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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USACE Dredge William A. Thompson

Self-Propelled Cutterhead Pipeline Dredge:
  • Built in 1936-37, at Dravo Corp, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Launched, in 1937
  • Delivered in March 1937 and christened by William Thompson's granddaughter
  • Placed in service by the US Army Corps of Engineers, as USED Dredge William A. Thompson
  • Assigned to the US Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District
  • Arrived at US Army Corps of Engineers BoatYard, Fountain City, WI., 22 May 1937
  • During normal years the Thompson dredged in St. Paul, Rock Island and St. Louis Districts
  • Place out of service at US Army Corps of Engineers service base, Fountain City, WI. in 2008
  • Removed from the US Army Corps of Engineers service base at Fountain City, WI. 12 June 2012, to her new home with the Community Development Alternatives, Inc., in Prairie du Chien, WI.
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,370 t.
    Length 267'
    Beam 48'
    Draft 9'
    Height 52'9" minimum bridge clearance
    Complement unknown
    Pumping Machinery
    one hydralic pump driven by one 1,800h diesel engine
    20-cutter head
    22-inch intake and 20-inch discharge
    Propulsion
    two 850hp diesel engines driving two 500hp electric motors
    two propeller shafts
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262208    		 297k US Army Corps of Engineers USED Dredge William A. Thompson , poster.
    US Army Corps of Engineers photo.
    US Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District    		  
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262206    		 78k Launching of Dredge William A. Thompson in 1937 at Dravo Corp, Pittsburgh, PA.
    US Army Corp of Engineers photo    		 John Spivey
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262205    		 149k USACE Dredge William A. Thompson dredging, date location unknown.
    Photo courtesy Dave Thomson Collection at Steamboat.com    		 John Spivey
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262203    		 291k USACE Dredge William A. Thompson dredging, circa 1963, location unknown.
    US Army Corps of Engineers photo    		 Tommy Trampp
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262209    		 161k USACE Dredge William A. Thompson tied up to a river bank in 1963, location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262201    		 1042k USACE Dredge William A. Thompson dredging in the St. Paul District in July 1968.
    US Army Corps of Engineers Negative # C-209-NCS68    		 Tommy Trampp
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262204    		 268k USACE Dredge William A. Thompson moored at Fountain City, WI., 6 January 2012.
    Photo by Iulus Ascanius    		 Tommy Trampp
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262202    		 132k Ex-USACE Dredge William A. Thompson being removed from the US Army Corps of Engineers service base at Fountain City, WI., 12 June 2012, by US Army Corps of Engineers towboat M/V General Warren
    US Army Corps of Engineers Visual Information Record Identification Number (VIRIN) # 120612-A-CE999, photo by Shannon L. Bauer    		 Steve Whitson
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262207    		 68k Retired USACE Dredge William A. Thompson in her new home, Prairie du Chien, WI., circa 2012.
    US Army Corp of Engineers St. Paul District photo    		 John Spivey
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262210    		 75k U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Manager Marc Krumholz shows off the inner workings of the Ex-USACE Dredge William A. Thompson in 2011 before she made her voyage from Fountain City to Prairie du Chien, WI. The historic dredge was sent to become a museum but now may be scrapped. She has been resting dormant off the coast of Prairie du Chien, WI., for the past five years. Tommy Trampp
    Willam A. Thompson
    30262211    		 264k Ex-USACE Dredge William A. Thompson tied up to the river bank at Prairie du Chien, WI. TWhen this photo was taken the dredge was in an idle state, date unknown.
    Photo from www.flickriver.com by Mike Kohlbauer    		 John Spivey
    There is no history available for USACE Dredge William, A. Thompson at NavSource
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 8 September 2023