Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company
| Company type | Ship Construction |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Founder | George Pollock |
| Headquarters | Stockton, California |
Key people |
|
| Products | Ships and barges |
Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Company was established in 1942 to manufacture vessels for World War II as part of the Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Capital investment from the US Navy facilitated the development of a shipyard located along the San Joaquin River and Stockton Channel, adjacent to Louis Park. This facility ceased operations in February 1946 following the conclusion of the war.
Background
George Pollock (1886–1950), who served as founder and president, previously headed Pollock Construction Company, which was recognized for significant infrastructure achievements such as the Tower Bridge (1935), Shasta Dam, segments of the All American Canal, Caldecott Tunnel (1937), and work at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The firm’s proficiency in welding and construction secured government contracts focusing on shipbuilding, particularly as coastal shipyards concentrated on constructing larger warships like aircraft carriers and battleships.
To comply with the Department of War mandate requiring strategic manufacturing sites to be situated at least 60 miles inland, George and his brother Gordon leased a 50-acre plot near Stockton Channel to initiate Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding. The company specialized in fabricating advanced base sectional dry docks—modular units each measuring 93 feet in length and standing five stories tall—that could be transported across the Pacific Ocean to naval repair stations. Their production also included rescue boats, barges, supply vessels, salvage craft, and net laying ships.
At its workforce peak in 1944, Pollock-Stockton employed approximately 8,000 personnel. After shuttering the shipyard in 1946, George Pollock oversaw naval facilities in the Philippines, Guam, and Hawaii before retiring to Bakersfield, California. There, he expanded his cattle breeding enterprise, managing a herd exceeding 2,000 heifers until his passing in 1950 at age 64.
Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDB)
Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDB), also referred to as Advance Base Sectional Docks (ABSD), consisted of modular sections each weighing 3,850 tons with dimensions of 93 feet long and a beam of 165 feet. Each module possessed a lifting capability of 10,000 tons, enabling combined assemblies to service battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, and substantial auxiliary vessels. For instance, AFDB-1 Artisan was comprised of ten sections providing a total lift capacity of 100,000 tons and extending 1,000 feet in length. Constructed between 1943 and 1945, these docks were transported to remote naval bases where they were operated by crews ranging from 600 to 1,000 personnel. They were outfitted with self-contained amenities including fresh-water distillation systems, steam plants powering pumps, diesel generators supplying 440 volts AC electricity, and fuel oil storage tanks holding up to 65,000 gallons per section to support vessels undergoing repairs. Each dock featured a 15-ton rail-mounted crane and was supported by barges; these assets played an essential role in the Navy’s worldwide operations during WWII.
Significant sections produced include:
Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDM)
Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDM) ranged in weight from 6,800 to 8,000 tons and measured between 528 and 622 feet in length. These docks possessed a lifting capacity of up to 18,000 tons and were staffed by crews numbering between 140 and 200 personnel. For defensive purposes, AFDMs were equipped with two 40mm and four 20mm guns. Each dock featured two cranes rated at 7½ tons and contained sixteen ballast tank compartments. Their construction comprised three segments: a lengthy central section flanked by two shorter end sections, and they were assigned Yard Floating Dock (YFD) classification numbers. AFDMs were essential in performing repairs on medium-sized vessels during wartime operations.
Notable example:
- USS Steadfast (AFDM-14), also known as YFD 71, which was sold into private hands in 1998
Net Layer Ships
Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding constructed net layer vessels weighing approximately 1,100 tons and measuring 194 feet in length. These ships were primarily designed to deploy and maintain steel nets that protected ships and harbors from torpedo and submarine threats. Throughout World War II, their operational scope expanded to include salvage missions, troop and cargo transport, buoy upkeep, and towing assignments.
The Ailanthus-class net layers comprised:
- USS Lancewood (AN-48) (renamed from Ironwood in 1944; transferred to France in 1947)
- USS Papaya (AN-49) (transferred to MARAD in 1946)
- USS Cinnamon (AN-50) (formerly Royal Palm; transferred to Taiwan in 1947)
- USS Silverbell (AN-51) (transferred to Taiwan in 1947; subsequently discarded)
- USS Snowbell (AN-52) (sustained typhoon damage near Okinawa in 1945; scrapped in 1946)
- USS Spicewood (AN-53) (sold in 1946)
- USS Manchineel (AN-54) (renamed from Sumac; sold in 1947)
- USS Torchwood (AN-55) (transferred to Taiwan in 1946)
- USS Winterberry (AN-56) (sold in 1947)
- USS Viburnum (AN-57) (sold in 1947)
Barracks Barges
Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding also produced Barracks Barges weighing approximately 1,300 tons and stretching 261 feet long. These vessels served as temporary living quarters for sailors or military personnel awaiting deployment. Classified as APLs, these auxiliary accommodation ships supported naval missions by providing housing and reception facilities.
Significant barges included:
- APL 23 – dismantled in 1974
- APL 24 – transferred to MARAD in 1962
- APL 25 – dismantled in 1973
Repair Barges
In 1944, the company built self-contained Repair Barges that weighed around 530 tons and measured 153 feet in length with a beam of 36 feet. These barges housed machine shops and living quarters accommodating up to 48 crew members. They facilitated maintenance for small boats and craft, featuring onboard generators, distillation units, compressors, and boilers.
Prominent vessels were:
- YR 67 – later renamed YRB 32
- YR 68 – later renamed YRB 34
Freight Barges (YFN)
Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding manufactured non-self-propelled freight barges classified as YFNs, each weighing close to 700 tons and measuring about 261 feet long. Designated as Type B vessels, these lighters fulfilled logistical support functions within Navy operations.
Selected examples include:
- YFN 619
- YFN 620
- YFN 621 – subsequently redesignated YFNB 5, sold in 2004
- YFN 622
- YFN 623
- YFN 738
- YFN 739
- YFN 740 – later known as YRBM 19/YFNB 19/YRBM 56
- YFN 741
- YFN 742
- YFN 998
- YFN 999
See also
- California during World War II
- Moore Equipment Company located in Stockton
- Hickinbotham Brothers Shipbuilders based in Stockton
References
- Construction and civil engineering firms in the United States
- Companies founded in California in 1943
- Former shipbuilding enterprises in the United States
- American enterprises founded in 1943
- Manufacturing firms established in 1943
- San Joaquin County, California history
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 1943