Ship Characteristics Board
US Navy unit tasked with coordinating ship design
Project SCB 1 result: the USS Norfolk (CLK-1/DL-1)
The Ship Characteristics Board was a unit of the United States Navy .
The purpose of the Ship Characteristics Board was to coordinate the creation of 'ship characteristics' that are essential to the design of naval combatants and auxiliaries . Coordination was required because the operators and the designers of ships had different interests, perceptions, concepts, and constraints: as summarized by the naval historian Norman Friedman , "How to achieve the best possible compromise among competing bureaus has been one of the great dilemmas of 20th-century U.S. naval administration."[ 1]
This list of SCB projects is a useful exposition of the U.S. Navy's shipbuilding priorities in the first half of the Cold War .
History
The Ship Characteristics Board was founded in 1945 under the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations / OpNav . It was created after the body previously responsible for coordinating ships characteristics, the General Board , had been seen as ineffective in a series of earlier Navy bureau miscoordinations .[ 2] [ 3] The SCB would adjudicate between operational requirements set by the ship operators (the fleets and other operational forces ) and the technological and fiscal constraints imposed on the ship designers (the Bureau of Ships / BuShips and the Bureau of Ordnance / BuOrd ).
The SCB had nowhere near the same stature as its predecessor [the General Board], since in effect it was separated from the policy- and strategy-planning process. It was far more concerned with the details of design, and included representatives of all the bureaus, who had equal votes. Participants in SCB meetings recall cases in which the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery cast the decisive vote on weapons systems choices. From the surviving records it is not entirely clear who within OpNav worked up the lists of projects on which the SCB worked, at least at first. For a time that was both very important, given the poverty of the [post-World War Two] shipbuilding program and the lack of any integrated U.S. concept of future warfare.[ 4]
The SCB assigned numbers to its projects beginning in 1946. Not all projects would result in the construction of ships: some projects would remain conceptual only, or would be superseded by later projects.
In 1966 the successors to BuShips and BuOrd (NAVSHIPS and NAVORD ) were moved to report to OpNav. The SCB role as an adjudicator became less relevant.[ 5] During the development of the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates it was renamed the Ship Acquisition and Improvement Board (SAIB).[ 6] In the 1980s it was revived as the Ship Characteristics Improvement Board (SCIB), but without its former authority.[ 7]
USS Thresher loss
Thresher , the first result of project SCB 188, at sea on 24 July 1961 A decision by the SCB likely contributed to the 1963 loss of the nuclear submarine Thresher . The SCB had ordered BuShips to study increasing the test depth for future submarines from 700 to 1,600 feet, and this increase was approved after November 1956. Thresher 's components were too far along in design to accommodate this change, but it was decided that they could be modified to enable a test depth of 1,300 feet. The irony is that the SCB's motives for this change were to enhance safety: not only to support greater combat survivability, but also out of a concern that the increased speed of nuclear submarines could cause them to inadvertently exceed the more shallow test depths while maneuvering.[ 8]
List of SCB projects
Review of the following lists of SCB projects will show:
SCB projects which are 'follow on' to earlier projects may be given a new number, or may reuse an earlier number with an appended letter. For example, a project to develop a new Landing Craft Utility (LCU) was begun in 1946 as SCB 25, follow on LCU projects include SCB 25A (unknown date), SCB 149 (August 1954), and SCB 149B (March 1962). Note the eight-year gap between SCB 149 and SCB 149B.
The start date of an SCB project can be several years before it became a budget line item or an actual ship construction. SCB 157 began in July 1955 as a study for a new amphibious assault helicopter carrier , but a resultant ship (the future Iwo Jima ) was not laid down until 2 April 1959. An even more extreme example is SCB 123, which began in 1954, but which saw last ship reconstruction delayed until 1966.
Close examination of SCB projects will occasionally demonstrate that ship design history is more complicated than first appearances show. For example, the George Washington class of fleet ballistic missile submarines was the first such class to be launched. However, the history of SCB 180 shows that the Ethan Allen class was the first to be designed, and the George Washington class was a subsequent design made for a quickly implemented mobilization effort.
The budgetary pressures of the Vietnam War , including war driven inflation , are demonstrated in the cancellation of SCB projects 003.68 and 101.68, and the partial cancellation of SCB 002 (the age of the ships was also a factor).
All ship hull classification symbols shown (CLK, SS, DL, CVA, DE, etc.) are the symbols in use at the conception of the project, rather than when construction started. Explanations of these symbols are usually to be found in the linked articles on each ship or class.
Sequential numbering of SCB projects
SCB projects began in numeric sequence in 1946, and were originally listed in descending priority (the Norfolk cruiser/destroyer leader having top priority, the Tang submarines as second priority, etc.),[ 9] but such prioritization was eventually dropped. Several of the early projects actually began in 1945 - for example, the Mitscher -class destroyer (which in 1946 was assigned the project number SCB 5) was the ship design that on paper out-performed the projected CL-154 class light cruiser design and led to that cruiser's cancellation in September 1945.[ 10]
SCB #
Start date
Description
Notes
SCB 1
1946
Norfolk CLK
[ 11]
SCB 2
1946
Tang class SS
[ 12]
SCB 2A
Grayback SS original design (see SCB 161)
[ 13]
SCB 3
1946
Closed cycle engine SSX concept
[ 14]
SCB 4
1946
CVA concept, merged into SCB 6 by Jun 1946
[ 14]
SCB 5
1946
Mitscher class DL
[ 15]
SCB 6
1946
Strategic CVA (aircraft carrier) concept
[ 16]
SCB 6A
United States class CVA , cancelled 23 Apr 1949
[ 17]
SCB 7
1946
30 kt DE concept
[ 18]
SCB 7A
Fletcher class DD ASW mobilization concept
[ 19]
SCB 8
1946
CVE ASW concept, became SCB 43
[ 20]
SCB 9
1946
15 kt LST concept
[ 21]
SCB 9A
Terrebonne Parish class LST
[ 22]
SCB 10
1946
AKA Arctic conversion concept
[ 14]
SCB 11
1946
CLI Cruiser-icebreaker Arctic picket concept
[ 14]
SCB 11A
Glacier AGB
[ 14]
SCB 12
1946
MIGRAINE II SSR conversions : Burrfish , Requin , Spinax and Tigrone
[ 23]
SCB 12A
MIGRAINE III SSR conversions: Pompon , Rasher , Raton , Ray , Redfin , and Rock
[ 24]
SCB 13
1946
Northampton CLC
[ 25]
SCB 14
1946
Paul Revere class APA
[ 26]
SCB 14E
APA conversion of SS Monterey and SS Mariposa
[ 14]
SCB 15
1946
Tulare class AKA
[ 27]
SCB 16
1946
Fast AGC concept
[ 28]
SCB 17
1946
Fast LSD concept
[ 29]
SCB 18
1946
LSM Underwater Object Locator conversion concept
[ 14]
SCB 19
1946 (Dec 1945)
Kentucky BB anti-air concept
[ 30]
SCB 20
1946
Steel hulled PT concept
[ 14]
SCB 21
1946
Radiological salvage vessel concept, later ATR rescue tug concept
[ 14]
SCB 22
1946
Fast AOR concept, led to commissioning of ex-war prize Conecuh as a test
[ 14] [ 31]
SCB 22A
YAG conversion concept
[ 32] [ 14]
SCB 23
1946
Fast AK concept
[ 14] [ 33]
SCB 24
1946
Midget SS concept
[ 34]
SCB 25
1946
LCU 1466
[ 35]
SCB 25A
LCU 1608
[ 36]
SCB 26
1946
Hawaii CB aircraft carrier conversion concept
[ 37]
SCB 26A
1948
Hawaii CB missile conversion concept
[ 38]
SCB 27
1946
Oriskany CVA jet aircraft conversion
[ 39]
SCB 27B
Essex class CVA partial conversion, canceled
[ 14]
SCB 27A
Essex class CVA modification: 8 ships
[ 40]
SCB 27C
Essex class CVA modification: 6 ships
[ 41]
SCB 28
1946
Tunny SSG conversion
[ 42]
SCB 29
1946
LSD Arctic conversions: Gunston Hall and Lindenwald
[ 14]
SCB 30
1946
ASSP conversions: Perch and Sealion
[ 14]
SCB 31
1946
Barbero ASSA conversion
[ 14]
SCB 32
1946
Fast LST concept
[ 43]
SCB 33
1946
SSG (guided missile submarine) concept
[ 37]
SCB 34
1946
SSV F2Y seaplane carrier submarine concept
[ 37] [ 14]
SCB 35
Dec 1946
Barracuda class SSK
[ 37]
SCB 36
1948
New LCS(L) concept, merged into SCB 37
[ 44]
SCB 37
1948
Carronade LSM(R)
[ 45]
SCB 38
Colorado BB radio control target conversion concept
[ 46]
SCB 39
Guavina SSO conversion
[ 47]
SCB 40
SSE (submarine ammunition carrier) concept
[ 48]
SCB 41
CVL ASW conversion, became SCB 54
[ 14]
SCB 42
LSD to AV conversion concept
[ 14]
SCB 43
CVE ASW concepts, cancelled Apr 1954
[ 49]
SCB 44
Aviation stores issue ship (AVS) concept
[ 14]
SCB 45
AMS concept
[ 14]
SCB 45A
Agile class MSO and Acme class MSO
[ 37]
SCB 45B
Ability class MSO
[ 14]
SCB 46
DER conversions: 6 ships
[ 50]
SCB 46A
DER conversions: Vandivier and Wagner
[ 51]
SCB 46B
DER conversions: 28 ships
[ 52]
SCB 47
GUPPY II SS conversions
[ 53]
SCB 47A
GUPPY IA SS conversions
[ 54]
SCB 47B
Fleet snorkel SS conversions
[ 55]
SCB 47C
GUPPY IIA SS conversions
[ 56]
SCB 48
Boston class CAG Terrier missile conversions
[ 57]
SCB 49
Altair class AKS conversion
[ 37]
SCB 50
AOR conversion concept
[ 58]
SCB 51
DE or PCE concept, became SCB 72
[ 59]
SCB 52
Submersible barge concept for launching V-2 rockets
[ 14]
SCB 53
DDE conversion
[ 60]
SCB 54
CVL ASW conversion
[ 61]
SCB 56
1949
Albacore AGSS Phase I
[ 37]
SCB 57
Denebola -class AF conversion: 4 ships
[ 14]
SCB 58
1949
Grouper SSK conversion
[ 62]
SCB 59
Cylindrical Countermeasures (XMAP) minesweeping device
[ 14]
SCB 60
LVT modernization
[ 14]
SCB 60A
LVT(A)5 modernization
[ 63]
SCB 60B
LVT(3) modernization
[ 64]
SCB 61
Yard and district craft characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61A
YR characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61B
YON characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61C
YFN characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61D
YRB characteristics, became SCB 61N
[ 14]
SCB 61E
YC characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61F
YFB characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61G
YCF characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61H
YOGN characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61J
YRBM characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61K
YDT characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61L
YFR characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61M
YNG characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61N
YRB characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61P
YTN characteristics
[ 14]
SCB 61Q
YOG characteristics for JP-5
[ 14]
SCB 61R
YTM characteristics with cycloidal propulsion
[ 14]
SCB 62
Minesweeping boat (MSB)
[ 14]
SCB 63
Tweedy DE ASW upgrade
[ 65]
SCB 63A
Lewis DE ASW upgrade
[ 66]
SCB 64
Mar 1950
Nautilus SSN
[ 67] [ 68]
SCB 64A
Mar 1950
Seawolf SSN
[ 69] [ 70]
SCB 65
X-1 midget SS
[ 71]
SCB 66
SSM (submarine minelayer) conversion concept, cancelled 1 Oct 1952
[ 72]
SCB 67
1950
Closed cycle engine SSX concept
[ 73]
SCB 67A
Closed cycle engine SSX concept, cancelled 26 Oct 1953
[ 74]
SCB 68
Apr 1950
Mackerel class SST
[ 75]
SCB 69
Adjutant class MSC
[ 37]
SCB 69A
MSC concept
[ 14]
SCB 70
AD mobilization conversion concept
[ 14]
SCB 71
AP mobilization conversion from SS United States concept
[ 14]
SCB 72
Oct 1950
Dealey class DE
[ 76]
SCB 73
ACMU conversions
[ 14]
SCB 74
Various anti-air upgrades (e.g. Bofors 40 mm guns replaced with 3"/50 caliber guns )
[ 77]
SCB 74A
Fletcher class DD anti-air upgrades: 40 ships
[ 78]
SCB 74B
Light Cruisers anti-air upgrades
[ 14]
SCB 74C
Heavy Cruisers anti-air upgrades
[ 14]
SCB 74D
Juneau anti-air upgrade
[ 14]
SCB 74E
Iowa class BB anti-air upgrade concept
[ 79]
SCB 75
Nov 1950
Thomaston class LSD
[ 80]
SCB 76
Mobilization DD experiment concept
[ 81]
SCB 77
Jul 1951
New AKA concept
[ 82]
SCB 77A
Nov 1952
New AKA with ro-ro capability concept
[ 83]
SCB 78
Paul Revere APA
[ 37]
SCB 78A
Francis Marion APA
[ 14]
SCB 79
DDR (destroyer radar picket) conversions
[ 84]
SCB 80
Forrestal class CVA
[ 85]
SCB 81
Technical stores issue ship (AKST) concept
[ 14]
SCB 82
Neosho class AO
[ 37]
SCB 83
Hawaii CBC conversion concept
[ 86]
SCB 84
Sailfish class SSR
[ 87]
SCB 85
Feb 1951
Forrest Sherman class DD
[ 88]
SCB 85A
Forrest Sherman class (Hull sub-class) DD
[ 89]
SCB 86
AK reactivation: Altair , Antares , Alcor and Betelgeuse
[ 14]
SCB 87
AVP concept
[ 14]
SCB 88
Gearing class DD completion concept
[ 37]
SCB 89
May 1951
180-foot PC concept
[ 90]
SCB 90
May 1951
290-foot PCE concept
[ 91]
SCB 91
DM concept
[ 14]
SCB 92
AGC concept
[ 14]
SCB 93
AKA concept, canceled 4 Jan 1952
[ 14]
SCB 94
Nov 1951
LCM(6)
[ 92]
SCB 95
LCM(8)
[ 93]
SCB 96
LCVP
[ 14]
SCB 97
Rigel class AF
[ 94]
SCB 98
ATR concept
[ 14]
SCB 99
AE mobilization concept
[ 14]
SCB 100
AF mobilization concept
[ 14]
SCB 101
AR mobilization concept
[ 14]
SCB 102
AVS mobilization concept
[ 14]
SCB 103
ARH mobilization concept
[ 14]
SCB 104
AK mobilization concept
[ 14]
SCB 105
AK mobilization concept
[ 14]
SCB 106
AKS mobilization concept
[ 14]
SCB 107
AD mobilization concept
[ 14]
SCB 108
AKST mobilization concept, canceled 26 Mar 1952
[ 14]
SCB 109
Bittern ACMU
[ 14]
SCB 110
Midway CVA and Franklin D Roosevelt CVA modernizations
[ 95]
SCB 110A
Coral Sea CVA modernization
[ 96]
SCB 111
AVP concept
[ 14]
SCB 112
AO Arctic concept
[ 14]
SCB 113
LST Arctic concept
[ 14]
SCB 114
Suribachi class AE
[ 14]
SCB 115
AVS (aviation stores ship)
[ 37]
SCB 116
Darter SS (see also SCB 124)
[ 97] [ 14]
SCB 117
DE gas turbine engine, canceled 1955
[ 14]
SCB 118
Barbero SSG conversion
[ 98]
SCB 119
Nov 1953
De Soto County class LST
[ 99]
SCB 120
AP mobilization conversion of passenger liners
[ 14]
SCB 121
Skate class SSN
[ 100]
SCB 122
May 1954
Thetis Bay CVHA conversion
[ 101]
SCB 123
MCS conversions: Catskill , Ozark , Osage , Saugus , and Monitor (last 3 cancelled)
[ 102]
SCB 124
Improved SCB 116: Growler SS original design (see SCB 161)
[ 14]
SCB 125
Essex class CVA modification: 13 ships
[ 103]
SCB 125A
Oriskany CVA modification
[ 104]
SCB 126
Guardian class AGR conversion
[ 37]
SCB 127
Kitty Hawk class CVA , preliminary design
[ 105]
SCB 127A
Kitty Hawk class CVA: Kitty Hawk and Constellation
[ 106]
SCB 127B
Kitty Hawk class CVA follow on: America
[ 107]
SCB 127C
Kitty Hawk class CVA follow on: John F. Kennedy
[ 108]
SCB 128
LCPL
[ 14]
SCB 128A
LCPL
[ 14]
SCB 128B
LCPL
[ 14]
SCB 129
May 1954
Farragut class DL
[ 109]
SCB 130
Fletcher class DDC (destroyer corvette) conversion concept
[ 110]
SCB 131
Jun 1954
Claude Jones class DE
[ 111]
SCB 132
Triton SSRN
[ 112]
SCB 133
ASRD concept
[ 14]
SCB 134
Albemarle AV P6M seaplane modification
[ 113]
SCB 135
Gyatt DDG conversion
[ 14]
SCB 136
Cove MSI (inshore minesweeper)
[ 114]
SCB 137
Halibut SSG original design with diesel-electric propulsion
[ 115]
SCB 137A
Halibut SSGN final design with nuclear propulsion
[ 116]
SCB 137B
SSGN concept with twice the missile load as Halibut
[ 14]
SCB 138
ARC conversions: Aeolus and Thor
[ 14]
SCB 139
YP-654 class
[ 37]
SCB 140
Galveston class CLG Talos missile conversion
[ 117]
SCB 140A
Galveston class CLG Talos missile flagship conversions: Little Rock and Oklahoma City
[ 118]
SCB 141
1954
New LCM(3) concept
[ 119]
SCB 142
Farragut class (Coontz sub-class) DLG
[ 120]
SCB 143
Admirable class AM and Auk class AM conversion to PCE concepts
[ 121]
SCB 144
Essex class CVS FRAM upgrade
[ 37]
SCB 145
CVL angled flight deck concept
[ 14]
SCB 146
Providence class CLG Terrier missile conversion: Topeka
[ 122]
SCB 146A
Providence class CLG Terrier missile flagship conversions: Providence and Springfield
[ 123]
SCB 147
YTB-752 class harbor tug
[ 37]
SCB 147A
YTB-760 class
[ 37]
SCB 148
unknown project
[ 14]
SCB 149
Aug 1954
LCU 1620
[ 124]
SCB 149B
Mar 1962
LCU 1625
[ 125]
SCB 150
Barbel class SS
[ 126]
SCB 151
Currituck AV P6M seaplane modification, cancelled 21 Aug 1959 after 52 days of construction
[ 127]
SCB 152
Jul 1955
Fast catamaran LST with causeway concept
[ 128]
SCB 153
Alternative CV concept, cancelled 14 Sep 1955, influenced SCB 127A and SCB 160
[ 129]
SCB 154
Skipjack class SSN
[ 130]
SCB 155
Aug 1955
Charles F. Adams class DDG
[ 131]
SCB 156
AF conversion, canceled Nov 1955
[ 14]
SCB 157
Jul 1955
Iwo Jima class LPH
[ 132]
SCB 158
CN (nuclear cruiser) concept
[ 133]
SCB 159
Block Island LPH conversion, cancelled 1958
[ 134]
SCB 160
Enterprise CVAN
[ 135]
SCB 161
Grayback and Growler SSG final design (see SCB 2A and 124)
[ 14]
SCB 162
Apr 1956
LCM hydrofoil concept
[ 136]
SCB 163
CN concept
[ 137]
SCB 165
CN concept
[ 138]
SCB 166
Original SSGN design of Thresher / Permit class
[ 14]
SCB 166A
Improved SSGN design of Thresher / Permit class, changed to SSN under SCB 188
[ 14]
SCB 167
CN concept
[ 139]
SCB 168
CN concept
[ 140]
SCB 169
Long Beach CGN
[ 141]
SCB 170
Guavina AOSS conversion
[ 14]
SCB 172
Leahy class DLG
[ 142]
SCB 172A
Jun 1960
Belknap class DLG
[ 143]
SCB 173
Albany class CG conversions
[ 144]
SCB 173A
Baltimore class Polaris missile conversion concept
[ 145]
SCB 174
Des Moines class CG conversion concept
[ 146]
SCB 176
Commencement Bay class AV P6M seaplane conversion concept, cancelled 21 Aug 1959
[ 147]
SCB 177
Tallahatchie County AVB conversion
[ 37]
SCB 178
Tullibee SSN
[ 37]
SCB 179
Victory ship conversion to survey ship concept
[ 37]
SCB 180
Ethan Allen class SSBN
[ 148]
SCB 180A
George Washington class SSBN
[ 149]
SCB 182
1957
Albacore AGSS Phase III
[ 14]
SCB 182A
1959
Albacore AGSS Phase IV
[ 14]
SCB 183
1956
PCS concept
[ 150]
SCB 184
1956
SC concept
[ 151]
SCB 185
Conrad class AGOR
[ 37]
SCB 187
Jan 1957
Raleigh class LPD
[ 152]
SCB 187A
Raleigh class LPD with flagship facilities: La Salle
[ 153]
SCB 187B
Austin class LPD
[ 154]
SCB 188
Thresher / Permit class SSN
[ 155]
SCB 188A
Sturgeon class SSN
[ 156]
SCB 188M
Lengthened Permit class SSNs: Flasher , Greenling , and Gato
[ 157]
SCB 189
Bainbridge DLGN
[ 37]
SCB 190
Proteus AS modernization
[ 37]
SCB 191
Terror Middle East force flagship conversion concept
[ 158]
SCB 192
Oxford class AGTR conversion
[ 37]
SCB 194
Hunley class AS
[ 37]
SCB 196
Sacramento class AOE
[ 37]
SCB 198
Glover AGFF conversion
[ 37]
SCB 199
Bronstein class DE
[ 159]
SCB 199A
Garcia class DE
[ 160]
SCB 199B
Brooke class DE
[ 161]
SCB 199C
Knox class DE
[ 162]
SCB 202
Apr 1958
High Point PCH
[ 163]
SCB 203
CVAN concept, became SCB 211
[ 164]
SCB 205
AGMs for range instrumentation
[ 37]
SCB 206
Nov 1958
Gearing class DD FRAM I
[ 165]
SCB 207
Dolphin AGSS
[ 166]
SCB 208
Mars class AFS
[ 37]
SCB 211
CVAN concept
[ 167]
SCB 211A
CVAN concept, cancelled in favor of SCB 127C
[ 168]
SCB 212
Austere DDG (guided missile destroyer) concept, influenced SCB 172A
[ 169]
SCB 214
Serrano AGS conversion
[ 37]
SCB 215
Gilbert Islands AGMR conversion
[ 37]
SCB 216
Lafayette class SSBN
[ 170]
SCB 216A
Benjamin Franklin class SSBN
[ 171]
SCB 216 Mod 3
James Madison class SSBN
[ 172]
SCB 218
Aug 1960
Albemarle ASGL satellite launch concept
[ 173]
SCB 219
1960
Plainview AGEH
[ 174]
SCB 220
Nasty class PTF
[ 37]
SCB 221
Aug 1960
52 foot UDT reconnaissance boat
[ 175]
SCB 222
Tuxtrun DLGN
[ 176]
SCB 223
GUPPY III SS FRAM
[ 37]
SCB 224
Cimarron class AO jumbo conversion : Mispillion sub-class
[ 177]
SCB 225
Kingsport AG conversion
[ 37]
SCB 226
Silas Bent class AGS
[ 37]
SCB 227
Mar 1961
Typhon DLGN concept
[ 178]
SCB 228
Wright CC conversion
[ 37]
SCB 229
Asheville class PGM
[ 37]
SCB 231
NECPA CC concept
[ 37]
SCB 232
Suribachi class AE modernization
[ 37]
SCB 233
Norton Sound AVM modification
[ 37]
SCB 234
Victory ship AS (submarine tender) conversion
[ 37]
SCB 236
Sea Lift LSV
[ 37]
SCB 238
Simon Lake class AS
[ 37]
SCB 239
Seahawk DD concept
[ 179]
SCB 240
Forrest Sherman class DDG Tartar missile conversion: 4 ships
[ 180]
SCB 241
Mitscher class DDG Tartar missile conversion: 2 ships
[ 181]
SCB 242
Sailfish SS FRAM II refit
[ 37]
SCB 244
Samuel Gompers class AD
[ 182]
SCB 245
Narwhal SSN
[ 183]
SCB 247
Jun 1962
Newport class LST
[ 184]
SCB 248
Nov 1962
Blue Ridge class LCC
[ 185]
SCB 250
CVAN concept, canceled in favor of SCB 127C
[ 186]
SCB 251
Forrest Sherman class (Barry sub-class) DD modernization with ASROC
[ 187]
SCB 252
Jan 1964
Flagstaff PGH and Tucumari PGH
[ 188]
Block numbering of SCB projects
By 1965 the numeric sequence was abandoned and SCB projects were organized by block numbers which arranged projects by ship types (valid until the 1975 ship reclassification ), and a two digit suffix denoting the fiscal year of the construction phase of the project.[ 189] This suffix is not the start date of the project as a concept: SCB 400.65 actually began in November 1962, not in 1965, and SCB 409.68 actually began in February 1965, not in 1968. The existence of successive suffixes also does not necessarily mean that the design of ships of a class in any way changed, such suffixes are listed here for historical note only.
In effect, this new numbering scheme changed the focus of the SCB from design and development to procurement and budget compliance. As a result, concept-only designs would largely disappear from the historical record.
1965-1975 SCB block #
Ship type
001-099
Cruisers
100-199
Carriers
200-299
Destroyers/Frigates
_ 200-219
Destroyer Escorts
_ 220-239
Destroyers
_ 240-259
Frigates (past Destroyer Leaders)
_ 260-280
Patrol Frigates
300-399
Submarines
400-499
Amphibious
500-599
Mine Warfare
600-699
Patrol
700-799
Auxiliaries
800-899
Service Craft
900-999
Special Purpose
SCB #
Start date
Description
Notes
SCB 002
Albany class CG AAW modernization (Chicago partially only, Columbus cancelled)
[ 190]
SCB 003.68
Boston class CAG AAW modernization, cancelled
[ 191]
SCB 100.68
CVS ASW concept, became SCB 100.71
[ 37]
SCB 100.71
CVS ASW concept
[ 37]
SCB 101.66
Midway CVA modernization
[ 192]
SCB 101.68
Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA modernization, cancelled
[ 193]
SCB 102.67
Nimitz class CVN
[ 37]
SCB 103.68
Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA austere refit
[ 194]
SCB 200.65
Knox class DE (former SCB 199C)
[ 195]
SCB 222.66
Forrest Sherman class DD ASW modernization (former SCB 251)
ibid
SCB 223.67
DDG
[ 37]
SCB 224
Spruance class DD
[ 37]
SCB 226
Ticonderoga class DDG
[ 37]
SCB 240.65
Mar 1961
Typhon DLGN concept (former SCB 227)
ibid
SCB 241.66
California class DLGN
[ 37]
SCB 243.66
Farragut class DLG upgrade
[ 196]
SCB 244.66
Leahy class DLG upgrade
[ 197]
SCB 246
Virginia class DLGN
[ 37]
SCB 261
Oliver Hazard Perry class FFG
[ 37]
SCB 300
Sturgeon -class SSN
[ 14]
SCB 301
NR-1
[ 14]
SCB 302
Glenard P. Lipscomb SSN
[ 14]
SCB 303
Los Angeles class SSN
[ 14]
SCB 304
Ohio class SSBN
[ 14]
SCB 350
Grayback LPSS conversion
[ 14]
SCB 351
Halibut SSN conversion
[ 14]
SCB 353
James Madison and Benjamin Franklin classes SSBN Poseidon C-3 missile conversion
[ 14]
SCB 355
Lafayette and Benjamin Franklin classes SSBN Poseidon C-3 conversion
[ 14]
SCB 400.65
Nov 1962
Blue Ridge class LCC (former SCB 248)
ibid
SCB 401.65
Jul 1955
New Orleans LPH (former SCB 157)
ibid,[ 198]
SCB 402.65
Austin class LPD (former SCB 187B)
ibid
SCB 403.65
Charleston class AKA
[ 199]
SCB 404.65
Anchorage class LSD, lead ship only
[ 200]
SCB 404.66
Anchorage class LSD, follow on ships
[ 201]
SCB 405.65
Jun 1962
Newport class LST, lead ship only (former SCB 247)
ibid,[ 202]
SCB 405.66
Jun 1962
Newport class LST: follow on ships (former SCB 247)
ibid,[ 203]
SCB 406.65
LCU 1627
[ 204]
SCB 409.68
Feb 1965
Tawara class LHA
[ 205]
SCB 500.66
Liberty ship MSS conversion concept
[ 37]
SCB 501.66
MSO (ocean minesweeper) concept
[ 37]
SCB 502
MSO modernization
[ 37]
SCB 600
Asheville class PGM (former SCB 229)
ibid
SCB 602
Pegasus class PHM
[ 37]
SCB 700.66
Samuel Gompers class follow on: AD-39, cancelled (former SCB 244)
ibid,[ 206]
SCB 701
AVB (aviation logistics support ship)
[ 37]
SCB 702.65
L Y Spear class AS
[ 207]
SCB 703.65
Kilauea class AE
[ 208]
SCB 704
AGB (icebreaker)
[ 37]
SCB 705
Mars class AFS (former SCB 208)
ibid
SCB 706
Cimarron class AO jumbo conversion : Ashtabula sub-class
[ 209]
SCB 707
Wichita class AOR
[ 37]
SCB 708.65
Chauvenet class AGS
ibid
SCB 709
Serrano AGS conversion (former SCB 214)
ibid
SCB 710
Melville class AGOR
[ 37]
SCB 711.65
Sacramento class AOE (former SCB 196)
ibid,[ 210]
SCB 713
Mission Buenaventura class AO jumbo conversion
[ 37]
SCB 714
AS (submarine tender)
[ 37]
SCB 719
Edenton class ATS
[ 37]
SCB 720
Fast Deployment Logistic Ship FDL
[ 37]
SCB 721
Pigeon class ASR
[ 37]
SCB 723
Chauvenet AGS
[ 37]
SCB 726
Hayes class AGOR (former SCB 226)
ibid
SCB 728
Wyman AGS
[ 37]
SCB 734
Gyre class AGOR
[ 37]
SCB 737
Emory S Land class AS
[ 37]
SCB 739
Cimarron class AO
[ 37]
SCB 744
Powhatan class ATF
[ 37]
SCB 800.65
YP-654 class
[ 211]
SCB 900.65
Iowa class BB ASGL satellite launch concept
[ 212]
CIP
The SCB also had a list of projects called Class Improvement Projects. These were usually changes of a lesser scope or risk than SCB projects; many were contingency plans to refurbish reserve ships had it been necessary to reactivate them .[ 213] No list of CIP numbers is available.
See also
References
Notes
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 7
^ Friedman, Battleships, pp 311-313
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp 2-3
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 3
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 13
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 5
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 13
^ Friedman, Submarines pp. 132-133
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 28
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 369
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 28
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 28
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 31
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 298
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 237
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 230
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 265
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 269
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 340
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 303
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 303
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 90
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 90
^ Crierie, SCB Numbers
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
^ Friedman, Battleships, p. 390
^ Wildenberg, 1996, p. 207
^ "YAG" .
^ Wildenberg, 1996, p. 207
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 267
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 383
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 390
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt Crierie, SCB Numbers
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 288
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 288
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 288
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, pp. 24-25
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 178
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 311
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 254
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 254, 256
^ Friedman, Battleships, pp. 402-403
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 89
^ Friedman, Submarines, pp. 252-263
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, pp. 340-342
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 229-231
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 231
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 231-232
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 41
^ see linked Wiki article
^ see linked Wiki article
^ see linked Wiki article
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 377
^ Roberts, AO-105
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 271-273
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 246
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 246
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 80
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 300
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 300
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 161
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 161
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 182
^ Hewlett & Duncan, Nuclear Navy, p. 162
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 186
^ Hewlett & Duncan, Nuclear Navy, p. 162
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 220
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 99
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 47
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 48
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 222
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 273-274
^ Friedman, Naval Anti-Air Guns, p. 1043
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 118
^ Friedman, Battleships, p. 390
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 329-330
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 269
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 318
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 319-322
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 269
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 256
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 430
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 94
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 246-249
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 249
^ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 201
^ Friedman, Small Combatants, pp. 207-208
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 292
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 292
^ Crierie, SCB Numbers
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 300
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 300
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 31
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 178
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 306-307
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 128
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 350
^ Roberts, LSV-1-2
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 296
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 296
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 274
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 279
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 280
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 280
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 295-297
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 266
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 275-279
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 95
^ Roberts, AV-4
^ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 209
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 179
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 182
^ Friedman, Cruisers, pp. 386-387
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 393
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 292
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 297
^ Friedman, Small Combatants, pp. 207-208
^ Friedman, Cruisers, pp. 386-388
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 393
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 384, 386
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 390
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 33
^ Roberts, AV-7
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 337
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 277
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 258
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 299, 307-309
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 353
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 405
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 356
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, pp. 278, 312
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 393
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 405
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 406
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 406
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 406
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 402
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 299-303
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 304-306
^ Friedman, Cruisers, pp. 394-398
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 400
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 400
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 346
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 199
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 199
^ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 209
^ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 209
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 364
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 365
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 365
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 143
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 146
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 143
^ Roberts, CM-5
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 349-351
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 355
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 357
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 359-361
^ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 212
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 317
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 285
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 122
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 280
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 282
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 306
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 199
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 199
^ see linked Wiki article
^ Roberts, AV-4
^ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 217
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 398
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 316
^ Fahey, p. 63
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 338
^ Friedman, Destroyers, pp. 364-370
^ Fahey, p. 13
^ Fahey, p. 12
^ Fahey, pp. 49, 63
^ Friedman, Submarines, p. 149
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 339-344
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 426-430
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 318
^ Fahey, p. 13
^ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 257
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, p. 429
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 398
^ Friedman, Cruisers, p. 380
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 219
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 306
^ Friedman, Aircraft Carriers, p. 301
^ Fahey, p. 24
^ Fahey, p. 12
^ Fahey, p. 12
^ Fahey, p. 63
^ Fahey, p. 44
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 331-334
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 331-334
^ Fahey, pp. 42, 45 & 63
^ Fahey, p. 45
^ Fahey, p. 45
^ Friedman, Amphibious Ships, pp. 374-381
^ Fahey, p. 49
^ Fahey, p. 63
^ Fahey, p. 49
^ Fahey p. 63
^ Fahey, p. 63
^ Fahey, p. 45
^ Friedman, Battleships, p. 400
^ Friedman, Destroyers, p. 161
Sources
Crierie, Ryan. "US Navy Ship Characteristic Board (SCB) Numbers" . Retrieved 22 September 2008 .
Fahey, James C. (1965). The Ships and Aircraft of the United States Fleet, Eighth Edition . Annapolis, Maryland : United States Naval Institute . ISBN 0-87021-637-6 .
Friedman, Norman (1982). U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History . Annapolis, Maryland : United States Naval Institute . ISBN 0-87021-733-X .
Friedman, Norman (1983). U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History . Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute]. ISBN 0-87021-739-9 .
Friedman, Norman (1984). U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History . Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-739-9 .
Friedman, Norman (1985). U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History . Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-715-1 .
Friedman, Norman (1987). U.S. Small Combatants: An Illustrated Design History . Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 978-0870217135 .
Friedman, Norman (1994). U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History . Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 1-55750-260-9 .
Friedman, Norman (2002). U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History . Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 1-55750-250-1 .
Friedman, Norman (2014). Naval Anti-Aircraft Guns & Gunnery . Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 978-1591146049 .
Hewlett, Richard; Duncan, Francis (1974). Nuclear Navy 1946-1962 . Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-32219-5 . {{cite book }}
: CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link )
Roberts, Stephen S. "Class: CURTISS (AV-4)]" " . Retrieved 12 July 2008 .
Roberts, Stephen S. "Class: CURRITUCK (AV-7)]" . Retrieved 12 July 2008 .
Roberts, Stephen S. "Class: CATSKILL (LSV 1-2)" . Retrieved 25 July 2008 .
Roberts, Stephen S. "Class: TERROR (CM-5)" . Retrieved 29 December 2008 .
Roberts, Stephen S. "Class: MISPILLION (AO-105)" . Retrieved 4 August 2010 .
Roberts, Stephen S. "U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers, 1946-1979 ("SCB Numbers)" . Retrieved 11 October 2022 .
Wildenberg, Thomas (1996). Gray Steel and Black Oil . Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 1-55750-934-4 .