YFD-2

YFD-2 arriving Pearl Harbor Oct 1940
History
United States
Name	USS YFD-2 (nickname:Old New Orleans)
Namesake	New Orleans
Builder	Maryland Steel Co.
Laid down	early 1901
Launched	1901
Commissioned	6 November 1901
Honors and awards	Combat Action Ribbon,American Defense Service Medal,American Campaign Medal,Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal,World War II Victory Medal
Fate	unknown - Struck from the Naval Register, 28 January 1947
General characteristics
Displacement	16,000 tons
Length	About 375 ft (114 m)
Beam	128 ft (39 m)
Armament	none
Notes	First Yard Floating Dock, 18,000 tons lifting capacity.

YFD-2(Yard Floating Dock-2, USSYFD-2) was anauxiliary floating drydockbuilt for theUnited States Navyin 1901. The first parts werelaid downin early 1901 atMaryland Steel Co.ofSparrows Point,Maryland.YFD-2 was the first of its kind, steel movable auxiliary floating drydock, used to raise large ships out the water for repair below the ship'swaterline.YFD-2 had a 18,000 tons lifting capacity.

New Orleans Navy Yard

YFD-2 was towed to her station in theNavy Yard near New OrleansatAlgiers, New Orleans,Louisianaon 6 November 1901. It took four steamtugboats:theOrion,Taurus,Peerless,andVolunteerto tow YFD-2 from Maryland to New Orleans. YFD-2 was a newstate of the artmachine for its time. USSStrangerwith theLouisiana governor,William Wright Heardand the New Orleans mayor,Paul Capdeviellewhere there to greet the arrival. A New Orleansparadewas held to celebrate the arrival. The firstUnited States Navyship repaired was the 11,565-tonbattleshipUSSIllinois,apre-dreadnought battleshipin January 1902. Next YFD-2 repaired the 300-foot (91 m) long transfer boatCarrier.In 1903 she repaired the Norwegian cargo shipTelefon.YFD-2 remained in New Orleans until towed toPearl Harbor,Territory of Hawaii.The dock arrived in Pearl Harbor on 23 August 1940, beforeWorld War II.She departed New Orleans on 19 March 1940 after modification to make hersea worthyfor the 6,000-mile (9,700 km) travel. To go through thePanama Canalshe was taken apart atCristóbal, Colón,the Canal was only 100 feet (30 m) wide at that time and the 128-foot (39 m) wide drydock would not pass. The sections were towed through the Canal and reassembled atBalboa, Panama.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

YFD-2 was repairing the destroyerUSSShawon 7 December 1941 during theattack on the harbor.YFD-2 andShawwere hit and damaged in the attack byJapanesedive bombers.Shawalso damaged YFD-2 with the explosion of her forwardammunition magazinesstores. Both ships were repaired and put back in service. On 9 January 1942 YFD-2 had the water pumped out of herpontoontanksand was raised for repair. When the repairs were completed she was put back in service in May 1942. The Pacific Bridge Company was give charge for the repairs of YFD-2.Divershad to repair more than 200 holes in YFD-2 to float her again. Repaired, the YFD-2 raised the USSShawfor 10 days of repairs to install a new temporarybowsoShawcould return to the naval shipyard atMare IslandatVallejo, Californiafor final repairs. YFD-2 was used for salvaging and repairing many of ships damaged on 7 December 1941, as she could raise any ship here, other than the largenew battleships.

She continued repair work throughout World War II at Pearl Harbor. After the war YFD-2 was struck from theNaval Registeron 28 January 1947. She was sold on 30 March 1948 for private use.

Image gallery

• 
  Yard Floating Dock-2 with battleship USSIllinois,a pre-dreadnought battleship in January 1902 for repair
• 
  USSShawexploding after her forward magazine was detonated by the raging fire
• 
  Wreckage of bombed YFD-2 andShawat Pearl Harbor
• 
  USSShawin half-sunken YFD-2 at Pearl Harbor
• 
  USSShawin sunken YFD-2 after Pearl Harbor attack

See also

• Dry dock
• Hughes Mining Barge
• Semi-submersible naval vessel
• List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy

References

This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.The entry can be foundhere.

Further reading

• Sweatt, Greg."USSShaw:A Ship too Tough to Die! "Sea Classics,March 2006.

External links

• USSShawPearl Harbor after action report
• USSShaw(DD-373), 1936–1946 US Naval Historical Center photo galleries
• The USSShaw/ Edgar Rice Burroughs Connection