USAT General John McE. Hyde

The General John McE. Hyde was a convert|144|ft|m|sing=on long ferry boat built for the United States Army in 1921, to provide transportation services among the military facilities in Manila Bay, Philippines.

The "General John McE. Hyde" was sunk during World War II during the Battle of Corregidor [U.S. Army ships and Watercraft of World War II by David H. Grover (page 75); Published: Annapolis, Md. by the Naval Institute Press, 1987 (ISBN 0870217666).] , by Japanese artillery on April 15, 1942 [ [http://corregidor.org/ca/btty_mobile/mobile_2.htm "MOBILE" Battery “M” 60th coast artillery (a.a.)] by Lt. Col. E. L. Barr, describes the sinking of the Hyde ]

Design and construction

The "General John McE. Hyde" was not a navy ship but it was among the thousands of vessels owned and operated by the US Army for specific logistical purposes [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20071204/ai_n21142277 Steamboat reopens as restaurant] Oakland Tribune, Dec 4, 2007 by Aaron Kinney ] . This vessel along with a sister-ship, the "General Frank M. Coxe", was designed and built shortly after World War I, to ferry army personnel within strategic harbors, in answer to the increasing military importance of the Pacific ports. It was designed by the New York firm of Cox & Stevens [ [http://www.mysticseaport.org/library/manuscripts/coll/spcoll034/spcoll034.html Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.] Coll. 34, Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library] , who were renowned Naval Architects specializing in yachts and small commercial and military craft. The Hyde was built in 1921, followed in 1922 by the Coxe, to Cox & Stevens design #244. The ships were built on the Kanawha River, by Charles Ward Engineering Works [ [http://www.mysticseaport.org/library/manuscripts/coll/spcoll034/spcoll034.html Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.] Coll. 34, Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library] of Charleston, West Virginia, [ [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/webcutters/Greenbrier_1924.html US Coast Guard records] location of Charles Ward Engineering Works] a firm which specialized in shallow draft vessels such as ferries, riverboats, and tugs [ [http://www.wvculture.org/history/mancoll.html West Virginia State Archives] Description of Charles Ward Engineering.] .

Notes

References

* [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/ships/lists/name_2g.htm National Park Service - Maritime Heritage] Program Historic Ships to Visit - Listed by Name, specifications of the Coxe
* [http://www.mysticseaport.org/library/manuscripts/coll/spcoll034/spcoll034.html Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.] Coll. 34, Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library
* U.S. Army ships and Watercraft of World War II by David H. Grover; Published: Annapolis, Md. by the Naval Institute Press, 1987 (ISBN 0870217666).
* [http://www.wvculture.org/history/mancoll.html West Virginia State Archives] , Description of Charles Ward Engineering.
* [http://corregidor.org/chs_calmes/calmes2.htm Corregidor.org] Mention of Hyde used as ferry at Corrgeidor.
* [http://corregidor.org/chs_moorerpt/moore1.htm The Moore Report] table of organization & equipment
* [http://corregidor.org/ca/btty_mobile/mobile_2.htm "MOBILE" Battery “M” 60th coast artillery (a.a.)] by Lt. Col. E. L. BARR, describes the sinking of the Hyde.