James Griffiths & Sons, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryShipping
Founded1885 (1885) in Seattle, Washington, United States
Key people
  • Captain James Griffiths
  • Stanley Griffiths
  • Bert Griffiths

James Griffiths & Sons, Inc. was founded by Captain James Griffiths (1861-1943) in Seattle, Washington in 1885. James Griffiths was from Newport, Wales, where he was a captain of a ship. He started as an agent for NYK Line of Japan. James Griffiths ran the company with his sons: Stanley and Bert. James Griffiths & Sons, Inc. entered into a venture with the Olympic Steamship Company in 1936 to form the Consolidated Olympic Company. Consolidated Olympic Company had routes to Long Beach, California, Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, called the Olympic-Griffiths Line. The Olympic-Griffiths Line ship was the SS Olympic Pioneer was a 7,216-ton cargo ships, common freight was lumber and newsprint. Other ships operated were leased.[1]

James Griffiths shipyard

In 1916 James Griffiths purchased the Puget Sound shipyard, Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company on Bainbridge Island, Washington. During World War II, the shipyard built minesweepers: Auk-class minesweepers and Admirable-class minesweepers. In 1948 Griffiths the sold the shipyard.[2]

World War II

James Griffiths & Sons, Inc. fleet of ships were used to help the World War II effort. During World War II James Griffiths & Sons, Inc. operated Merchant navy ships for the United States Shipping Board. During World War II James Griffiths & Sons, Inc. was active with charter shipping with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. James Griffiths & Sons, Inc. operated Liberty ships and Victory ships for the merchant navy. The ship was run by its James Griffiths & Sons, Inc. crew and the US Navy supplied United States Navy Armed Guards to man the deck guns and radio.[3][4][5]

Ships

Liberty ship of World War II

James Griffiths & Sons, Inc. ships

  • Olympic Pioneer, was Liberty ship James A. Drain, acquired in 1947, sold in 1962 [6]
  • Griffson, Cargo, 2,259 tons built in 1916, built by Winslow Marine Railway & Shipbuilding Company in Winslow[7]
  • Anyox, Cargo, 1,287 tons built in 1917, built by Winslow Marine Railway & Shipbuilding Company in Winslow
  • Sueja III, Yacht, 179 tons, built in 1926, built by Winslow Marine Railway & Shipbuilding Company in Winslow, renamed Salvage Queen in 1941, renamed Sheng-Li in 1946, burnt Whangpoo River in 1948

Liberty ships operated

  • Edmond Mallett [8]
  • Edward A. MacDowell [8]
  • Nicholas J. Sinnott [9]
  • Rufus W. Peckham [10]
  • William Cullen Bryant [11]

Victory ships operated

  • Douglas Victory [12]

Ships built by Captain James Griffiths

Ships built by Captain James Griffiths 1919 to 1947:

Ship NameBuilt forTypeTonsYeat BuiltNotes
RetaFelix R. ShoerFishing81919
GriffsonNorton ClappSchooner2,2591920
Sueja IIICapt. James GriffithsYacht1791926Renamed Mariner III
QuillayuteSound Ferry LineFerry7281927
ChahuntaLincoln County LoggingTug1011928
Brown BearUS F&W ServiceSurvey Vessel1934To USN 1942 Renamed YP 197, returned 1946
Gary FossFoss Launch & TugTug631935
A J No. 3Bolivar S Eqpmt.Freight Barge2711935
A J No. 4Bolivar S Eqpmt.Freight Barge2711935
A J No. 5Bolivar S Eqpmt.Freight Barge2711935
E. B. SchleyHowe Sound Mining Co.Tug461937
Howe Sound Mining Co.Dry Bulk Barge1937
Howe Sound Mining Co.Dry Bulk Barge1937
Howe Sound Mining Co.Dry Bulk Barge1937
AtlasRitchie Tptn.Freight Barge1181939
L McN & L IX No. 11Bern O. BlissFreight Barge1171939
P. A. F. No. 6Pacific Am. FisheriesFreight Barge1001939
Puget Sound NSYCaisson1939
USS Pursuit (AM 108)US NavyMinesweeper1250d30-Apr-43Renamed AGS 17 1952, scrapped 1964
USS Requisite (AM-109)US NavyMinesweeper1250d7-Jun-43Renamed AGS 18 1952, scrapped 1964
USS Revenge (AM 110)US NavyMinesweeper1250d27-Jul-43Scrapped 1967
USS Sage (AM 111)US NavyMinesweeper1250d23-Aug-43To Mexico 1973 Renamed Hermenegildo Galeana, Renamed Matamoros (PO 117)
USS Salute (AM 294)US NavyMinesweeper850d4-Dec-43Mined off Labuan and lost 1945
USS Saunter (AM 295)US NavyMinesweeper850d22-Jan-44Scrapped 1946
USS Scout (AM 296)US NavyMinesweeper850d3-Mar-44To Mexico 1963 Renamed DM 09, scrapped
USS Scrimmage (AM 297)US NavyMinesweeper850d4-Apr-44Sold 1962, later cable ship Giant II, research vessel Mahi, reefed in Hawaii 1982
USS Scuffle (AM 298)US NavyMinesweeper850d2-May-44To Mexico 1963 Renamed General Felipe Xicotencatl (C 53), scrapped
USS Sentry (AM 299)US NavyMinesweeper850d30-May-44To Vietnam 1962 Renamed Ky Hoa (HQ 09), scrapped
USS Serene (AM-300)US NavyMinesweeper850d24-Jun-44To Vietnam 1963 Renamed Nhut Tao (HQ 10), scrapped
USS Shelter (AM 301)US NavyMinesweeper850d9-Jul-44To Vietnam 1963 Renamed Chi Linh (HQ 11), scrapped
USS Garland (AM-238)US NavyMinesweeper850d26-Aug-44Scrapped 1960
USS Gayety (AM-239)US NavyMinesweeper850d23-Sep-44To Vietnam 1962 Renamed Chi Lang II (HQ 08), to the Philippines 1975 Renamed Magat Salamat (PS 20)
USS Hazard (AM-240)US NavyMinesweeper850d31-Oct-44Sold 1968, to Omaha NB 1971 as museum
USS Hilarity (AM-241)US NavyMinesweeper850d27-Nov-44To Mexico 1962 Renamed D 2, scrapped
USS Inaugural (AM-242)US NavyMinesweeper850d30-Dec-44To St. Louis MO 1968 as museum, swept from moorings and sank 1993
YTL 571US NavyYard Tug70d1945Sold 1974
YTL 572US NavyYard Tug70d1945To the Philippines 1948
YTL 573US NavyYard Tug70d1945To France 1951
YTL 574US NavyYard Tug70d1945Sold
Oil PilotTugs, Inc.Tug551945
RustlerLong Beach Tugboat Co.Tug511945

See also

References

  1. The Liberty Ships of World War II, By Greg H. Williams
  2. Colton, Tim. "Winslow Marine Railway & Shipbuilding Co., Winslow WA". ShipbuildingHistory.com. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  3. "Sea Lane Vigilantes". www.armed-guard.com.
  4. World War II U.S. Navy Armed Guard and World War II U.S. Merchant Marine, 2007-2014 Project Liberty Ship, Project Liberty Ship, P.O. Box 25846 Highlandtown Station, Baltimore, MD
  5. World War II United States Merchant Navy
  6. mariners-l.co.uk/ Ships D
  7. hhipbuildinghistory.com Winslow
  8. 1 2 "LibShipsE". www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  9. "LibShipsN". www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  10. "LibShipsR". www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  11. "LibShipsW". www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  12. "World War 2 Victory Ships - D - E". www.mariners-l.co.uk.
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