Tampa Shipbuilding Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipbuilding |
| Predecessor | Tampa Shipbuilding & Engineering Company |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Defunct | 1947 |
| Fate | Shutdown |
| Successor | Gulf Marine Repair (current occupant of location) |
| Headquarters | Tampa , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | George B. Howell (owner after takeover) |
| Products | Naval auxiliary ships, cargo ships, Type C2 ships, motor boat tenders, repair ships, attack cargo ships, stores ships, ship conversions |
Number of employees | 16,000 (peak during WWII) (1940s) |
Tampa Shipbuilding Company (commonly known as TASCO) operated as a prominent shipyard in Tampa, Florida from 1917 until its shutdown in 1947. The location currently accommodates Gulf Marine Repair, which focuses on floating dry dock services.
Establishment
Originally established in 1917 under the name Tampa Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, TASCO constructed vessels as part of the United States Maritime Commission's pre-war shipbuilding initiatives. The company made use of the facilities previously owned by Tampa Foundry & Machine Co., which had closed a year earlier in 1916.
Expansion during World War II
In 1938, TASCO obtained a $750,000 loan through the Public Works Administration aimed at building a dry dock capable of handling 10,000 tons. By 1939, the firm secured an $8 million contract to produce four cargo vessels, creating roughly 2,000 jobs and bolstering local employment opportunities. Despite this, financial constraints limited output to a single ship, the .
Due to ongoing financial issues, control shifted when the Maritime Commission and Reconstruction Finance Corporation intervened to find new ownership. George B. Howell, an Exchange National Bank executive, purchased the company for $500 and renamed it Tampa Shipbuilding Company (TASCO). Although Howell faced accusations involving unlawful ship sales and overcharging the US Navy, no formal charges were ever filed.
Wartime contributions
Throughout World War II, TASCO was the largest among Tampa’s four shipyards, which included Bushnell-Lyons, Tampa Marine, and Hooker's Point Yard. The yard produced essential naval vessels while fostering employee engagement through initiatives such as the internally published Tascozette newsletter.
The workforce composition mirrored wider industrial patterns: African American workers were predominantly excluded from union membership and assigned to non-unionized support positions. Women represented 17% of TASCO’s labor force—twice the national average—demonstrating relatively progressive hiring practices for that period.
To enhance worker well-being, TASCO sponsored various recreational activities including bowling, softball, and basketball leagues; clubs for swimming and fencing; and a management-produced radio show broadcast via RCA featuring music requests and morale-boosting segments.
Vessels constructed during World War II
Prior to and following America’s entry into Second World War, Tampa Shipbuilding (TASCO) manufactured US Navy auxiliary ships such as s and Type C2 cargo ships, including , , and . The yard notably built s like , , and . At its wartime zenith, TASCO employed approximately 16,000 individuals, making it Tampa’s largest employer. The company ceased operations in 1947, with few physical traces of its infrastructure remaining.
- Nine out of seventy-two s
- , , plus three cancelled units (772–774)
- Twenty-four out of one hundred twenty-three s
- From to
- Three out of five s
- Including to
- Seven out of seven Type C2 ships
- Including , , among others
- Additional vessels included motor boat tenders, repair ships, attack cargo ships, stores ships, and conversions like
TASCO’s wartime output played a vital role in expanding the US Navy’s auxiliary fleet, underscoring its strategic importance during a pivotal era of industrial growth and global conflict.