The Greater Buffalo and the Seeandbee
The big ship Seeandbee was launched by the Cleveland and Buffalo Transit Company in 1913. It was the largest inland waterway side-wheel passenger steamer. It features 500 cabins and parlors that can hold up to 1,500 people. It was well-known for its luxury and comfort. When the Greater Buffalo set sail in 1924, it surpassed Seeandbee as the largest side-wheel passenger steamer. The Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company owned it. With the ability to transport up to 103 cars on the main deck, it earned the moniker “Majestic of the Great Lakes.” These two side-wheel passenger steamers became the unlikely solution to the aircraft carrier problem.
The USS Wolverine and the USS Sable
In 1942, the United States Navy purchased two steam-powered, side-paddled ships for use as aircraft carriers. In March, they obtained Seeandbee, and in August, they obtained the Greater Buffalo. These massive ships would serve as the training grounds for aspiring pilots. However, before they could be deemed Navy aircraft carriers, these two warships needed a lot of maintenance. It begins by giving them new names. When they were commissioned by the US Navy, Seeandbee was renamed USS Wolverine, and the Greater Buffalo was called USS Sable.