Bureau of Construction and Repair

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The Bureau of Construction and Repair (BuC&R) was the U.S. Navy organization primarily responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the Navy's ships. Significantly, BuC&R did not have responsibility for engines or ship's equipment, those falling under the jurisdiction of the Bureaus of Engineering and Equipment.

History

The Bureau was established on 5 July, 1862 by act of Congress alongside the Bureau of Navigation and the Bureau of Steam Engineering.[1]

1893

1. The duties of the Bureau of Construction and Repair shall comprise all that relates to designing, building, fitting, and repairing the hulls of ships, spars, capstans, windlasses, steering gear, and ventilating apparatus; placing and securing armor, after the material, quality, and distribution of thickness have been determined by the Bureau of Ordnance; the care and preservation of ships in reserve; and requiring for or manufacturing all equipage and supplies for ships prescribed by the authorized allowance tables.

2. It shall have charge of the docking of ships.

3. It shall design the slips, and the various buildings and shops, so far as their internal arrangements are concerned, where its work is executed, and shall be charged with the operating and cleaning of dry docks.

4. It shall determine upon and require for or manufacture all tools, appliances, stores, stationery, books, and forms of every kind used for its own purposes.

5. It shall superintend all work done under it.

6. It shall have control of the organization and muster of the employés [sic] used entirely for its own purposes.

7. It shall estimate for, and defray from its own funds, the cost necessary to carry out its duties as above defined.

8. Orders relating to navy yard business connected with the bureau shall be given by the chief of bureau to the commandants, who shall be responsible for their execution.[2]

1905

(1) The duties of the Bureau of Construction and Repair shall comprise the responsibility for the structural strength and stability of ships built for the Navy; all that relates to designing, building, fitting, and repairing the hulls of ships, turrets, spars, capstans, wind-lasses, steering gear, and ventilating apparatus; and, after consultation with the Bureau of Ordnance, and according to the requirements hereof as determined by that Bureau, the designing, construction, and installation of independent ammunition hoists, and the installation of the permanent fixtures of all other ammunition hoists and their appurtenances; placing and securing armor after the material, quality, and distribution of thickness have been determined by the Bureau of Ordnance; placing and securing on board ship, to the satisfaction of the Bureau of Ordnance, the permanent fixtures of the armament and its accessories as manufactured and supplied by that Bureau; installing the turret guns, turret mounts, and ammunition hoists, and such other mounts as require simultaneous structural work in connection with installation or removal; care and preservation of ships in ordinary, and requiring for or manufacturing all its equipage and supplies for ships prescribed by the authorized allowance lists. The Bureau of Construction and Repair shall also, after conference with the Bureau of Ordnance, design the arrangements for centering the turrets, the character of the roller paths and their supports, and furnish that Bureau every opportunity to inspect the installation on board of all permanent fixtures of the armament and accessories supplied by said Bureau.

(2) It shall have cognizance of all electric turret-turning machinery and of all electrically operated ammunition hoists (except turret hoists), the same to conform to the requirements of the Bureau of Ordnance as to power, speed, and control. It shall also have cognizance of stationary electrically operated fans or blowers for hull ventilation, boat cranes, deck winches, capstans, steering engines and telemotors therefor, and hand pumps not in the engine or fire rooms, electric launches and other boats supplied with electric motive power.

(3) It shall have charge of the docking of ships.

(4) It shall design the slips and the various buildings and shops, so far as their internal arrangements are concerned, where its work is executed, and shall be charged with the operating and cleaning of dry docks.

(5) It shall determine upon and require for or manufacture all tools, appliances, stores, stationery, books, and forms of every kind used for its own purposes.

(6) It shall superintend all work done under it.

(7) It shall have control of the organization and muster of the employees used entirely for its own purposes.

(8) It shall estimate for, and defray from its own funds, the cost necessary to carry out its duties as above defined.

(9) Orders relating to navy-yard business connected with the Bureau shall be given by the Chief of Bureau to the commandants, who shall be responsible for their execution.[3]

1909

(1) The duties of the Bureau of Construction and Repair shall comprise all that relates to designing, building and repairing ships of the Navy on plans approved by the Navy Department, and their equipment not otherwise provided for in this chapter. In doing this work it shall consult the Bureau of Ordnance as to the battery requirements in designing, constructing, and installing independent ammunition hoists, and other permanent fixtures, which are already specified to be the special province of the Bureau of Ordnance.

(2) It shall also have charge of all public works at navy yards unless otherwise herein provided for.[4]

Abolition

After poor coordination between BuC&R and the Bureau of Engineering led to severe weight issues in several late 1930s destroyer designs, the two bureaus were amalgamated in 1940 with the new combined bureau being known as the Bureau of Ships (BuShips).[5]

Chiefs of the Bureau

During the early 1880s, the Chief of the Bureau held the relative rank of Commodore (by 1900 this was increased to Rear Admiral) and the title Chief Constructor.

See Also

Bibliography

  • Friedman, Norman (1985). U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. (on Amazon.com).
  • United States Navy (1893). Regulations for the Government of the Navy of the United States. 1893. Washington: Government Printing Office.
  • United States Navy (1905). Regulations for the Government of the Navy of the United States, 1905. Washington: Government Printing Office.
  • United States Navy (1913). Regulations for the Government of the Navy of the United States (Navy Regulations) 1913. Washington: Government Printing Office.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 12 Stat. 510
  2. ↑ U.S. Navy Regulations, 1893. p. 5.
  3. ↑ U.S. Navy Regulations, 1905. pp. 15-16.
  4. ↑ U.S. Navy Regulations, 1909. p. 14.
  5. ↑ Friedman. U.S. Destroyers. p. 2.
  6. ↑ Register of Officers, 1882. p. 43.
  7. ↑ List and Station, July 1900. p. 32.
  8. ↑ Register of Officers, 1903. p. 86.
  9. ↑ Register of Officers, 1903. p. 86.
  10. ↑ Register of Officers, 1909. p. 86.
  11. ↑ Register of Officers, 1909. p. 86.
  12. ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. p. 96.
  13. ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. p. 96.
  14. ↑ Register of Officers, 1915. p. 110.
  15. ↑ Register of Officers, 1915. p. 110.
  16. ↑ Register of Officers, 1923. pp. 166-167.

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