U.S. Army Coastal Freighters - F, FS and T Boats


WWII Construction

A total of 318 coastal freighters, known as F (for Freight) or FS (for Freight Supply) boats, were built for the U.S. Army by 25 small shipbuilders, notably Higgins Industries, in New Orleans LA, and Wheeler Shipbuilding, in Whitestone NY.  Most were of steel but some were of wood.  The early models were only about 100 feet long, but the bulk of the fleet was 180 feet.  Many were operated by the Coast Guard - click here to read about them - and some were transferred to the Navy as AKLs.  After the war many were transferred overseas, but large numbers are unaccounted for.  Many in the Pacific Theater were probably abandoned: as with many other small ship types, it wasn't economical to bring them home.  If anyone knows of the whereabouts or final fate of an FS that's not already reported below, please e-mail me at tim@coltoncompany.com.

Shipbuilder Location Type # Design # Steel or Wood Length (ft.) Gross Tons Delivery Disposition
Equitable Equipment New Orleans LA F 1 216 S 99 180 11/42-12/42  
Equitable Equipment New Orleans LA F 2 216 S 99 180 11/42-12/42  
Equitable Equipment New Orleans LA F 3 216 S 99 180 11/42-12/42  
Equitable Equipment New Orleans LA F 4 225 S 102 180 3/43  
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 5 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43  
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 6 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43 To the Philippines as "Governor Forbes"
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 7 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43  
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 8 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43  
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 9 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43 To the Philippines as "Governor Wood"
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 10 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43  
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 11 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43  
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 12 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43 To Surinam as "Albina"
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 13 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43  
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Sturgeon Bay WI F 14 216 S 99 180 5/43-9/43  
Kewaunee Shipbuilding Kewaunee WI F 15 216 S 99 180 7/43 To the Philippines as "Trede"
Kewaunee Shipbuilding Kewaunee WI F 16 216 S 99 180 7/43  
Equitable Equipment New Orleans LA F 17 225 S 102 180 4/43 To Hong Kong as "Linda Muller"
Equitable Equipment New Orleans LA F 18 225 S 102 180 4/43 Sold private as "Equitable"
    FS 19           Number not used
    FS 20-28           Converted merchant vessels
Petrich Shipbuilding Tacoma WA FS 29 277 W 114 270 4/43-8/43  
Petrich Shipbuilding Tacoma WA FS 30 277 W 114 270 4/43-8/43 Sold private as "Sundown"
Petrich Shipbuilding Tacoma WA FS 31 277 W 114 270 4/43-8/43 To Panama as "J. W. Rodgers"
Petrich Shipbuilding Tacoma WA FS 32 277 W 114 270 4/43-8/43 Sold private as "Frances"
Petrich Shipbuilding Tacoma WA FS 33 277 W 114 270 4/43-8/43  
Petrich Shipbuilding Tacoma WA FS 34 277