Posted on March 16, 2015
In the March 2015 edition of Warship Technology, The John W. Brown demonstrated the reliability of Victaulic grooved couplings. Placed in service over 70 years ago, the grooved couplings visible on the piping today are the original couplings installed in 1942.
In an effort to provide as many supplies as possible overseas during World War II, the US government needed to produce hundreds of steamers during the Emergency Shipbuilding Program in 1941. The SS John W. Brown was one of many vessels that made 13 voyages during and after the war. These ships had a shelf life of 5 years, however, the Brown is still fully operational, 70 years later.
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