Gibbs & Cox

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Gibbs & Cox
Company typeNaval architecture
IndustryShipbuilding
Founded1922 in New York City, New York, United States
Founders
Headquarters
Arlington, Virginia
,
United States
Key people
Products
OwnerLeidos
ParentLeidos
Websitehttps://www.gibbscox.com

Gibbs & Cox is an American naval architecture firm that specializes in designing surface warships. Founded in 1922 in New York City, Gibbs & Cox is now headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

The firm has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Newport News, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New Orleans, LA.[1]

In 2003, more than 150 warships built to the firm's designs, including 60 percent of the U.S. Navy's surface combatant fleet, were on active duty in nearly 20 navies.[citation needed]

History[edit]

The firm was founded as "Gibbs Brothers" by self-taught naval architect William Francis Gibbs and his brother Frederic H. Gibbs. The name was changed when architect Daniel H. Cox of Cox & Stevens joined the firm in 1929.[1]

In 1931, Gibbs & Cox designed the MV Savarona, a large luxury yacht.

According to company officials, more than 70 percent of U.S. tonnage launched during World War II was built to Gibbs & Cox designs. Ship types included destroyers, LST landing craft, minesweepers, tankers, cruisers, Liberty Ships, and a variety of conversions.[1][2][3]

In 1950, Gibbs & Cox designed the SS United States, the largest liner ever built in the United States and the fastest liner built anywhere.

On May 7, 2021, Leidos completed acquisition of Gibbs & Cox for $380 million. Gibbs & Cox operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary and is combined with Leidos’ maritime systems division.[4]

Ships designed[edit]

Among the ship classes designed by Gibbs & Cox are:

Among the individual ships designed by Gibbs & Cox are:

Model shop[edit]

Close-up of USS Missouri model built by Gibbs and Cox, on display at the Washington Navy Yard

From 1939 until 1962, the firm operated a model shop that produced high-quality ship models that are considered among "the very finest examples of the steel ship modeler's art ever to be seen."[6] Of these, the most expensive and elaborate was a 1/24-scale cutaway model of the USS Agerholm. This model, which is over 16 feet long, shows the complete inner structure on the starboard, and the exterior on the port.[7]

Another notable model is the USS Missouri as she appeared on September 2, 1945, at 9:02 in the morning, the time of the Japanese surrender. This 1/48-scale ship required 77,000 man-hours to construct, and is as of September 2012 on display at the Navy Museum, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.[6]

Recent contracts[edit]

  • CG(X): "Awarded a Naval Sea Systems Command multi-year contract for program management support, technical management support, ship design support and engineering" in partnership with Alion Science and Technology
  • Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship: design and support of USS Freedom (LCS-1) and subsequent ships.[5]
  • Constellation-class frigate: On 30 April 2020, it was announced that Fincantieri Marinette Marine's FREMM multipurpose frigate had won the contest and was awarded a $795 million contract for detailed design and construction of the lead ship, with options for nine additional ships.[8]
  • DDG(X): Design and engineering support contract awarded in 2022.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "History of Gibbs & Cox". Gibbs & Cox, Inc. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Gibbs & Cox & World War II". SSUnitedStatesConservancy.og. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  3. ^ "1940s - Maritime Patrol Ships". 100 Years of Accelerating Tomorrow. Lockheed Martin Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Leidos completes acquisition of Gibbs & Cox". Gibbs & Cox. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Littoral Combat Ship". Lockheed Martin Corporation. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  6. ^ a b "U.S. Navy Model Ships Built by Gibbs & Cox Company". Curator of Navy Model Ships. U. S. Navy, Commander Naval Sea Systems Command. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  7. ^ Warships and Warship Modelling,By David Wooley, William Clarke Naval Institute Press, 200 ISBN 1-59114-928-2, p.56
  8. ^ Eckstein, Megan (30 April 2020). "Fincantieri Wins $795M Contract for Navy Frigate Program". USNI News. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  9. ^ "USN enlists Gibbs & Cox for DDG(X) design and engineering support". Shephard Media. 18 February 2022.

External links[edit]

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