US Navy and Prime Movers

They used a variety of engines, including Nordberg, ALCo, FM, Cleveland, Packard, Detroit, EMD, Busch Sulzer, and probably others. 

For those not familiar with Nordberg, here is a link:

http://www.oldengine.org/membe...rdberg/NordMenu5.htm

From what I've read on-line, Busch Sulzer was acquired by Nordberg after WWII.

Regards,

GNNPNUT

There was such a demand for engines during WW II they used almost everything  that ran on gas or diesel. They tried an EMD  radial engine mounted vertical but had too many problems  and cobbled 5 Chrysler engines together.  The Brits took the  RollsRoyce engine used in the  Spitfire and P51  and put it in their one tank.  Packard was making the engine too so there were enough. They also used Crosley and Bantam engines for portable power units-not tanks or landing craft !!  From what I have read the use of  engines in locomotives is pretty demanding and a  lot don't work very well.

Not quite what you are asking for but the Carl Vinson had FM opposed piston diesels  for emergency power and that ship only had it's kiel laid in the late 70's or early 80's.  There were also transformers and electrical equipment from the 50's on that ship.

I believe all the PT boats used Detroit Diesel's for their power plants...

Marty

The Navy's Civil Engineer Corp also used EMD 567 and 645 prime movers in container looking structures that served as semi-mobile large generators. I saw another once with an Alco prime mover, but I think the data on it said it was Alco Machinery or something like that, and I was never sure if it was the same Alco of locomotive fame.

Martin Derouin posted:

I believe all the PT boats used Detroit Diesel's for their power plants...

Marty

Elco and Higgins both used Packard V12's running on 100 octane gas.

Always a good place to find big gasoline engines like Packard and Hall-Scott in service.

gnnpnut posted:

They used a variety of engines, including Nordberg, ALCo, FM, Cleveland, Packard, Detroit, EMD, Busch Sulzer, and probably others.

Regards,

GNNPNUT

To the others  I can add Cooper-Bessemer, Superior and Enterprise.

Good addition with Nordberg.  There were several Knot class reefer ships still working out of Seattle in the 1990s with their original Nordberg main engines.

A note to all on terminology.  "Prime mover" has different meanings in a railroad and military context.  In the marine world we are talking about "main engines" and "auxiliary engines".

As far as applications of specific engines in marine service in WW II here is a very incomplete list:

GM Cleveland Division Model 278 and 278A:  Diesel-Electric Submarines and Destroyer Escort main engines.

GM Cleveland Division Model 268:  Main engine on smaller vessels.  Ships service generator and numerous classes.  (A very cool looking engine!)

GM Electromotive Division Model 567A:  LST main engines.  (FT locomotive construction was stopped to divert all of 567 engine production to LSTs in 1943.)

GM Model 6-71:  Main engine on LCIs, numerous auxiliary applications.

Alco Model 539 and 540: Tugs, mine sweepers.

Fairbanks Morse Model 38 8- 1/8:  Diesel-Electric Submarines, Destroyer Escorts (reduction grear), Tugs

Nordberg:  Direct reversing main engine on R1-M and C1-M freighters.

Notable US gasoline marine engines of the war include:

Packard Model 4M-2500 and 5M-2500:  PT boat main engine, crash boat main engine.

Hall-Scott Defender V-12:  Crash boat main engine.

Hall-Scott Invader inline 6:  LCI main engine.  (Related Model 440 powered M-26 tank recovery vehicles.)

I was privileged to sail with a small group of Boy Scouts on the LST Lamore County years ago (before the first Gulf war) and from the sound of the engines, I surmised that they were ALCOs.  I asked an engineer over mess if they were and he said that they were.  I tried to talk my way into the engine room, but to no avail; "too dangerous, not allowed," he said.  I didn't push issue. However I had walked alongside all manner of big prime movers in close quarters (and on oily floors) for many years.  Sure wish I had tried harder. I still have the ship's cap and belt buckle. Great experience.  

Earl