The 85 foot Fireboats
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These three identical Fireboats were placed in service during 1960, as follows:
Mayor J. Harold Grady, Engine Co. 39 - August 29, 1960
P.W. Wilkinson, Engine Co. 16 - October 4, 1960
August Emrich, Engine Co. 48 - October 28, 1960
..In 1958, the voters of Baltimore approved a five million dollar bond issue for capital improvements in the Land and Marine Divisions, High Pressure Pumping Station, Repair Shop, and the Fire Alarm Division of the Fire Department.
..The “Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr.” was the only modern Fireboat in the Port of Baltimore, as the other three vessels of the Fire Department’s fleet consisted of two old steam boats, and a converted Navy S.C. of World War I vintage. These three vessels had a total of 134 years of service and were becoming costly to operate and maintain.
..To the Board of Fire Commissioners, it soon became evident that these older vessels would have to be replaced with new modern Fireboats. Mr. Thomas D. Bowes, Naval Architect, Philadelphia, PA, who had designed the Fireboat “Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr.”, was retained by the City to design and oversee construction of three new boats.
..After surveying the Port for its fire protection needs, it was decided that three 85 foot diesel driven Fireboats with a pump capacity of 6,000 g.p.m. and a speed of 15 m.p.h. would suit the Marine Divisions present requirements.
..Bids for construction were received and opened at City Hall on December 9, 1959. The Jakobson Shipyard, Inc., of Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY, was the low bidder for the three vessels with a proposal of $1,051,005.
..The “Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr.” was the only modern Fireboat in the Port of Baltimore, as the other three vessels of the Fire Department’s fleet consisted of two old steam boats, and a converted Navy S.C. of World War I vintage. These three vessels had a total of 134 years of service and were becoming costly to operate and maintain.
..To the Board of Fire Commissioners, it soon became evident that these older vessels would have to be replaced with new modern Fireboats. Mr. Thomas D. Bowes, Naval Architect, Philadelphia, PA, who had designed the Fireboat “Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr.”, was retained by the City to design and oversee construction of three new boats.
..After surveying the Port for its fire protection needs, it was decided that three 85 foot diesel driven Fireboats with a pump capacity of 6,000 g.p.m. and a speed of 15 m.p.h. would suit the Marine Divisions present requirements.
..Bids for construction were received and opened at City Hall on December 9, 1959. The Jakobson Shipyard, Inc., of Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY, was the low bidder for the three vessels with a proposal of $1,051,005.
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Other proposals submitted for construction of the boats were:
RTC Shipbuilding Corp - $1,139,000
Higgins, Inc. - $1,241,058
Hudson Engineering Co. - $1,248,200
Bethlehem Shipbuilding - $1,375,000
Maryland Shipbuilding - $1,380,000
Wiley Manufacturing - $1,408,500
John Mathis Co. - $1,493,937
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City Officials inspect the Mayor J. Harold Grady at the Jakobson Shipyard.
She was the first of the three boats completed, being launched on June 24,
1960.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
She was the first of the three boats completed, being launched on June 24,
1960.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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From left to right, .Fireboats .August Emrich, .and .P. W. Wilkinson, .under
construction at the Jakobson Shipyard, 1960.----------------------------------------
construction at the Jakobson Shipyard, 1960.----------------------------------------
..These three vessels are based on a new concept in Fireboat design which consists of one Fairbanks-Morse Model 38F5-¼ diesel engine, developing 880 hp. at 1,200 rpm., performing the dual function of propulsion and pumping. This was formerly accomplished by using a multi-engine arrangement.
..The main engine provides propulsion by driving a KaMeWa reversing, controllable pitch propeller through a Lufkin 2.49 to 1 reduction gear and a Wichita Air Clutch. The pumping is achieved by running two 3,000 gpm. Fairbanks-Morse 8 inch, single stage, centrifugal pumps in line through a Fawick air-flex clutch from the front end of the engine. During the various tests conducted by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, each boat pumped over 7,000 gpm. at 140 psi., and 3,500 gpm. at 280 psi.
..The control for this unique lash-up is accomplished through KaMeWa electro-pneumatic master control stands in the Pilot House and Engine Room. The Pilot House stand is fitted with a selector signal switch, giving the Pilot a choice of standby, pump, pump and prop, or free run. During pump/prop combination, the Engineer has control of the throttle to set engine speed for the desired pump pressure. The propeller will be turning in a flat pitch and when the Pilot moves his control in the Pilot House, only the pitch will change, with the engine rpm. remaining constant for the pump job at hand. The pumps require about 670 hp at full capacity, leaving about 210 hp. that can be utilized for limited maneuvering while pumping.
..The fire pumps are connected to a 10 inch loop main which supplies three 3,000 gpm. monitors, one hose manifold with eight 2 ½” discharge outlets on the main deck, and one hose manifold with four 2 ½” discharge outlets on the forward side of the pilot house.
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..The main engine provides propulsion by driving a KaMeWa reversing, controllable pitch propeller through a Lufkin 2.49 to 1 reduction gear and a Wichita Air Clutch. The pumping is achieved by running two 3,000 gpm. Fairbanks-Morse 8 inch, single stage, centrifugal pumps in line through a Fawick air-flex clutch from the front end of the engine. During the various tests conducted by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, each boat pumped over 7,000 gpm. at 140 psi., and 3,500 gpm. at 280 psi.
..The control for this unique lash-up is accomplished through KaMeWa electro-pneumatic master control stands in the Pilot House and Engine Room. The Pilot House stand is fitted with a selector signal switch, giving the Pilot a choice of standby, pump, pump and prop, or free run. During pump/prop combination, the Engineer has control of the throttle to set engine speed for the desired pump pressure. The propeller will be turning in a flat pitch and when the Pilot moves his control in the Pilot House, only the pitch will change, with the engine rpm. remaining constant for the pump job at hand. The pumps require about 670 hp at full capacity, leaving about 210 hp. that can be utilized for limited maneuvering while pumping.
..The fire pumps are connected to a 10 inch loop main which supplies three 3,000 gpm. monitors, one hose manifold with eight 2 ½” discharge outlets on the main deck, and one hose manifold with four 2 ½” discharge outlets on the forward side of the pilot house.
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The .heart .of.the. 85 footer is a single Fairbanks-Morse Model 38 F5¼, 880
H. P., 10-cylinder, .opposed piston diesel. engine, 2-cycle, with 5¼” bore by
7¼” stroke, and a compression ratio of 15 to 1. Total displacement is 3,139
cubic - inch,. and weight,. less drive equipment, .radiators and sub - base is
15,100 pounds-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. P., 10-cylinder, .opposed piston diesel. engine, 2-cycle, with 5¼” bore by
7¼” stroke, and a compression ratio of 15 to 1. Total displacement is 3,139
cubic - inch,. and weight,. less drive equipment, .radiators and sub - base is
15,100 pounds-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
..There are two large hose reels on deck, each holding 1,000 feet of 2 ½” hose. Separate stowage space is provided for 200 feet of 1 ½” hose.
..Each boat is equipped with a foam firefighting system consisting of two 500 gallon liquid foam tanks filled with National AER-O-FOAM 3% concentrate. These tanks are located port and starboard just aft of the engine room bulkhead. The system is so piped that foam may be discharged through the forward hose manifold, and the forward monitor only.
..Two GM 30-kw generators provide 220 volt AC three-phase four wire current, with all power being distributed from the main switchboard. One set is air starting and the other is 12 volt electric starting.
..The engine room is mechanically ventilated with L. J. Wing axial-flow fans for both supply and exhaust. Combustion air for the main engine is taken through air-maze filters mounted under one of the 2 ½” hose reel foundations, which forms a watertight plenum.
..The heating system is circulated hot water through convectors in the engine room, pilot house, deck house and quarters. The Spencer 96,000 Btu boiler supplies instantaneous hot water for the shower, lavatories and galley sink. A circulating system is provided to the main engine cooling system to keep the engine warm for cold weather starting.
..The steering gear is of the electro-hydraulic type manufactured by the C. H. Wheeler Mfg. Co. The gear has the alternate arrangement of either hand or power steering. The rudder is the fixed-vane unbalanced type.
..The navigation equipment includes a Decca type 303 radar, a compressed air whistle by Wegner and a fathometer and compass by Wilfred O. White Co.
..The accommodations include a washroom located on the main deck directly behind the pilot house and a crews lounge located below deck forward of the engine room.
..The boats were built on the longitudinal system of framing with a heavy plate guard. This guard (or blister) is essential for the protection of the vessel while working around piers and wharfs.
..During the trial trip each of the three vessels attained speeds in excess of 15 mph. They handled extremely well, making hard over to hard over in 13 seconds and have a tactical diameter of approximately 200 feet.
..These Fireboats, identical in every detail, were built in accordance with the rules of the American Bureau of Shipping and the National Board of Fire Underwriters and It can be said without reservation that the total fire protection afloat in Baltimore Harbor is now in excellent balance.
..Each boat is equipped with a foam firefighting system consisting of two 500 gallon liquid foam tanks filled with National AER-O-FOAM 3% concentrate. These tanks are located port and starboard just aft of the engine room bulkhead. The system is so piped that foam may be discharged through the forward hose manifold, and the forward monitor only.
..Two GM 30-kw generators provide 220 volt AC three-phase four wire current, with all power being distributed from the main switchboard. One set is air starting and the other is 12 volt electric starting.
..The engine room is mechanically ventilated with L. J. Wing axial-flow fans for both supply and exhaust. Combustion air for the main engine is taken through air-maze filters mounted under one of the 2 ½” hose reel foundations, which forms a watertight plenum.
..The heating system is circulated hot water through convectors in the engine room, pilot house, deck house and quarters. The Spencer 96,000 Btu boiler supplies instantaneous hot water for the shower, lavatories and galley sink. A circulating system is provided to the main engine cooling system to keep the engine warm for cold weather starting.
..The steering gear is of the electro-hydraulic type manufactured by the C. H. Wheeler Mfg. Co. The gear has the alternate arrangement of either hand or power steering. The rudder is the fixed-vane unbalanced type.
..The navigation equipment includes a Decca type 303 radar, a compressed air whistle by Wegner and a fathometer and compass by Wilfred O. White Co.
..The accommodations include a washroom located on the main deck directly behind the pilot house and a crews lounge located below deck forward of the engine room.
..The boats were built on the longitudinal system of framing with a heavy plate guard. This guard (or blister) is essential for the protection of the vessel while working around piers and wharfs.
..During the trial trip each of the three vessels attained speeds in excess of 15 mph. They handled extremely well, making hard over to hard over in 13 seconds and have a tactical diameter of approximately 200 feet.
..These Fireboats, identical in every detail, were built in accordance with the rules of the American Bureau of Shipping and the National Board of Fire Underwriters and It can be said without reservation that the total fire protection afloat in Baltimore Harbor is now in excellent balance.
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Pilot .at. the .Bird / Johnson .control stand in the wheel house has instant
control of forward,. reverse, .throttle,. and propeller pitch all in one control
leaver.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
control of forward,. reverse, .throttle,. and propeller pitch all in one control
leaver.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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A Firefighter .mans the pilot house monitor
platform, 23 feet above the waterline.--------
platform, 23 feet above the waterline.--------
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The two Fairbanks-Morse single stage centrifugal fire pumps, located forward
of the main engine. Through the hatch in the bulkhead, at .left, is the galley,
and stairs to topside. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
of the main engine. Through the hatch in the bulkhead, at .left, is the galley,
and stairs to topside. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The Ka-Me-Wa .Propeller has blades which can be adjusted by the pilot in an instant
so that the propeller thrust is directed ahead or astern without stopping or reversing
the .shaft. .The. pilothouse control..lever. actuates. the governor which regulates the
engine speed and control valve which directs oil through the hollow - bored propeller
shaft. to set the pitch of the propeller blades. .With .the. controllable pitch. propeller,
there is no slow laboring .process to contend with because the proportions .of. pitch
to engine speed are well programmed to provide for all required speed levels. ----------
so that the propeller thrust is directed ahead or astern without stopping or reversing
the .shaft. .The. pilothouse control..lever. actuates. the governor which regulates the
engine speed and control valve which directs oil through the hollow - bored propeller
shaft. to set the pitch of the propeller blades. .With .the. controllable pitch. propeller,
there is no slow laboring .process to contend with because the proportions .of. pitch
to engine speed are well programmed to provide for all required speed levels. ----------