Willamette Iron and Steel Works

Willamette Iron Works

Company type	Private
Industry	Foundry, Machinery, Shipbuilding
Founded	1865 in Portland, Oregon, United States
Defunct	1990
Headquarters	Portland , United States
Products	Boilers, engines, fire hydrants, steam locomotives, naval vessels, turbine units

Willamette Iron Works—also referred to as Willamette Iron and Steel Company or simply WISCO—was established in 1865 in Portland, Oregon as a versatile foundry and machinery enterprise, originally focusing on the fabrication of boilers and engines for steamboats. The firm adopted the name Willamette Iron and Steel Works in 1904 and continued operations under this title until it ceased business in 1990.

History

In the late 1800s, the company was responsible for manufacturing fire hydrants serving the city of Portland.

During the surge in shipbuilding triggered by World War I, Willamette Iron and Steel Works provided boilers to prominent shipyards such as Northwest Steel, Albina Engine & Machine Works, Union Iron Works in Alameda, Western Pipe and Steel, Moore Dry Dock Company, and others located throughout the Pacific Northwest and California.

In the interwar period, the company concentrated on smaller commercial vessels and produced geared steam locomotives known as the "Willamette", a Shay-type engine widely utilized in logging operations across Washington and Oregon. From 1901 through 1931, it manufactured more than 2,500 steam donkeys designed for the timber industry.

Throughout World War II, Willamette broadened its scope to include naval ship construction by collaborating with industrialist Henry J. Kaiser. It built upwards of seventy small naval auxiliary vessels—including minesweepers, patrol boats, submarine chasers—as well as non-self-propelled barges under contracts for both the United States and United Kingdom governments. Additionally, the company produced triple-expansion main propulsion engines utilized in Liberty ships.

During the Second World War, Willamette also assembled over 800 Baldwin steam locomotives built to Russian gauge specifications that were shipped to Vladivostok to support Allied supply chains via Soviet-flagged vessels.

Following the war, the company primarily transitioned into ship repair services. In the early 1970s, it produced turbine units for the third powerhouse at Grand Coulee Dam. Despite these ventures, increasing competition from larger shipyards caused a decline in business leading up to its shutdown in 1990.

World War II Vessels

• 23 vessels out of 123 Admirable class minesweepers
  • USS Bond (AM-152) through USS Counsel (AM-165)
  • USS Creddock (AM-356), USS Dipper (AM-357), USS Drake (AM-359)
  • USS Dunlin (AM-361) through USS Harrier (AM-366)
• 14 units from a total of 68 PCE-842 patrol craft
  • PCE-891 through PCE-904
• 9 lighter vessels: YFN-743 through YFN-751
• 6 barracks barges: APL-41 through APL-46
• Between 8 and 10 of the 45 Bogue class escort carriers (completion of Todd Tacoma hulls)
  • HMS Tracker (D24), HMS Trumpeter (D09), HMS Searcher (D40), HMS Ravager (D70)
  • USS Chatham (CVE-32), USS Delgado (CVE-40), USS Prince (CVE-45)
  • USS St. Joseph (CVE-50), USS St. Simon (CVE-51), USS Vermillion (CVE-52)
• One vessel out of 19 Commencement Bay escort carriers (Todd Tacoma hull completion)
  • USS Kula Gulf (CVE-108)
• 3 ships from 30 Andromeda class attack cargo vessels (converted from Moore Dry Dock hulls)
  • USS Algol (AKA-54), USS Arneb (AKA-56), USS Capricornus (AKA-57)
• Modifications of USS Neville, USS Heywood, and USS President Jackson into troop transport ships