The merchant marine actually predates the United States Navy as well as the United States Coast Guard.

Merchant marine ships ww2. Nortraship had 1081 ships including 107 whale catchers at the beginning of the war with around 33 000 seamen. Lost 1554 ships in the war. 570 ships were lost along with 3734 seamen these numbers vary according to source and do not include all the ships in service in Norway.

Shipyards turned out cargo vessels faster than the ships could be supplied with crews. 7 1941 the cargo ship SS Cynthia Olson was the first US. Officers attended the US.

To man the increasing merchant fleet and to ensure the Merchant Marine service properly operated during wartime ordinary seaman could advance into established ratings and wage schedules as deemed appropriate. 25 070 Men Killed 2 426 Ships Sunk. Merchant Marine in the Pacific.

World War II US. Approximately 8000 to 12000 Merchant Marine sailors were killed. In 1942 the average sinking of Allied merchant ships was thirty-three ships each week.

6 838 Men Killed 848 Ships Sunk 1800 Naval guards Killed. Merchant men sail and maintain deep-sea merchant ships tugboats towboats ferries and charters all of which are presently at the disposal of the war effort. During World War II US.

The Merchant Marine suffered a higher casualty rate than any branch of the military losing 9300 men with most of the losses occurring in 1942 when most merchant ships. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps which was under direction of the Coast Guard and War Shipping Administration. The ship and all on board were lost about 1200 miles west of the Pacific Coast.