EFC Design 1005 (Ward/Grays Harbor type): Notes & Illustrations

Click here for a larger and more complete plan from the 1920 USSB ship register: Sheet 1

Notes: This design was developed by M. R. Ward, manager of the Grays Harbor Motorship Corp. of Aberdeen, Wash., who began work before the EFC released the Ferris (Design 1001) plans based on his design for a successful series of five-masted auxiliary schooners. The EFC design was called both the Ward type and the Grays Harbor type. The hull was reinforced by an arch truss or girder-keelson on the centerline rising to the height of the 'tween deck amidships and gradually tapering down towards the ends. There were also two steel arched straps about eight feet apart of 14-inch wide plates on each side let into the frames under the planking, rising toward the main deck amidships and descending to the level of the bilge at the ends. Propulsion was by two inverted triple expansion engines of 700 ihp each and two water tube boilers, one engine and one boiler on each side of the centerline truss.

Specifications: Design 1005 (Ward). Wood hull. Deadweight tons: 4000 designed, 3665 actual. Dimensions: 286.0' oa, 274.5' pp x 49.1' ext, 47.8' mld x 28.1' depth mld, 25.3' draft load. Propulsion: 2 screws, 2 triple expansion engines, 2 standard watertube boilers, 1400 IHP, 8 knots. Configuration: 2 decks, 2 holds, 4 hatches.

Click here for an inboard profile and deck plan of Brookland showing the centerline arch truss. The ship looks hogged because the plan as photographed is bowed. (Plan copyright Lloyd's Register Foundation: hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/archive-library/documents/lrf-pun-w732-0101-p_0001)

S.S. Broncho (Design 1005, EFC Hull 1000) with a less advanced sister outboard, photographed around the time of her completion in December 1918. (NARA: RG-165-EO Album 2-C) (Click photo to enlarge)

S.S. Bromela (Design 1005, EFC Hull 998) On the ways on 27 May 1918 with two sisters on adjacent ways. Photo No. 165-WW-501B-006 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-165-WW
S.S. Blakeley (Design 1005, Hull 1113) This launch view provides a good view of the twin screw configuration of the stern in Design 1005. It is far superior to Hough's stern configuration for Design 1003. Blakeley was one of two Ward type ships built by the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Co. before they changed to their own Design 1111. She was launched on 7 November 1918 and delivered in July 1919. The slight blurring in the photo is due to the ship's motion. Photo No. None Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-M box 13
S.S. Abrigada (Design 1005, Hull 55) A stern view taken by her builder on 26 February 1918 while fitting out afloat. Photo No. 165-WW-505A-001 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-165-WW
S.S. Abrigada (Design 1005, Hull 55) Fitting out afloat on 29 March 1918 with a less advanced sister alongside. Photo No. None Source: Commemorative booklet Building the S.S. Aberdeen, Grays Harbor Motorship Corp., 1919.
S.S. Brookhaven (Design 1005, Hull 1060) Approaching completion at her builder's yard with two well advanced sisters in the background. Brookhaven was launched in October 1918 and delivered in May 1919. Photo No. 165-WW-501B-003 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-165-WW
S.S. Grayling (Design 1005, Hull 1892) Approaching completion with a sister at her builder's yard. Grayling was launched in November 1918 and delivered in July 1919. Photo No. 165-WW-505A-028 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-165-WW
S.S. Bromela (Design 1005, Hull 998) Nearly complete with a less advanced sister outboard on 28 August 1918. She was delivered to the EFC on 21 September 1918. Photo No. None Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-M box 13
S.S. Wishkah (Design 1005, Hull 56) Underway from the fitting out wharf at Aberdeen to Tacoma, Washington, on 16 June 1918. Photo No. 165-WW-505A-046 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-165-WW
S.S. Aberdeen (Design 1005, Hull 1896) Probably shown on her trial trip on 6 October 1918. This photo is from a booklet printed to celebrate the construction of "The Wonder Ship Aberdeen" in record time, taking 17 1/2 days from keel laying to launching and another six days for engine installation. Photo No. None Source: Commemorative booklet Building the S.S. Aberdeen, Grays Harbor Motorship Corp., 1919.
S.S. Aberdeen (Design 1005, Hull 1896) The "wonder ship" had some 200 passengers on board on her trial trip on 6 October 1918. She was delivered to the EFC on that date. Photo No. None Source: Commemorative booklet Building the S.S. Aberdeen, Grays Harbor Motorship Corp., 1919.
S.S. Aberdeen (Design 1005, Hull 1896) Probably shown around the time of her trials in October 1918, this time on a post card. She was inspected on 28 October 1918 by the 13th Naval District and assigned the registry ID # 3555 for possible Navy service but was not taken over by the Navy. She was delivered to the EFC's Division of Operations on 18 November 1918. As of January 1920 she was on time charter to M. E. Kinsley, but this didn't last long and in September 1922 she was included in the huge mass sale of wooden steamers to the Western Marine & Salvage Co. In April 1923 her stripped hull burned in the Potomac River at Widewater, Va. Photo No. NH 103453 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
S.S. Bromela (Design 1005, Hull 998) Shown during her brief period of commercial service. As of January 1920 she was being operated by Lykes Bros. in the U.K. trade. Like Aberdeen, she was included in the September 1922 mass sale of wooden steamers to the Western Marine & Salvage Co. Her remains have been identified in Mallows Bay, Maryland. Photo No. None Source: Steamship Historical Society of America