Miami Shipbuilding
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipbuilding |
| Predecessor | Fogal Boat Yard |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Founder | Jay Fogal (founder of predecessor) |
| Defunct | January 1993 |
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | PT boats, Crash boats (Air-Sea Rescue Boats), yachts, hydrofoils |
Miami Shipbuilding (Miami Shipyards Corp) was a shipyard located in Miami, Florida, established in 1939 as the successor to Fogal Boat Yard, which had been founded in 1928 by Jay Fogal. The company operated two facilities along the Miami River, with its primary yard situated between SW 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Miami Shipbuilding primarily focused on manufacturing PT Boats and Crash boats (Air-Sea Rescue Boats) for the US Navy during World War II, later transitioning to the production of yachts and hydrofoils after the war.
History
Throughout World War II, Miami Shipbuilding grew to become the second-largest employer in Miami, playing a vital role in wartime production by constructing 329 Air-Sea Rescue Boats and subcontracting an additional 411 vessels. This brought the total number of boats produced or managed by the company to 740, which were deployed worldwide to save downed airmen. The firm introduced the "Miamis" series, a line of boats designed by naval architect Dair Long.
The company’s headquarters at 615 SW 2nd Ave was distinguished by its Art Moderne style office building, featuring a notable relief panel with maritime motifs. This structure also served as a filming location for the television series Miami Vice before it was demolished in 2007.
After the war, Miami Shipbuilding redirected its efforts toward recreational marine craft and innovative technologies such as hydrofoils. From 1954 to 1957, under a contract with the Office of Naval Research, it developed the Halobates prototype hydrofoil built on a U.S. Navy LCVP(H) hull. This vessel, engineered by Robert Johnston—who also designed the LVHX-2 hydrofoil using a US Army DUKW hull—could reach speeds exceeding 40 mph and featured electronic autopilot steering. These pioneering designs influenced later projects, including Grumman’s construction of the 104-foot hydrofoil Denison.
Operations at Miami Shipbuilding ended in January 1993. The former shipyard locations have since been repurposed for commercial and residential developments, such as Latitude on the River Condo and Latitude One International Business Center.
This profile underscores Miami Shipbuilding’s crucial contributions to naval manufacturing during WWII, its post-war advancements in marine technology, and its lasting impact on hydrofoil design within the maritime industry.
Crash boats
During World War II, crash boats were fast wooden vessels designed to rescue crews from downed Allied aircraft. With American aircraft production exceeding 300,000 units by 1945, there was a substantial need for these rescue crafts, also known as Recovery Craft. Operating worldwide on search and rescue missions, Miami Shipbuilding produced crash boats mainly in the 23-ton, 63-foot size class, alongside other models measuring 104, 85, and 42 feet. Most of these boats were commissioned by the US Navy and deployed across Pacific bases during the Island hopping campaign. Additionally, they supported Small Craft Training Centers for training personnel and conducting sea trials before deployment.
PT boats
In 1941, Miami Shipbuilding built PT-1 and PT-2—59-foot-long prototype torpedo boats for the US Navy weighing approximately 30 tons with maximum speeds of around 30 knots. These vessels were powered by two Vimalert gasoline engines rated at 1,200 hp each from Jersey City. The designs originated from George Crouch in 1939. PT-1 was laid down on July 12, launched on August 16, and completed by November 20; it was later renamed Wet Dream and reclassified as a Small Boat (C-6083) for service at Naval Station Newport before receiving Packard engines as an upgrade. PT-2 was constructed shortly afterward.
Miami Shipbuilding vied against Higgins Industries, Fisher Boat Works, and Philadelphia Navy Yard for contracts producing larger PT boats measuring approximately 81 feet. Nevertheless, neither PT-1 nor PT-2 designs were selected for mass production; instead, longer models ranging from 70 to 80 feet became standard for operational use.
Boats
- PT Boats:
- PT-1 and PT-2 were 59-foot prototype torpedo boats constructed in 1941 for the United States Navy. These vessels were subsequently reclassified as Small Boats C6083 and C6084, stationed at Melville Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center and Naval Station Newport, respectively.
- Crash Boats (62 feet, 23 tons):
- R-1 through R-8 were US Navy design 127 Crash Boats built in 1941; eight of these were transferred to South Africa under the Lend-Lease program.
- In 1941, sixteen US Navy Crash Boats of design 168 were produced.
- R-9 to R-19 comprised design 252 Crash Boats constructed in 1944, with eleven units sent to South Africa via Lend-Lease.
- R-10 was retired following a grounding incident in 1946.
- The RPC-1 to PRC-50 series were design 293 Crash Boats built in 1943; all fifty were provided to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease agreements.
- P-372, a design 293 Crash Boat, was eventually sold under the name Swan.
- In 1944, 146 units of design 314 and 20 units of design 440 US Navy Crash Boats were built; six of the design 440 boats remained in US Navy service.
- Hydrofoil:
- Halobates was a hydrofoil crafted in 1957, featuring a hull originally from a US Navy LCVP(H).
- Fogal Boat Yard:
- Erma S., a tugboat dating back to 1926.
See also
- Royal Air Force Marine Branch – Operations involving South Africa