Cleveland Diesel in World War Two

How Cleveland Diesel Answered the Call
Cleveland Diesel Division of General Motors Corporation in World War Two
Cleveland, OH
1897-1962
Originally the Winton Motor Carriage Company
Rest in Peace

This page updated 10-30-2018.

Why is the German U-Boat U-505 the first photo on this page for the Cleveland Diesel Engine Division of General Motors? Because the Fleet Tug USS Abnacki, powered by four Cleveland Diesel 12-278A main engines, towed this U-Boat across the Atlantic Ocean, from Africa to Bermuda, after its capture by US Naval Forces in World War Two. Thanks to the Cleveland Diesel 12-278A engines, millions of persons have been able to visit and tour the U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Author's photo.

The USS Abnacki has the U-505 under tow across that Atlantic Ocean, en route to Bermuda.

The USS Abnacki was the lead ship for the twenty two Abnaki Class fleet tugs, all powered by Cleveland Diesel 12-278A engines. Each engine had 12 cylinders, with 631 cubic inches; totaling 7,572 cubic inches total displacement.

History: Alexander Winton started the Winton Bicycle Company in Cleveland, OH in 1890. Seven years later he formed the Winton Motor Carriage Company, producing motor vehicles until 1924. After that, Winton focused on both gasoline and diesel engine manufacture. In 1930 General Motors purchased Winton for its diesel engine expertise, and formed the Winton Engine Corporation, a wholly owned subsidy of GM. Winton Engine designed and built the first railroad diesel engines for General Motors, which were used to start a new GM Division that built railroad diesels and locomotive, the Electromotive Division. In 1937, GM made Winton Engine into a division of GM, the Cleveland Diesel Engine Division. Its engines focused mainly on marine applications. Its diesel engines were used during World War Two for both main propulsion and auxiliary power sources in many types of ships for the US Navy.

This very rare 1899 Winton is on display at the Ohio History Center in Columbus, OH. Author's photo.

This is one of more than 100 vehicles that Winton sold in 1899, making it the largest manufacturer of vehicles in the U.S. for that year. Author's photo.

Four years later the Winton Motor Carriage Company produced this 1903 Two-Chair Runabout. Notice how quickly the design technology of the automobile changed in four years. It is on display the the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum in LaPorte, IN, and is one of several rare vehicles on display at this museum. Author's photo added 10-30-2018.

Author's photo added 10-30-2018.

The Cleveland Diesel Division of General Motors won the Army-Navy "E" Award six times.

The Cleveland Diesel Division won the Navy "E" Award on May 15, 1942.
The Cleveland Diesel Division converted to the Army-Navy "E" flag for its next awards.
The Cleveland Diesel Division won its second award on November 15, 1942.
The Cleveland Diesel Division won its third award on May 15, 1943.

The Cleveland Diesel Division won its fourth award and third star on November 15, 1943.

Cleveland Diesel Division of GM World War Two Production Statistics:

The USS Slater is the only Cannon Class Destroyer Escort on display in the world, and is located on the Hudson River in downtown Albany, NY. It had four Cleveland Diesel Diesel engines driving generators which provide power to four electric motors for main propulsion, and four more for ship's electrical power. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Cleveland Diesel Powered Ships - World War Two
Class of ship	Number in Class with Cleveland Diesel Engines	Cleveland Engine Type	Number of engines per ship	Total Engines	Comments
Abnacki ATF-96 to ATF-117	22	(4) Cleveland Diesel 12-278A diesel main engines and (3) Cleveland Diesel 3-268A auxiliary services engines	7	154	4 × General Electric generators single screw
110 Foot Sub Chasers SC-497 class	195	Cleveland Diesel 8-268A	2	390	243 of the class used the GM Electro-Motive pancake engine
Auxiliary Motor Minesweepers YMS	481	Cleveland Diesel 8-268A	2	962
Evarts Class Destroyer Escort	97	See Below	7	776	Four main propulsion and three service engines each
Cannon Class Destroyer Escort	72	See Below	7	576	Four main propulsion and three service engines each
Landing Ship Medium	61	See Below	4	244
Landing Ship Medium (R)	58	See Below
FS US Army Coastal Freighters	318	500hp 6-278A V6	2	636	Twin Screws
All Submarine Classes	136	See Below	4	1,648
Total ships	1,440		Total engines	5,444

Cleveland Diesel Powered Evarts Class Destroyer Escorts - World War Two
Class of Ship	Number in Class	Cleveland Engine Type	Number of engines per ship	Total Engines	Comments
Evarts Class DE	97	Cleveland Diesel Model 16-278A, 16 cylinder, main propulsion engines with electric drive	4	388	Twin Screw
		Cleveland Diesel Model 8-268A, 8 Cylinder, 350 HP for ship's electrical service	2	194
		Cleveland Diesel Model 3-268A, 3 Cylinder, 150 HP for emergency ship's electrical service and while docked	2	194
Totals	97			776

Cleveland Diesel Powered Cannon Class Destroyer Escorts - World War Two
Class of Ship	Number in Class	Cleveland Engine Type	Number of engines per ship	Total Engines	Comments
Cannon Class DE	72	Cleveland Diesel Model 16-268A, 16 cylinder, main propulsion engines with electric drive	4	288	Twin Screw
		Cleveland Diesel Model 8-268A, 8 Cylinder, 350 HP for ship's electrical service	2	144
		Cleveland Diesel Model 3-268A, 3 Cylinder, 150 HP for emergency ship's electrical service and while docked	2	144
Totals	72			576

Cleveland Diesel Powered Landing Ship Medium (LSM) - World War Two
Class of Ship	Number in Class with Cleveland Diesel Engines	Cleveland Engine Type	Number of engines per ship	Total Engines	Comments
Landing Ship Medium (LSM)	61	Cleveland Diesel Model 16-278A, 16 cylinder, main propulsion engines with electric drive	2	122	Twin Screw Direct Drive
		Cleveland Diesel Model 8-268A, 8 Cylinder, 350 HP for ship's electrical service	1	61
		Cleveland Diesel Model 3-268A, 3 Cylinder, 150 HP for emergency ship's electrical service and while docked	1	61
Totals	61		Total Engines	244	.

Cleveland Diesel Powered Landing Ship Medium (Rocket) (LSM-(R)) - World War Two
Class of Ship	Number in Class with Cleveland Diesel Engines	Cleveland Engine Type	Number of engines per ship	Total Engines	Comments
Landing Ship Medium (LSM(R))	58	Cleveland Diesel Model 16-278A, 16 cylinder, main propulsion engines with electric drive	2	116	Twin Screw Direct Drive
		Cleveland Diesel Model 8-268A, 8 Cylinder, 350 HP for ship's electrical service	2	116
		Cleveland Diesel Model 3-268A, 3 Cylinder, 150 HP for emergency ship's electrical service and while docked	1	58
Totals	58		Total Engines	232	.

Cleveland Diesel Powered Submarines - World War Two
Class of Submarine	Number in Class	Number with Cleveland Diesel Engines	Type Cleveland Diesel Engines	Number of engines per ship	Total Engines	Names of boats with Cleveland Diesels in Class
P (Porpoise)	10	10	Cleveland Diesel 16-201A diesel engines, 1,300 hp (970 kW) each, driving electrical generators	4	40	First use of the Winton/GM Cleveland Diesel engines in an American submarine. They were built from 1933 to 1937. Porpoise, Pike, Shark, Tarpon, Perch, Pickerel, Permit, Plunger, Pollack, Pompano
Salmon	6	6	Cleveland Diesel 12-278	4	24	The six submarines were originally built and powered by four Hooven-Owens-Rentschler (H.O.R.) Engines in 1936 to 1938. In 1943 and 1944 the six Salmon Class submarines had their H.O.R. engines replaced by Cleveland Diesel 12-278 engines. They were: Salmon, Seal, Skipjack, Snapper, Stingray, and Sturgeon
Sargo	10	10	Cleveland Diesel 12-278 diesel engines (two direct drive, two driving electrical generators), 1,535 hp each	4	40	Built in 1937 to 1939. The Squalus, Swordfish, Sealion, and Seawolf originally were built with Cleveland Diesel 12-278 engines. The following Sargo Class Submarines originally had Hooven-Owens-Rentschler (H.O.R.) engines installed. They were replaced by GM 12-278A engines in 1943 -1944. Sargo,Saury, Spearfish, Scuplin, Seadragon, Searaven
Tambor	6	3	Cleveland Diesel 16-248	4	12	Three of the six boats had GM Cleveland Diesel Engines. They were: Tambor, Tautog and Thresher. The remaining submarines had Fairbanks-Morse engines.
Gar (These are a later group of Tambor Class submarines	6	6	Cleveland Diesel 16-248	4	24	Three of the six in the class were powered by Cleveland Diesel Engines. Gar, Grampus, Grayback The remaining submarines had Fairbanks-Morse engines.
Gato Class	77	44	Cleveland Diesel 16-248 main engines 1,600 HP	4	176	Forty-three of the 77 in the Gato Class were powered by Cleveland Diesels. They were: Gato, Greenling, Grouper, Growler, Grunion, Guardfish, Barb, Blackfish, Bluefish, Bonefish, Cod, Cero, Corvina, Darter, Wahoo, Whale, Angler, Bashaw, Bluegill, Bream, Cavalla, Cobia, Croaker, Dace, Dorado, Flasher, Flier, Flounder, Gabilan, Peto, Pogy, Pompon, Puffer, Rasher, Raton, Ray, Redfin, Robalo, Rock, Golet, Guavina, Guitarro, Hammerhead, Runner Twenty of the 77 were lost in combat.
Balao	120	61	Cleveland Diesel 16-278	4	124	Sixty-one of the 120 in the Balao Class were powered by Cleveland Diesels. Balao, Billfish, Bowfin, Cabrilla, Capelin, Cisco, Crevalle, Perch, Shark, Sealion, Barbel, Barbero, Baya, Becuna, Bergall, Besugo, Blackfin, Caiman, Blenny, Blower, Blueback, Boarfish, Charr, Chub, Brill, Bugara, Bullhead, Bumper, Cabezon, Dentuda, Capitaine, Carbonero, Carp, Catfish, Entemedor, Chivo, Chopper, Clamagore, Clobber, Cochino, Corporal, Cubera, Cusk, Diodon, Dogfish, Greenfish, Halfbeak, Hardhead, Hawkbill, Icefish, Jallao, Kete, Kraken, Lagarto, Lamprey, Lizardfish, Loggerhead, Macabi, Mapiro, Menhaden, Mero,
Tench Class	29	5	Cleveland Diesel 16-278	4	20	Five of the Tench Class used used Cleveland Diesel engines. They were the Tench, Turbot Corsair, Ulua, and Runner.
Total		136			1,648

The USS Evarts, the lead ship in the class of destroyer escorts by the same name. The 97 in the class were all powered by four Cleveland Diesel 16-278 engines.

The 318 coastal freighters of the FS series were built for the US Army by 25 different ship builders and were powered by two Cleveland Diesel 500hp 6-278A V6 engines.

A Cleveland Diesel engine is being installed in a U.S. submarine during World War Two.

USS Cod in Cleveland, OH:

The USS Cod is on display in Cleveland, OH. It is equipped with Cleveland Diesel engines, all of which are operational. Author's photo.

The tops of two 16-248 Cleveland Diesel engines are visible in the aft engine room. Each of the sixteen cylinders contains 596 cubic inches of displacement. The bottom half of the engines are under the floor plates. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

The forward engine room on the USS Cod. Author's photo.

Water evaporators processed 1,000 gallons a day for batteries and crew drinking. Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

The USS Slater DE-766 in Albany, NY:

Aft Auxiliary Motor Room B4: This contains a Cleveland Diesel 3-268 150 HP emergency ship's service generator

The Cannon Class Destroyer Escorts had one three cylinder Cleveland Diesel 3-268 150 HP emergency ship's service generator in the aft motor room B4. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

The serial number is 12803, and the date of manufacture is 11-4-1943. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Aft Engine Room B3: This contains one Cleveland Diesel 8-268 for the ship's electrical service generator, and two Cleveland Diesel 16-268 main propulsion engines. The main propulsion engines each drive an Allis-Chambers electric generator. The power produced by the generators operates two 1,500 hp Westinghouse electric motors in tandem that drive the port side propeller.

The Cannon Class Destroyer Escorts had two eight cylinder Cleveland Diesel 8-268 for the ship's electrical service generators. This one is in the aft motor room B4. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

The serial number is 12575, and the date of manufacture is 11-17-1943. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

This is the Cleveland Diesel 16-268 main propulsion engine #3 on the USS Slater. This is looking aft with the big air intake at the left of the photo. Engine #4 can seen behind engine #3. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Engine #4 is on the left, and engine #3 is on the right. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Looking along the starboard side of engine #4. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Forward Engine and Motor Rooms: The forward engine and motor rooms have not yet been restored and are not as well lit as the aft rooms. A comparison of the photos of the forward and aft rooms show the the tremendous amount of work that hard working volunteers of the USS Slater have done to restore the aft rooms to their present condition. This has taken thousands of hours of labor to do this.

Forward Auxiliary Motor Room B2: This contains a Cleveland Diesel 3-268 150 HP emergency ship's service generator

The Cannon Class Destroyer Escorts had one three cylinder Cleveland Diesel 3-268 150 HP emergency ship's service generator in the forward motor room. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

In the darkness I missed the data plate on the engine. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

While the serial number and date of manufacture are not visible, this photo shows it is a Cleveland Diesel 3-268 left hand engine similar to the one in the aft motor room. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Forward Engine B1: This contains one Cleveland Diesel 8-268 for the ship's electrical service generator, and two Cleveland Diesel 16-268 main propulsion engines. The main propulsion engines each drive an Allis-Chambers electric generator. The power produced by the generators operates two 1,500 hp Westinghouse electric motors in tandem that drive the starboard side propeller.

This is the un-restored eight cylinder Cleveland Diesel 8-268 electrical service generator in the forward motor room. There was no visible data plate for it. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

This is the un-restored sixteen cylinder Cleveland Diesel 16-268 main propulsion engine #2 in the forward engine room. There was no visible data plate for it. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

This is another photo of engine #2. The air intake for the engine is in the upper right hand corner and is the front of the engine. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Both air intakes are visible for the forward engine room main propulsion Cleveland Diesel 16-268s. Number two is the nearest intake. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Looking aft this shows the small amount of space between #2 main propulsion engine on the left, and #1 main propulsion engine on the right. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

This is the un-restored sixteen cylinder Cleveland Diesel 16-268 main propulsion engine #1 in the forward engine room. There was no visible data plate for it. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

USS Croaker in Buffalo, NY:

Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Forward engine room:

The forward engine room only has one engine as the other was removed after World War Two. For display purposes the heads have been removed on the remaining engine facing the walkway allowing visitors to obtain a better view of the internal workings of the 16-278. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

The aft engine room has both 16-278s installed. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

This drawing shows the Cleveland Diesel Division Plant 3 at 8684 Clinton Road in Brooklyn, OH. The building still stands today, housing a trucking company.

The distinctive corner staircase with windows of the office area are still identifiable along with the glass windows along the west side of the building. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

An extension to the plant was made towards the Clinton Road. The original building that ran parallel to the road is the highest structure in the photo. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

Author's photo added 10-29-2017.

A large addition was also made at the east end of the complex. Author's photo added 10-29-2017.