Concrete Barges of WWII

Besides the 24 concrete ships built by McCloskey and Company during the Second World War, the United States commisioned the construction of several fleets of concrete barges. The total number of barges may be as high as 78.

These barges were not the flat platforms we think of today, but actual full-sized ships used to store supplies and raw materials. Like modern barges, these ships had no engines of their own so they were towed around by other ships.

22 barges were built by Concrete Ship Constructors Incorporated in National City, California. They were not considered worthy of actual names. They were simply numbered instead. One of these barges, YOGN 82, is still afloat as part of a giant floating breakwater on the Powell River in Canada.

Another 20 barges were built by Barret and Hilp in San Fransisco. They were named after minerals, such as Agate, Granite, Mica and Limestone. One of these barges, the Quartz, was present at the famous nuclear tests at the Bikini Atoll. The Quartz is also still afloat at the Powell River Breakwater.

Ships

• YOGN 82
• Quartz

Photos

Click on any blue-bordered photos for a larger picture.

Quartz (Source: John Campbell)

YOGN 82 (Source: John Campbell)

Abandoned barge near Kwajalein Missile Range
(Source: Bob Hampton)

Abandoned barge off Shipwreck Beach, Hawaii
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Related Links

• Complete List of Barges Built By Barret and Hilp
• Barges Built By Concrete Ship Constructors of National City