Ship Characteristics Board


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."
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 mis-coordinations. The SCB would adjudicate between operational requirements set by the ship operators and the technological and fiscal constraints imposed on the ship designers.
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 Not all projects would result in the construction of ships: some projects would remain conceptual only, or would be superseded by later projects.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 were moved to report to OpNav. The SCB role as an adjudicator became less relevant. During the development of the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates it was renamed the Ship Acquisition and Improvement Board. In the 1980s it was revived as the Ship Characteristics Improvement Board, but without its former authority.

USS ''Thresher'' loss

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 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.

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 was begun in 1946 as SCB 25, follow on LCU projects include SCB 25A, SCB 149, and SCB 149B. 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 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.
All ship hull classification symbols shown 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, but such prioritization was eventually dropped. Several of the early projects actually began in 1945 - for example, the Mitscher-class destroyer 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.
SCB #Start dateDescriptionNotes
SCB 11946Norfolk CLK
SCB 21946Tang class SS
SCB 2AGrayback SS original design
SCB 31946Closed cycle engine SSX concept
SCB 41946CVA concept, merged into SCB 6 by Jun 1946
SCB 51946Mitscher class DL
SCB 61946Strategic CVA concept
SCB 6AUnited States class CVA, cancelled 23 Apr 1949
SCB 7194630 kt DE concept
SCB 7AFletcher class DD ASW mobilization concept
SCB 81946CVE ASW concept, became SCB 43
SCB 9194615 kt LST concept
SCB 9ATerrebonne Parish-class tank landing ship
SCB 101946AKA Arctic conversion concept
SCB 111946CLI Cruiser-icebreaker Arctic picket concept
SCB 11AGlacier AGB
SCB 121946MIGRAINE II SSR conversions:, Requin, and Tigrone
SCB 12AMIGRAINE III SSR conversions: Pompon, Rasher, Raton, Ray, Redfin, and Rock
SCB 131946Northampton CLC
SCB 141946Paul Revere class APA
SCB 14EAPA conversion of SS Monterey and SS Mariposa
SCB 151946Tulare class AKA
SCB 161946Fast AGC concept
SCB 171946Fast LSD concept
SCB 181946LSM Underwater Object Locator conversion concept
SCB 191946 Kentucky BB anti-air concept
SCB 201946Steel hulled PT concept
SCB 211946Radiological salvage vessel concept, later ATR rescue tug concept
SCB 221946Fast AOR concept, led to commissioning of ex-war prize Conecuh as a test
SCB 22AYAG conversion concept
SCB 231946Fast AK concept
SCB 241946Midget SS concept
SCB 251946LCU 1466
SCB 25ALCU 1608
SCB 261946Hawaii CB aircraft carrier conversion concept
SCB 26A1948Hawaii CB missile conversion concept
SCB 271946Oriskany CVA jet aircraft conversion
SCB 27BEssex class CVA partial conversion, canceled
SCB 27AEssex class CVA modification: 8 ships
SCB 27CEssex class CVA modification: 6 ships
SCB 281946Tunny SSG conversion
SCB 291946LSD Arctic conversions: Gunston Hall and Lindenwald
SCB 301946ASSP conversions: Perch and Sealion
SCB 311946Barbero ASSA conversion
SCB 321946Fast LST concept
SCB 331946SSG concept
SCB 341946SSV F2Y seaplane carrier submarine concept
SCB 35Dec 1946Barracuda class SSK
SCB 361948New LCS concept, merged into SCB 37
SCB 371948Carronade LSM
SCB 38Colorado BB radio control target conversion concept
SCB 39Guavina SSO conversion
SCB 40SSE concept
SCB 41CVL ASW conversion, became SCB 54
SCB 42LSD to AV conversion concept
SCB 43CVE ASW concepts, cancelled Apr 1954
SCB 44Aviation stores issue ship concept
SCB 45AMS concept
SCB 45AAgile class MSO and Acme class MSO
SCB 45BAbility class MSO
SCB 46DER conversions: 6 ships
SCB 46ADER conversions: and Wagner
SCB 46BDER conversions: 28 ships
SCB 47GUPPY II SS conversions
SCB 47AGUPPY IA SS conversions
SCB 47BFleet snorkel SS conversions
SCB 47CGUPPY IIA SS conversions
SCB 48Boston class CAG Terrier missile conversions
SCB 49Altair class AKS conversion
SCB 50AOR conversion concept
SCB 51DE or PCE concept, became SCB 72
SCB 52Submersible barge concept for launching V-2 rockets
SCB 53DDE conversion
SCB 54CVL ASW conversion
SCB 561949Albacore AGSS Phase I
SCB 57Denebola-class AF conversion: 4 ships
SCB 581949Grouper SSK conversion
SCB 59Cylindrical Countermeasures minesweeping device
SCB 60LVT modernization
SCB 60ALVT5 modernization
SCB 60BLVT modernization
SCB 61Yard and district craft characteristics
SCB 61AYR characteristics
SCB 61BYON characteristics
SCB 61CYFN characteristics
SCB 61DYRB characteristics, became SCB 61N
SCB 61EYC characteristics
SCB 61FYFB characteristics
SCB 61GYCF characteristics
SCB 61HYOGN characteristics
SCB 61JYRBM characteristics
SCB 61KYDT characteristics
SCB 61LYFR characteristics
SCB 61MYNG characteristics
SCB 61NYRB characteristics
SCB 61PYTN characteristics
SCB 61QYOG characteristics for JP-5
SCB 61RYTM characteristics with cycloidal propulsion
SCB 62Minesweeping boat
SCB 63Tweedy DE ASW upgrade
SCB 63ALewis DE ASW upgrade
SCB 64Mar 1950Nautilus SSN
SCB 64AMar 1950Seawolf SSN
SCB 65X-1 midget SS
SCB 66SSM conversion concept, cancelled 1 Oct 1952
SCB 671950Closed cycle engine SSX concept
SCB 67AClosed cycle engine SSX concept, cancelled 26 Oct 1953
SCB 68Apr 1950Mackerel class SST
SCB 69Adjutant class MSC
SCB 69AMSC concept
SCB 70AD mobilization conversion concept
SCB 71AP mobilization conversion from SS United States concept
SCB 72Oct 1950Dealey class DE
SCB 73ACMU conversions
SCB 74Various anti-air upgrades
SCB 74AFletcher class DD anti-air upgrades: 40 ships
SCB 74BLight Cruisers anti-air upgrades
SCB 74CHeavy Cruisers anti-air upgrades
SCB 74DJuneau anti-air upgrade
SCB 74EIowa class BB anti-air upgrade concept
SCB 75Nov 1950Thomaston class LSD
SCB 76Mobilization DD experiment concept
SCB 77Jul 1951New AKA concept
SCB 77ANov 1952New AKA with ro-ro capability concept
SCB 78Paul Revere APA
SCB 78AFrancis Marion APA
SCB 79DDR conversions
SCB 80Forrestal class CVA
SCB 81Technical stores issue ship concept
SCB 82Neosho class AO
SCB 83Hawaii CBC conversion concept
SCB 84Sailfish class SSR
SCB 85Feb 1951Forrest Sherman class DD
SCB 85AForrest Sherman class DD
SCB 86AK reactivation: Altair, Antares, Alcor and Betelgeuse
SCB 87AVP concept
SCB 88Gearing class DD completion concept
SCB 89May 1951180-foot PC concept
SCB 90May 1951290-foot PCE concept
SCB 91DM concept
SCB 92AGC concept
SCB 93AKA concept, canceled 4 Jan 1952
SCB 94Nov 1951LCM
SCB 95LCM
SCB 96LCVP
SCB 97Rigel class AF
SCB 98ATR concept
SCB 99AE mobilization concept
SCB 100AF mobilization concept
SCB 101AR mobilization concept
SCB 102AVS mobilization concept
SCB 103ARH mobilization concept
SCB 104AK mobilization concept
SCB 105AK mobilization concept
SCB 106AKS mobilization concept
SCB 107AD mobilization concept
SCB 108AKST mobilization concept, canceled 26 Mar 1952
SCB 109Bittern ACMU
SCB 110Midway CVA and Franklin D Roosevelt CVA modernizations
SCB 110ACoral Sea CVA modernization
SCB 111AVP concept
SCB 112AO Arctic concept
SCB 113LST Arctic concept
SCB 114Suribachi class AE
SCB 115AVS
SCB 116Darter SS
SCB 117DE gas turbine engine, canceled 1955
SCB 118Barbero SSG conversion
SCB 119Nov 1953De Soto County class LST
SCB 120AP mobilization conversion of passenger liners
SCB 121Skate class SSN
SCB 122May 1954Thetis Bay CVHA conversion
SCB 123MCS conversions: Catskill, Ozark, Osage, Saugus, and Monitor
SCB 124Improved SCB 116: Growler SS original design
SCB 125Essex class CVA modification: 13 ships
SCB 125AOriskany CVA modification
SCB 126Guardian class AGR conversion
SCB 127Kitty Hawk class CVA, preliminary design
SCB 127AKitty Hawk class CVA: Kitty Hawk and Constellation
SCB 127BKitty Hawk class CVA follow on: America
SCB 127CKitty Hawk class CVA follow on: John F. Kennedy
SCB 128LCPL
SCB 128ALCPL
SCB 128BLCPL
SCB 129May 1954Farragut class DL
SCB 130Fletcher class DDC conversion concept
SCB 131Jun 1954Claude Jones class DE
SCB 132Triton SSRN
SCB 133ASRD concept
SCB 134Albemarle AV P6M seaplane modification
SCB 135Gyatt DDG conversion
SCB 136Cove MSI
SCB 137Halibut SSG original design with diesel-electric propulsion
SCB 137AHalibut SSGN final design with nuclear propulsion
SCB 137BSSGN concept with twice the missile load as Halibut
SCB 138ARC conversions: Aeolus and Thor
SCB 139YP-654 class
SCB 140Galveston class CLG Talos missile conversion
SCB 140AGalveston class CLG Talos missile flagship conversions: Little Rock and Oklahoma City
SCB 1411954New LCM concept
SCB 142Farragut class DLG
SCB 143Admirable class AM and Auk class AM conversion to PCE concepts
SCB 144Essex class CVS FRAM upgrade
SCB 145CVL angled flight deck concept
SCB 146Providence class CLG Terrier missile conversion: Topeka
SCB 146AProvidence class CLG Terrier missile flagship conversions: Providence and Springfield
SCB 147YTB-752 class harbor tug
SCB 147AYTB-760 class
SCB 148unknown project
SCB 149Aug 1954LCU 1620
SCB 149BMar 1962LCU 1625
SCB 150Barbel class SS
SCB 151Currituck AV P6M seaplane modification, cancelled 21 Aug 1959 after 52 days of construction
SCB 152Jul 1955Fast catamaran LST with causeway concept
SCB 153Alternative CV concept, cancelled 14 Sep 1955, influenced SCB 127A and SCB 160
SCB 154Skipjack class SSN
SCB 155Aug 1955Charles F. Adams class DDG
SCB 156AF conversion, canceled Nov 1955
SCB 157Jul 1955Iwo Jima class LPH
SCB 158CN concept
SCB 159Block Island LPH conversion, cancelled 1958
SCB 160Enterprise CVAN
SCB 161Grayback and Growler SSG final design
SCB 162Apr 1956LCM hydrofoil concept
SCB 163CN concept
SCB 165CN concept
SCB 166Original SSGN design of Thresher / Permit class
SCB 166AImproved SSGN design of Thresher / Permit class, changed to SSN under SCB 188
SCB 167CN concept
SCB 168CN concept
SCB 169Long Beach CGN
SCB 170Guavina AOSS conversion
SCB 172Leahy class DLG
SCB 172AJun 1960Belknap class DLG
SCB 173Albany class CG conversions
SCB 173ABaltimore class Polaris missile conversion concept
SCB 174Des Moines class CG conversion concept
SCB 176Commencement Bay class AV P6M seaplane conversion concept, cancelled 21 Aug 1959
SCB 177Tallahatchie County AVB conversion
SCB 178Tullibee SSN
SCB 179Victory ship conversion to survey ship concept
SCB 180Ethan Allen class SSBN
SCB 180AGeorge Washington class SSBN
SCB 1821957Albacore AGSS Phase III
SCB 182A1959Albacore AGSS Phase IV
SCB 1831956PCS concept
SCB 1841956SC concept
SCB 185Conrad class AGOR
SCB 187Jan 1957Raleigh class LPD
SCB 187ARaleigh class LPD with flagship facilities: La Salle
SCB 187BAustin class LPD
SCB 188Thresher / Permit class SSN
SCB 188ASturgeon class SSN
SCB 188MLengthened Permit class SSNs: Flasher, Greenling, and Gato
SCB 189Bainbridge DLGN
SCB 190Proteus AS modernization
SCB 191Terror Middle East force flagship conversion concept
SCB 192Oxford class AGTR conversion
SCB 194Hunley class AS
SCB 196Sacramento class AOE
SCB 198Glover AGFF conversion
SCB 199Bronstein class DE
SCB 199AGarcia class DE
SCB 199BBrooke class DE
SCB 199CKnox class DE
SCB 202Apr 1958High Point PCH
SCB 203CVAN concept, became SCB 211
SCB 205AGMs for range instrumentation
SCB 206Nov 1958Gearing class DD FRAM I
SCB 207Dolphin AGSS
SCB 208Mars class AFS
SCB 211CVAN concept
SCB 211ACVAN concept, cancelled in favor of SCB 127C
SCB 212Austere DDG concept, influenced SCB 172A
SCB 214Serrano AGS conversion
SCB 215Gilbert Islands AGMR conversion
SCB 216Lafayette class SSBN
SCB 216ABenjamin Franklin class SSBN
SCB 216 Mod 3James Madison class SSBN
SCB 218Aug 1960Albemarle ASGL satellite launch concept
SCB 2191960Plainview AGEH
SCB 220Nasty class PTF
SCB 221Aug 196052 foot UDT reconnaissance boat
SCB 222Tuxtrun DLGN
SCB 223GUPPY III SS FRAM
SCB 224Cimarron class AO jumbo conversion: Mispillion sub-class
SCB 225Kingsport AG conversion
SCB 226Silas Bent class AGS
SCB 227Mar 1961Typhon DLGN concept
SCB 228Wright CC conversion
SCB 229Asheville class PGM
SCB 231NECPA CC concept
SCB 232Suribachi class AE modernization
SCB 233Norton Sound AVM modification
SCB 234Victory ship AS conversion
SCB 236Sea Lift LSV
SCB 238Simon Lake class AS
SCB 239Seahawk DD concept
SCB 240Forrest Sherman class DDG Tartar missile conversion: 4 ships
SCB 241Mitscher class DDG Tartar missile conversion: 2 ships
SCB 242Sailfish SS FRAM II refit
SCB 244Samuel Gompers class AD
SCB 245Narwhal SSN
SCB 247Jun 1962Newport class LST
SCB 248Nov 1962Blue Ridge class LCC
SCB 250CVAN concept, canceled in favor of SCB 127C
SCB 251Forrest Sherman class DD modernization with ASROC
SCB 252Jan 1964Flagstaff PGH and Tucumari PGH