
The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation was a major player in the US shipbuilding industry during World War II. It was one of the largest shipyards on the West Coast.
The company was established in 1941 in Portland, Oregon, and was tasked with building Liberty ships and other war vessels. The shipyard was a massive operation, employing over 18,000 workers at its peak.
The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation was known for its innovative approach to shipbuilding, using prefabricated sections and other techniques to speed up production. This allowed the company to build ships at an incredible rate, with some ships taking as little as 27 days to complete.
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Historical Context
The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation was a massive shipyard established by Henry J. Kaiser in the Pacific Northwest during World War II.
It was located on the Willamette River near the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, and initially built merchant ships for the British government.
The shipyard produced 330 Liberty ships, as well as Victory ships and attack transports, making it a crucial contributor to the war effort.
Henry J. Kaiser signed an agreement with the British government in 1940 to build 31 cargo ships to aid that country in their war effort.
During World War II, up to 125,000 people worked in around-the-clock shifts at shipyards in Portland and Vancouver, Washington.
Here's a brief timeline of the shipyard's major milestones:
- 1941: The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation opened and launched its first Northwest-built Liberty ship on September 27.
- 1943: The shipyard was still in operation, as seen in a photograph taken by Ray Atkeson showing Iona Murphy welding in an assembly building.
- End of World War II: The shipyard ceased operations shortly after the war ended.
Historical Note
The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation was the largest of three shipyards established in the Pacific Northwest by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser during World War II.
It was located on the Willamette River near the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, and initially built merchant ships for the British government.
The first Northwest-built Liberty ship launched from the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on September 27, 1941, marking a significant milestone in the shipyard's production.
Over the course of the war, the shipyard built 330 Liberty ships, as well as Victory ships and attack transports, showcasing its impressive capacity and efficiency.
The shipyard ceased operations shortly after the end of World War II, bringing an end to its remarkable production run.
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Related Historical Records
During World War II, the British government and Henry J. Kaiser signed an agreement to build 31 cargo ships to aid the war effort.
Henry J. Kaiser played a significant role in the war effort by signing this agreement in 1940.
The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland was one of the shipyards that employed thousands of workers during this time.
In 1943, a photograph taken by Ray Atkeson shows Iona Murphy welding in an assembly building at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation.
Up to 125,000 people worked in around-the-clock shifts at shipyards in Portland and Vancouver, Washington, highlighting the massive scale of the war effort.
Here's a breakdown of the numbers:
Specific Topics
The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation was a significant player in the shipbuilding industry during World War II.
One of its notable contributions was the construction of Liberty ships, which were designed to be simple, rugged, and easy to build.
The corporation's shipyard in Portland, Oregon, was one of the largest and most productive in the country, producing over 200 ships during the war.
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The Liberty ships built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation were designed to transport cargo and troops across the Atlantic Ocean, playing a crucial role in the war effort.
These ships were built with speed and efficiency in mind, with some taking as little as 10 days to complete from start to finish.
The corporation's innovative approach to shipbuilding helped to meet the high demand for ships during the war, with many of its ships going on to serve in the war and beyond.
The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation's contributions to the war effort were recognized with the award of the Navy "E" Award for Excellence in Production, which was given to the corporation in 1943.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Were Liberty ships built in Portland Oregon?
Yes, Liberty ships were built in Portland, Oregon, at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard along the Willamette River. The shipyard produced nearly 600 Liberty ships between 1941 and 1945.
Where are the Kaiser shipyards?
The Kaiser shipyards are located in the Pacific Northwest, with facilities in Portland and Vancouver, Washington.
Sources
- https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv07415
- https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/workers-build-patterns-at-oregon-shipbuilding-corp-c1943/
- https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv62869
- https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/kaiser-amp-oregon-shipyards/
- https://www.hayden-island.com/stop13/
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