Ship taking shape at ADDSCO circa 1941. LIFE Magazine Archives - George Strock Photographer WWP-PD

As the United States prepared for World War II in the early 1940s, the looming threat of global conflict revived Alabama’s lagging shipbuilding industry. In Mobile, the Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company (ADDSCO) and Gulf Shipbuilding Company quickly became two of the most vital production hubs on the Gulf Coast. These facilities fueled both the local economy and the national war effort.

At ADDSCO, located on Pinto Island in Mobile, the wartime shipbuilding boom began in earnest when the U.S. Maritime Commission awarded contracts for ships vital for the war effort. 20 Liberty ships—cargo vessels essential for transporting troops and supplies—and 102 massive T-2 tankers, each displacing over 22,000 tons would be constructed at ADDSCO during the war. Beyond new construction, ADDSCO played a crucial role in the maintenance and modification of naval and merchant vessels. Over the course of the war, the yard repaired or converted more than 2,800 ships for the Army, Navy, War Shipping Administration, and private companies.

Meanwhile, at Gulf Shipbuilding Company in Chickasaw, just north of the city, the output was equally impressive. The company launched 7 Fletcher-class destroyers, 29 minesweepers, 30 tankers, one landing ship dock, and several cargo vessels. The Fletcher-class destroyers, in particular, were highly regarded for their speed, durability, and combat power, making them a staple of the U.S. Navy's surface fleet.

By the height of wartime activity, ADDSCO and Gulf Shipbuilding together employed approximately 40,000 workers, including welders, machinists, electricians, and other skilled tradespeople. These laborers were turning out nearly one ship per week, a staggering pace that reflected the urgency of the times.

Mobile's shipyards were not the only facilities contributing to the war effort. The Port of Mobile, ranked as the fifteenth busiest in the United States during the war, served as a critical hub for transporting raw materials and finished goods to global battlefronts. Nearby, the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) operated a plant at the state docks, processing thousands of tons of imported bauxite daily to produce aluminum—an essential component in aircraft manufacturing.

Beyond shipbuilding and raw material processing, Alabama’s contribution to the war extended into the skies. Finished aircraft were flown into the state to undergo final modifications and repairs. At Brookley Army Air Field in Mobile, the Mobile Air Service Command carried out alterations and maintenance on aircraft, employing thousands of civilians. Simultaneously, the Bechtel-McCone-Parsons plant in Birmingham modified over 5,000 airplanes, including B-24 Liberators and B-29 Superfortresses.

Alabama’s heavy industry also saw renewed life. Coastal centers like Mobile, Alabama’s economy were transformed by the demands of war.

In just a few years, wartime production turned Mobile into a powerhouse of manufacturing and logistics, drawing national attention and solidifying its place in the narrative of America’s home front.

Aerial view of Gulf Shipbuilding Company Alabama Chickasaw location. Edward L. Cochrane, Navy Department, Bureau of Ships

Launching of SS Tule Canyon May 31, 1944 at ADDSCO. Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Tool and Supply stockroom at Brookley unknown date. Sherwood McBroom, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama

B-29 Superfortress undergoing maintenance at Brookley unknown date. Earle Sigler, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama