Puget Sound Boat Building had a government contract to build barges for the Army. Building progress photos of U. S. Army B.S.P. 3136, a self propelled, 88 foot long, twin diesel engine, 26.8 foot beam barge. Interior view of plant with stern view of vessel. TPL-8027

Barges--Tacoma; Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Puget Sound Boat Building had a government contract to build barges for the Army. Building progress photos of U. S. Army B.S.P. 3136, a self propelled, 88 foot long, twin diesel engine, 26.8 foot beam barge. View of vessel and row boat on left side.

Barges--Tacoma; Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Puget Sound Boat Building was gaining recognition for building first rate fishing vessels. They had just completed a series of Army tugs and barges and were getting an increase of contracts for commercial fishing boats. View of "Vagabond", a tuna clipper built by Puget Sound Boat. TPL-8887

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Puget Sound Boat Building was gaining recognition for building first rate fishing vessels. They had just completed a series of Army tugs and barges and were getting an increase of contracts for commercial fishing boats. View of "Vagabond", a tuna clipper built by Puget Sound Boat. TPL-8888

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Western Boat Building Co. was owned and operated by the Petrich family. They were working on government and commercial contracts. Interior view of ship's main engine and fuel tank. Engine control gauges are visible on right side of photo.TPL-8889

Boat engines; Fuel tanks; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was started in 1936 by H. Dahl and A. Strom. The partners wanted to build fishing vessels for North Pacific fishermen. In 1941 they signed their first contract to build government boats and moved into a larger, newly expanded plant at the head of the City Waterway. View of YP 625, a Navy patrol craft. TPL-8893

Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was started in 1936 by H. Dahl and A. Strom. The partners wanted to build fishing vessels for North Pacific fishermen. In 1941 they signed their first contract to build government boats and moved into a larger, newly expanded plant at the head of the City Waterway. View of YP 625, a Navy patrol craft. TPL-8894

Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Pacific Boat Building. The "Pacific Gale" at harbor.

Boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bays--Tacoma-1940-1950; Commencement Bay (Wash.);

The U.S.S. Laffey was on display at Tacoma Municipal Dock after being hit by five Japanese kamikaze planes and four bombs in an attack 30 miles north of Okinawa. The crew suffered 103 casualties--32 dead and 71 wounded. The destroyer, "riddled like a sieve above the water-line"--the hull and superstructure twisted by the impact, was drydocked at Todd Shipyards for repairs. In 1946, she participated in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini. (T.Times, 5/26/1945, p.1; Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. IV, pp. 16-19).

U.S.S. Laffey (Ship); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Vertical lift bridges--Tacoma; Ships; World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations; Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Municipal Dock (Tacoma);

Destroyer U.S.S. Laffey at 11th St. The USS Laffey was on display at Municipal Dock. The destroyer survived an attack by six Japanese suicide planes and two bombs sixty miles off Japan. The hull and superstructure were grotesquely twisted by the impact. (T.Times, 5/30/1945, p.9)

U.S.S. Laffey (Ship); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Vertical lift bridges--Tacoma; Ships; World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations; Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Municipal Dock (Tacoma);

Destroyer U.S.S. Laffey at 11th St. Miss Marie Ruedin and Miss Doris Long inspect the battle-scarred aft gun turret of the U.S.S. Laffey. The destroyer was on display at the Tacoma Municipal Dock after it was hit by six Japanese suicide planes and two bombs. F 1/C Maurice Miller, showing the damaged gun to the women, was on the forward deck gun when Laffey was struck. One of his companions was killed, one wounded. (T.Times, 6/1/1945, p.1)

U.S.S. Laffey (Ship); Ships; World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations; Ruedin, Marie; Long, Doris; Miller, Maurice;

Side view of "Hustler"at dock after launching at Western Boat in early June of 1945. Several men are aboard in the stern. The fishing vessel was owned by R. Tom Muchlinski and home port listed as Ketchikan, Alaska. Shortly after being placed in service, the "Hustler" was acquired by the U.S. government.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Launching of "Hustler." The young sponsor of the new fishing boat stands at the prow of the ship holding a bouquet of roses in June of 1945. U.S. flags drape the upper and lower decks. The 61.9-foot vessel was built by Western Boat Building. After completion, the trawler was destined for Ketchikan, Alaska.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Flags--United States;

The 61.9-foot fishing trawler, the "Hustler, " was successfully launched by Western Boat in June of 1945. As the poem written in her honor states, she has just slid down the ways. The Tacoma city skyline can be seen in the background. The ship's owner was R. Tom Muchlinski and she carried a crew of six. After completion, the "Hustler" was bound for Ketchikan, Alaska. Shortly after being placed in service, she was taken over by the U.S. government.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Launching of "Hustler." A group of dignitaries are on hand at Western Boat for the launching of the fishing boat, the "Hustler," on June 6, 1945. The sponsors and their families are on a raised stage. Signs for U.S. Navy are on either side of the steps up to the stage. The ship's owner was R. Tom Muchlinski.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat water shots, Y.P. 626 - side view. Y.P. designates a patrol craft. Tacoma Boat Building was one of ten small ship building firms in Tacoma at this time many of which switched from building fishing vessels to produce ships for the war. TPL-8029

Government vessels; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Puget Sound Boat. "Evening Star" docking under the 11th Street Bridge. Several people are on the bow of the boat. She was launched June 11, 1945, from Puget Sound Boat Building Corp.

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vertical lift bridges--Tacoma; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma); Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Boat. "Evening Star," a 65 by 18 foot combination halibut and tuna boat, was launched June 11, 1945 by the Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. on City Waterway, under the 11th Street Bridge. This was the 15th vessel built by Puget Sound Boat since June 1942 and is for Fred Peterson of Poulsbo. (TNT, 6/11/1945)

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vertical lift bridges--Tacoma; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma); Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Boat, the "Fanney" on Commencement Bay with tugboat, "Foss No.8". This purse seiner was built by Pacific Boat Building Company for the Republic of Iceland. She was launched June 26, 1945, and is expected to be completed by July 15 - August 1, 1945. (T.Times, 6/27/1945, p.9)

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tugboats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Piers & wharves--Tacoma;

War Finance send off party for the "Fanney". L-R, Mrs. K.S. Thordarson, Vice Counsul K.S. Thordarson, Captain Ingar Einarsson and Mrs. Sveinsina Berg hold the Icelandic flag ready for raising aboard the "Fanney". The purse seiner is bound for Iceland after traveling down the west coast of North America, through the canal, north to New York and on to Reykjavik. Captain Ingar Einarsson will be the boat's commander. (T.Times, 10/29/1945), (TNT, 6/1945)

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In 1945, the Pacific Boat Building Company was contracted by the government of Iceland to build an 85-foot purse seiner for their fishing fleet. Launched on July 27, 1945, she left Tacoma for Iceland on August 12th after a farewell celebration held at Point Defiance. She went down the west coast of North America, through the Panama Canal, north to New York, and on to Reykjavik, Iceland, where she landed October 27, 1945. (T.Times, 6/27/1945, p.9, 10/29/1945) TPL-8886

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Boat, interior and water shots of "Sogn". A view of the port side of the vessel. Passengers look out from all parts of the boat. TPL-8897

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Boat, interior and water shots of "Sogn". The captain, Hans Akse of Seattle, is at the helm. "Sogn" is a 70 foot combination fishing vessel. Tacoma Boatbuilding Company has a reputation for skilled craftsmanship in designing and building all types of fishing boats. TPL-8895

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Akse, Hans; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat, interior and water shots of "Sogn," on August 24, 1945. The bow and port side are shown during the ship trials. The helm is on the upper deck and several passengers join the captain there. TPL-8896

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The "Marauder". A view of her bow pushing up furls of water, a "rooster tail". TPL-9118

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The "Marauder". Water shot; a view of the starboard side. She carries two smaller boats in her stern. "The Marauder" was the fastest in the sardine fleet at the time she was built by Peterson Boat Building. She was built for John and Paul Puratich and had a 400 hp Enterprise diesel engine, an 85 hp Chrysler diesel auxiliary, a Northern Dragger winch, and an Intervox radiophone. (T.Times, 8/12/1946; Pacific Fisherman Yearbook 1946, p. 233 & 430) TPL-8898

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Evening Star. With this fishing boat Puget Sound Boatbuilding launched its 15th vessel since June 1942. She is a 65 x 18 foot combination tuna and halibut fishing craft powered by a diesel engine. "Evening Star" was built for Fred Peterson of Paulsbo.

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat, trials of "Ocean Spray". A view of her bow, "Ocean Spray" takes to the waters of Puget Sound. The helm is on the second deck, an outdoor location for good weather and an indoor location just inside the windows on the second deck. TPL-8900

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

El Dorado, built by Peterson Boat Building Company. A view of the starboard side of the "El Dorado" out for water trials on Puget Sound. There are two smaller boats on the second deck. She was the first freon-refrigerated tuna clipper on the Pacific. Owned by Harold Sundquist, Roy Sundquist, Andy Isaacson, Fred Diamond and George Peterson. York freon system, three 4x4 compressors, 250 hp main Enterprise diesel, twin 85 hp Chrysler diesel auxiliaries. Equipment included fathometer, Intervox direction finder, Olympic range, Western Fairliner service boat. (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook 1946, p.245) TPL-8901

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bodies of water; Puget Sound (Wash.); Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Boat, fishing boat "Silverland." The "Silverland" sits at dock with the Tacoma waterfront in the background. Tacoma Boat Building Company was widely known for the quality of craftsmanship in their fishing boats. TPL-9107

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;