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Private company

Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company

Shipyard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States

Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was a major shipbuilder for the Great Lakes. It was founded in 1902, with the purchase of the "Burger & Burger Shipyard," a predecessor to The Burger Boat Company, and made mainly steel ferries and ore haulers. During World War II, it built submarines, tank landing craft (LCTs), and self-propelled fuel barges called "YOs".2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

  • Industryshipbuilding1
  • HeadquartersManitowoc1

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USS Robalo SS-273 launch
Photo: ID:HDSN9902480 Service Depicted: Other Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was a major shipbuilder for the Great Lakes. It was founded in 1902, with the purchase of the "Burger & Burger Shipyard," a predecessor to The Burger Boat Company, and made mainly steel ferries and ore haulers. During World War II, it built submarines, tank landing craft (LCTs), and self-propelled fuel barges called "YOs". Employment peaked during the military years at 7000 employees. The shipyard closed in 1968, when Manitowoc Company bought Bay Shipbuilding Company and moved their shipbuilding operation to Sturgeon Bay.2

Products and brands

The following is a complete list of the submarines built by Manitowoc during WW II. Years listed reflect launch dates.

14 of 77 Gato-class:

1942 − USS Peto − sank 7 ships in 10 World War II Pacific patrols

1942 − USS Pogy − sank 16 ships in 10 World War II Pacific patrols

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1942 − USS Pompon − sank 3 ships in 9 World War II Pacific patrols

1942 − USS Puffer − sank 8 ships in 9 World War II Pacific patrols

1942 − USS Rasher − sank 18 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols, 2nd highest tonnage sunk by a US submarine during the war

1943 − USS Raton − sank 9 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols

1943 − USS Ray − sank 14 ships in 8 World War II Pacific patrols

1943 − USS Redfin − sank 5 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols

1943 − USS Robalo − 3 World War II Pacific patrols

1943 − USS Rock − sank 1 ship in 6 World War II Pacific patrols

1943 − USS Golet − 2 World War II Pacific patrols

1943 − USS Guavina − sank 5 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols

1943 − USS Guitarro − sank 6 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols

1943 − USS Hammerhead − sank 11 ships in 7 World War II Pacific patrols

14 of 120 Balao-class:

1943 − USS Hardhead − sank 7 ships in 6 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Hawkbill − sank 6 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Icefish − sank 2 ships in 5 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Jallao − sank 2 ships in 4 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Kete − sank 3 ships in 2 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Kraken − 4 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Lagarto − sank 3 ships in 2 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Lamprey − 3 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Lizardfish − 2 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Loggerhead − 2 World War II Pacific patrols

1944 − USS Macabi − 1 World War II Pacific patrol

1944 − USS Mapiro

1944 − USS Menhaden

1945 − USS Mero

From Wikipedia’s article on Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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