Gibbs & Cox

Gibbs & Cox is an American naval architecture firm that specializes in designing surface warships. Founded in 1922 in New York City, Gibbs & Cox is now headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Gibbs & Cox

Company type	Naval architecture
Industry	Shipbuilding
Founded	1922 in New York City, New York, United States
Founders	William Francis Gibbs Frederic H. Gibbs
Headquarters	Arlington, Virginia , United States
Key people	William Francis Gibbs Frederic H. Gibbs Daniel H. Cox
Products	Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Captain-class frigate EC2-S-C1-class transport Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship Gleaves-class destroyer Mahan-class destroyer Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate Tacoma-class frigate Wind-class icebreaker
Owner	Leidos
Parent	Leidos
Website	https://www.gibbscox.com

The firm has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Newport News, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New Orleans, LA.^[1]

In 2003, more than 150 warships built to the firm's designs, including 60 percent of the U.S. Navy's surface combatant fleet, were on active duty in nearly 20 navies.^{[citation needed]}

History

The firm was founded as "Gibbs Brothers" by self-taught naval architect William Francis Gibbs and his brother Frederic H. Gibbs. The name was changed when architect Daniel H. Cox of Cox & Stevens joined the firm in 1929.^[1]

In 1931, Gibbs & Cox designed the MV Savarona, a large luxury yacht.

According to company officials, more than 70 percent of U.S. tonnage launched during World War II was built to Gibbs & Cox designs. Ship types included destroyers, LST landing craft, minesweepers, tankers, cruisers, Liberty Ships, and a variety of conversions.^[1][2][3]

In 1950, Gibbs & Cox designed the SS United States, the largest liner ever built in the United States and the fastest liner built anywhere.

On May 7, 2021, Leidos completed acquisition of Gibbs & Cox for $380 million. Gibbs & Cox operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary and is combined with Leidos’ maritime systems division.^[4]

On March 4, 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce placed 15 U.S. entities (including Gibbs & Cox) on its export control list, barring the export of dual-use commodities to that business.^[5][6]

Ships designed

Among the ship classes designed by Gibbs & Cox are:

• Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
• Captain-class frigate
• EC2-S-C1-class transport ("Liberty ships")^{[citation needed]}
• Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship^[7]
• Gleaves-class destroyer
• Mahan-class destroyer
• Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
• Cheng Kung-class frigate
• Tacoma-class frigate
• Wind-class icebreaker

Among the individual ships designed by Gibbs & Cox are:

• SS America
• MV Chinook
• SS Malolo
• SS Santa Paula
• SS Santa Rosa
• SS United States

Model shop

Close-up of USS Missouri model built by Gibbs and Cox, on display at the Washington Navy Yard

From 1939 until 1962, the firm operated a model shop that produced high-quality ship models that are considered among "the very finest examples of the steel ship modeler's art ever to be seen."^[8] Of these, the most expensive and elaborate was a 1/24-scale cutaway model of the USS Agerholm. This model, which is over 16 feet long, shows the complete inner structure on the starboard, and the exterior on the port.^[9]

Another notable model is the USS Missouri as she appeared on September 2, 1945, at 9:02 in the morning, the time of the Japanese surrender. This 1/48-scale ship required 77,000 man-hours to construct, and is as of September 2012 on display at the Navy Museum, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.^[8]

Recent contracts

• CG(X): "Awarded a Naval Sea Systems Command multi-year contract for program management support, technical management support, ship design support and engineering" in partnership with Alion Science and Technology
• Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship: design and support of USS Freedom (LCS-1) and subsequent ships.^[7]
• Constellation-class frigate: On 30 April 2020, it was announced that Fincantieri Marinette Marine's FREMM multipurpose frigate had won the contest and was awarded a $795 million contract for detailed design and construction of the lead ship, with options for nine additional ships.^[10]
• DDG(X): Design and engineering support contract awarded in 2022.^[11]