Hope |
South Coast Shipbuilding | C-26647 | US Navy | Crash Boat | 1945 | To RAN as Air Faith |
South Coast Shipbuilding | C-26648 | US Navy | Crash Boat | 1945 | To RAN as Air Foam |
South Coast Shipbuilding | C-26649 | US Navy | Crash Boat | 1945 | |
South Coast Shipbuilding | C-26650 | US Navy | Crash Boat | 1945 | |
South Coast Shipbuilding | C-26651 | US Navy | Crash Boat | 1945 | |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YP 639 | US Navy | Patrol Boat | 1945 | Sold 1948 as Alphecca, later Jo Ann |
South Coast Shipbuilding | YP 640 | US Navy | Patrol Boat | 1945 | Sold 1948 as Intrepid, lost 1964 |
South Coast Shipbuilding | PCS 1401/YMS 452 | US Navy | Minesweeper | 13-Feb-45 | Completion cancelled, named McMinnville 1956, sold 1963 |
Wouldn’t it be cool if we had one of these still in Newport to look at? Well we do, but it’s disguised as a luxury cruise boat! Our Hometown Hero John Wayne wanted a boat so big that it didn’t exist at the time, so he retrofitted a giant Minesweeping boat and turned it into his own luxury yacht, renaming it to “Wild Goose”– a far catchier name than “USS YMS-328”.
NOTES:
1) The Peyton Company was said to be at 901 West Pacific Coast Highway, but this location is not actually on the waterfront, although it’s close. If anyone can pinpoint its site, please contact me at michael.glenn@devion.com .
2) If anyone can provide any information about this yard – who owned it, where was it, please contact me at michael.glenn@devion.com
3) Victory Shipbuilding was said to be at 613 West Pacific Coast Highway, but this location is not actually on the waterfront, although it’s close. It is also unclear if this Victory Shipbuilding was connected in any way to the one in Holland MI. If anyone can answer these questions, please contact me at michael.glenn@devion.com
4) Ackerman Boat Company was started in 1943 by Clarence Ackerman. It was located on Lido Island, at a time when Lido Island was virgin ground. Consolidated Steel bought it in 1943 and converted it into a boat repair yard, but sold it back to Ackerman in 1947. It then continued as Ackerman Boat Works until quite recently.