History of the US Navy's Hudson River Reserve Fleet
The U.S. Navy Reserve Fleet consisted of surplus ships used in World War II. The ships were mothballed after hostilities ceased in 1945 and kept in eight locations in the United States, including the Hudson River.
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Locations
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The mothballed ships were retained due to the high cost of production. The Reserve Fleet were spread across America in the Hudson River, New York; James River near Newport News, Virginia; Wilmington in North Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; Beaumont in Texas; Suisun Bay in San Francisco; Columbia River in Oregon and Paget Sound near Washington.
War
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A total of 130 ships were used from the Hudson River fleet during the Korean War. Thirty-five ships were brought back into service when British and French ships were diverted from trade routes during the Suez crises in 1956. More than 40 ships were used during the Vietnam War.
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Fleet
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The Hudson River fleet totaled 189 ships in July 1965. The ships were anchored in 10 rows and extended from the fleet office at the Jones Point dock several miles south to the Lovett Orange and Rockland Power Plant. Viewing points along Route 9W were established for motorists who stopped for a look at the ships. The fleet was gradually reduced until the last two ships were towed away on July 8, 1971, after being sold for scrap to Spain.
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