Did World War Two Ships Hook Up to External Power When Docked or Did They Have to Use Their Boilers?

The concept of shore power has been around for as long as there has been electrical systems on vessels. In World War Two, naval ships faced significant challenges when deciding whether to connect to shore power or rely on their own steam generators. This article explores the factors that influenced this decision and provides insights into the practices employed by naval vessels during that period.

Introduction to Shore Power

Shore power, also known as Shore-Based Electrical Supply, has been in existence for about as long as naval ships have had electrical systems. However, during World War Two, the availability and practicality of shore power varied significantly based on the circumstances. While shore power can indeed reduce the load on a ship's boilers by supplying electricity from the dock, ships often kept their boilers running due to various operational requirements.

Practicalities and Operations

When considering whether to connect to shore power, naval ships had to weigh several factors:

The availability of shore power at the dock or from another vessel. The number of ships docked at the facility. The number of available shore power cables or hookups. The duration of the ship's stay at the port. The maintenance required by the ship.

Typically, even when shore power was available, ships would maintain their steam plants in a hot state. This was due to the significant effort required to fully shut down and restart the boilers and steam plant, especially for a short port stay. Ships would operate with the propulsion plant partially secured and a reduced number of crew on watch until the return to sea.

Another key factor was the readiness of the ship in case of an urgent recall. Keeping the plant hot made it much quicker to bring the ship back to operational status. Steam from a hot plant could be used for various hotel loads, such as the ship's laundry, galley heating, and showers and dishwashing. A single boiler with one burner could often meet these requirements.

In cases of major maintenance or repairs, when the plant was completely shut down and cooled, shore steam would be needed to power the hotel loads. This was a common practice to avoid the complications and time required to bring the plant back online.

Reported Practices in WWII

During World War Two, the US Navy recognized the importance of rapidly responding to orders. Many vessels kept one boiler operating to generate electricity, ensuring that they could respond to the bell more quickly. This boiler required around 4 to 6 hours to be ready for operation, while an already running plant only needed to warm up the lube and hydraulic oils and set up underway watches.

Interestingly, there is no evidence of power barges being used in Pearl Harbor during Battleship Row, despite the availability of diesel generators on barges. Reports indicate that some ships kept one boiler running, and I am certain from personal experience, as I have walked the Ford Island waterfront many times, that shore power was not provided to the ships at their mooring points.

The dock used today for the USS Missouri was not in operation at the time, as the ships were moored further offshore due to the incomplete infrastructure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while shore power was available during World War Two, naval ships often chose to maintain their own steam plants due to operational needs and the requirement for immediate readiness. The practices and considerations of the time reflect the complex balance between efficiency and preparedness in naval operations.