The launching of three 63 foot Army Transportation Corps wooden patrol boats, the Q625, Q626 and Q627, by Tacoma Boatbuilding. Delayed by strikes at the Tacoma boat yards, the boats were launched almost three months later than projected. The vessels built for the Army under Navy supervision were sponsored by Mrs. Honor Schwesinger, Ione Kvamme and Mrs. H.T. Burk. (TNT 9/24/1953, pg. B-4 & 9/27/1953, pg. C-12_

Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Three Army Q-boats were launched within minutes of each other on April 20, 1954. These 63' crafts were built by Tacoma Boat Building for the Army under Navy supervision. View of several women and small children in front of Q-630; these were members of the christening party. From left to right are: Barbara Rutledge (flower girl), Mrs. Vincent J. Genn, sponsor of Q-630, Shanna Roley (flower girl), Mrs. Wilbert N. Nelson, sponsor of Q-628, Mrs. Alf R. Dahl, sponsor of Q-629, and Linda Dahl (flower girl). (TNT 4-21-54, A-5)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Shadows darken the interior of Tacoma Boat Building as dim figures of spectators stand and gaze upon the A.M.S. #96 afloat in the distance. The 144-foot mindsweeper was the fourth of five being built by Tacoma Boat Building. The ship had just been launched the late afternoon of May 1, 1953. The launching was captured on television; it was the first launching to be televised in the area. (TNT 5-3-53, B-10)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Hooker Electrochemical Company; railroad barge and tug. Barge, with Vancouver B.C. registration, loaded with Hooker chemical tanks being pulled by tug from the waterway on a cloud covered, gray day. Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. is prominent in the background.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Barges; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Launching of A.M.S. (motor mine sweeper) #113 at Tacoma Boat Building Company for the Navy. Ship sliding down the ways into the water as it leaves building. The AMS 113 was the first Navy minesweeper to be launched in Tacoma since WWII. Tacoma was rapidly becoming a major center of Naval boat building in our nation's rearmament effort. Tacoma firms held a total of $20 million dollars in Naval contracts. (T. Reporter 7/22/1952, pg. 2 & 7/8/1952, pg. 8)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching of the AM 504 with Foss tugboat. The AM 504 was the second of three 171 ft. minesweepers to be launched by Tacoma Boat Building. The ship was expected to be ready for delivery to the Tacoma Naval Station for outfitting in November of 1955. Mrs. Charles S. Weeks, wife of the commander of the Tacoma Naval Station, would be sponsor and her seven year old daughter June would be the flower girl. Cmdr. L.L. MacKinley, the Navy's resident supervisor of shipbuilding, would be the guest speaker. (TNT 3/20/1955, pg. B-6) TPL-9246

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Aerial view of Tacoma Boat Building Co. facility on Sitcum Waterway as it looked on March 28, 1966. Started by Haldor Dahl and Arne Strom in 1936, Tacoma Boat Building received many contracts for government vessels and fishing boats. The plant was completely destroyed by fire on August 17, 1968; at $3,905,750, it was the largest single loss fire in the Tacoma Fire Department's history. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co. TPL-9122

Aerial photographs; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

The MSB #15 was one of two minesweepers launched at Tacoma Boat Building Company in September 1952. The MSBs were 57-foot minesweepers. Tacoma Boat would build five of the craft. (TNT, 9/21/1952, p.B-4)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The AMS 115 was the second 144 foot minesweeper to be built at Tacoma Boat Building Company in 1952. AMS 113 was launched in July 1952. The 115 is seen here as she was launched at the boatyard.

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching of the AM 504, the second of three 171 foot minesweepers to be launched at Tacoma Boat Building. The keel was laid on the AM 504 October 25, 1953 and expected delivery to the Tacoma Naval Station for outfitting was November of 1955. On completion, the ship would be turned over to a foreign nation. Mrs. Charles S. Weeks, wife of the commander of the Tacoma Naval Station, would be the sponsor and her seven year old daughter June would be the flower girl. (TNT 3/20/1955, pg. B-6)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching of the MSO 505 at Tacoma Boat Building. Photo ordered by the Industrial Development Service. Grain elevators in the background. The Navy's newest minesweeper, the 171 foot MSO 505, was launched Saturday August 6, 1955 at Tacoma Boatbuilding. Mrs. C. E. Trescott was the sponsor and Miss Irene Trescott was the attendant. They were introduced by Capt. James R. Davis, USN. The 13th Naval District band played. (TNT 8/8/1955, pg. 9)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Boat Building Company, 132 Sitcum Waterway, launched two 57-foot minesweepers within minutes of each other on May 15, 1953, Armed Forces Day. The MSB-16 was sponsored by Carmen P. Smith of Seattle and the MSB-17 was sponsored by Mrs. E.A. Watson of Tacoma. MSB grade minesweeping boats did not receive names, they were referred to by their hull number. The Tacoma Boat Building Company received major contracts with the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard for over 40 years, building minesweepers, gunboats, and cutters. (TNT 5-17-53, B-7)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Official visit of 13th District Naval Commandant Supervisor and Admiral Smith at Tacoma Boat Building Company. Officer on platform addressing crowd inside boat building facility.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat Building, the launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) #113 for the Navy, sponsored by Evelyn Langlie, wife of Governor Arthur B. Langlie. Mrs. Langlie holds the ceremonial champagne bottle and and an unidentified young girl holds flowers. The AMS 113 was the first minesweeper to be launched in Tacoma since WWII and on completion would cost upward of $1,000,000. Tacoma Boat Building had received the contract to build the minesweepers prior to the devastating fire of 1951 that destroyed their plant. By December of 1951, their new plant was almost complete and construction begun on 3 of the 144 ft class and 5 of the 57 ft. class. (T. Reporter 7/22/1952, pg. 2)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Langlie, Evelyn;

Tacoma Boat Building, the launching of the A.M.S. #113 (motor mine sweeper.) Group of 21 at banquet table on July 19, 1952, including Naval officers. Mayor John Anderson is at the left of the seated row, Governor Arthur B. Langlie fifth from left, owner Arne Strom in the center of the same row with Evelyn Langlie to his right and co-owner Haldor Dahl is third from left in the standing row. The worst fire of 1951 totally destroyed the Tacoma Boat Building plant with the co-owners Strom and Dahl holding contracts for the building of Navy minesweepers. A new plant was quickly built on the strip of land separating the Milwaukee and Sitcum Waterways and production of the sweepers began. (T. Reporter 7/22/1952, pg. 2)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Strom, Arne; Dahl, Haldor; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Langlie, Evelyn; Anderson, John H.; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Winifred (Mrs. Melvin M.) Larsen is proudly displaying the commemorative silver platter she received as sponsor at the launching of the AMS minesweeper #115 built by Tacoma Boat Building Company. The tray had an engraving of the vessel and an inscription telling of the occasion. Navy rules permitted a woman only one Navy vessel sponsorship. This was Winnie's second time "at bat", however, since she had been sponsor of and christened the tuna clipper Saratoga in 1951. (TNT, 10/12/1952, p.B-8)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Larsen, Winifred;

Dignitaries gather for a group portriat prior to the launching of the AMS 115, a 144-foot minesweeper, at Tacoma Boat Building Company. Owners of Tacoma Boat, Arne Strom and Harold Dahl are seen near the right. The sponsor, Winifred (Mrs. Melvin M.) Larsen, secretary to Charles Bevis, Tacoma Boat's manager, is holding a bouquet of roses. Captain Chester J. Chastek, state director of the selective service addressed those attending the launching. Others on the program were Lt. Cmdr. S.E. Anderson, chaplain of the Sand Point Naval Air station, Arne Strom and Capt. Linton Herndon, Navy supervisor of shipbuilding in the Tacoma area. (TNT, 10/5/1952, p.B-3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Larsen, Winifred; Dahl, Haldor; Strom, Arne;

Launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) #97 in 1953. The last Naval minesweeper would be sliding off the ways at Tacoma Boatbuilding as the fifth one was launched. Mrs. Henry F. Agnew, wife of the Commandant of the Tacoma Naval Station, was sponsor (holding bouquet of roses), Nicola Tollefson, daughter of the Mayor Harold Tollefson, was flower girl and Capt. J.R. Topper was the speaker. Arne Strom, in suit, owner of the company, was the master of ceremonies. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. C-12)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Strom, Arne; Agnew, Henry F.--Family;

Children perched high on a ladder get a good bird's eye view on May 15, 1953, of the launching of two vessels built by the Tacoma Boat Building Co. for the Navy. They, and the large group of spectators, listen intently to a guest speaker at the podium. The two 57-foot minesweepers, MSB-16 and MSB-17, were launched within minutes of each other. (TNT 5-17-53, B-7)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Two 57-foot minesweepers are side-by-side shortly after being launched on May 15, 1953. Built by Tacoma Boat Building under a Navy contract, the vessels were launched minutes apart. The MSB-17 is accompanied by the tug, Drew Foss, while the MSB-16 is escorted by the Peter Foss. Tacoma Boat Building also was awarded contracts to build several 144-foot mindsweepers during the early 1950's. (TNT 5-17-53, B-7) TPL-9620

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Overhead view of boats. A Foss tugboat, wearing its ever present logo "Always Ready", is stationed next to other vessels in the Sitcum Waterway on May 15, 1953. Foss tugs were used in the launching of minesweepers built for the Navy by local boat building companies. This Foss boat was used that evening to help escort two 57-foot minesweepers built by Tacoma Boat Building and launched within minutes of one another. Appropriately, the launchings occurred just prior to Armed Forces Day which was celebrated heavily in the Puget Sound region. (TNT 5-17-53, B-7)

Tugboats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Boat under construction. Tacoma Boat Building was under contract to build U.S. Navy aluminum gunboats in 1964. Four gunboats were under construction under two separate contracts. Tacoma Boat would win a $6,731,046 contract to build three more motor gunboats in January, 1965. The lightweight aluminum hulls on these patrol boats would permit operations in relatively shallow waters. They were designed to operate offensively on patrol blockades and surveillance missions. Constructed of aluminum, the boats would be 165 feet long with 25-foot beams and be equipped with 3" gun and 40 mm gun. View of Tacoma Boat Building employee in mid-October, 1964, working with long pieces of aluminum. Photograph ordered by Reynolds Metals Co., Los Angeles, for company's annual report. (TNT 1-15-65, A-1)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Aluminum;

Scenes from boat launching. The tugboat Drew Foss is pictured here with its bow against the newly christened Albatross, a 144-foot coastal minesweeper. Small but powerful, the tug is apparently maneuvering the larger boat into position. March 26, 1960, saw the launching of the minesweeper MSC-289 from Tacoma Boat Building's Sitcum Waterway site. Named the Albatross, the sixth to bear this name, the vessel was sponsored by Mrs. S.A. Peters and later commissioned at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on April 20, 1961. It would spend the next ten years in the western Pacific seeing duty in the waters off of Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The Albatross was decommissioned on April 1, 1970, and sold later that year to a Japanese firm for scrapping. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (TNT 3-27-60, p. B-2)

Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The Brynn Foss tug gently guides the MSC-290 minesweeper, Gannet II, after its launching on May 26, 1960, at Tacoma Boat Building. It would be commissioned in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard a year later, on July 11, 1961, and eventually be sent to monitor the waters of Japan and Vietnam. The MSC-290 was the sixth of seven coastal mindsweepers built by Tacoma Boat Building under contract with the Navy. It was christened by Mrs. F.P. Luongo. (TNT 5-27-60, p. 3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The minesweeper MSC-298 was successfully launched at Tacoma Boat Building on the evening of September 14, 1962. The 145-foot minesweeper was the 26th of its kind built for the Navy by Tacoma Boat since 1951. The ship weighed 372 tons when fully outfitted and had a 27-foot beam. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co. (TNT 9-15-62, p. 3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1955. Tacoma Boat Building Co. on the Sitcum Waterway. The photograph is labelled 9-1-1955, but has a series number that belongs in 1956. The two buildings with the curved roofs are the dry docks for Tacoma Boat Building. Several large vessels being worked on rest in the water beside the boat company. Large log booms float there also. To the left lies the Henry D. Gee Co. grain storage building, with the C. M. ST. P. & P. terminals below. Below Tacoma Boats is the Milwaukee Boom Co. What appear to be railroad tracks run between Tacoma Boat and Henry Gee.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Henry D. Gee Co. (Tacoma);

A large group of spectators await the launching of the A.M.S. #96 on May 1, 1953. Television cameras capture the moment for posterity; it was the first launching televised in this area. Dignitaries on the platform, which would have included Mrs. Marvin H. Glunz, sponsor, and the attentive crowd listen to a naval speaker. This may have been Capt. Christian H. Duborg, who was listed as principal speaker of the event. The A.M.S. #96 was a 144-foot mindsweeper built by Tacoma Boat Building for the Navy. It was the fourth of five being constructed by the firm who had been awarded a Navy contract. (TNT 5-3-53, B-10)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The launching of three 63 foot Army Transportation Corps wooden patrol boats built by Tacoma Boatbuilding. These were the first craft to be launched by a Tacoma boat builder since the strikes beginning in July of 1953 incapacitated the yards. These vessels were built for the Army under Navy supervision and were originally scheduled to go into the water in early July. The three vessels were numbered Q625, Q626 and Q627. (TNT 9/24/1953, pg. B-4 & 9/27/1953, pg. C-12)

Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) #97 by Tacoma Boatbuilding. AMS #97 was the fifth and last minesweeper to be launched by the company. The four previous vessels were in various states of completion with the first to be delivered to the Navy in the fall. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. C-12)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);