Herman the German

[Sedalia Dave]

 

The floating crane YD-171, better known as "Herman the German", at the Long Beach Navy Yard in 1957. 

At the start of the Second World War, Germany built four heavy lift floating cranes. Herman the German was originally known as Schwimmkran nr. 1 and was completed in 1941. She was used to repair German warships and submarines in the Baltic. She was based out of Kiel at the end of the war and captured there by the British along with a sistership. Given to the United States, the crane was dismantled and shipped all the way to the Long Beach Navy Yard. 

The crane was reassembled at Long Beach in 1946, entering service as YD-171. The crane operated at the Long Beach Navy Yard from 1946 until 1994. Following the closure of the shipyard, the crane was sold to the Panama Canal Commission. She was used to replace two older cranes that were used to perform repairs to the canal locks. Arriving in Panama, the crane was renamed Titan. 

Titan is still working on the Panama Canal today. She is capable of lifting 340 long tons. While the platform she rests upon has been rebuilt and modernized with new propulsion units, the mechanical components of the crane are largely original.

Titan has operated for over eighty years and shows no sign of slowing anytime soon.

[watab kid]

big crane , 

[Pat Riot]

The two guys in that image look like two fellas their boss’ made sit for a picture. Probably on lunch break. 
 

I used to work with a guy in the rail shop in Ling Beach that knew all kinds of LB history. That guy knew the complete history of those shipyards and that crane. When pictured with a familiar object, like a …

 

 

Here are some photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

10 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

The floating crane YD-171, better known as "Herman the German", at the Long Beach Navy Yard in 1957. 

At the start of the Second World War, Germany built four heavy lift floating cranes. Herman the German was originally known as Schwimmkran nr. 1 and was completed in 1941. She was used to repair German warships and submarines in the Baltic. She was based out of Kiel at the end of the war and captured there by the British along with a sistership. Given to the United States, the crane was dismantled and shipped all the way to the Long Beach Navy Yard. 

The crane was reassembled at Long Beach in 1946, entering service as YD-171. The crane operated at the Long Beach Navy Yard from 1946 until 1994. Following the closure of the shipyard, the crane was sold to the Panama Canal Commission. She was used to replace two older cranes that were used to perform repairs to the canal locks. Arriving in Panama, the crane was renamed Titan. 

Titan is still working on the Panama Canal today. She is capable of lifting 340 long tons. While the platform she rests upon has been rebuilt and modernized with new propulsion units, the mechanical components of the crane are largely original.

Titan has operated for over eighty years and shows no sign of slowing anytime soon.

I spent 37 months as the supply chief at the Marine Barracks, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, California.  We cross supported the Marine Barracks at Long Beach and we dismantled their  Marine Barracks when they shut it down so I spent a lot of time at Long Beach.  (Seal Beach was shut down after I left the Corps.).

 

I remember that big mamoo.  Never got real close to it, but you didn't have to be close to see it.

 

Thanks for the memory, Dave.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

What’s the key to its longevity? Paint and grease?

[Zeb Gray, #36839]

Herman the German, New Ulm, MN

 

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

That li'l crane could possibly be useful up around Baltimore about now .......