Orange, Texas is the location of a small fabrication yard operated by Consolidated Steel Corporation of Texas before World War II. In 1940, as part of a crash program to build more destroyers, the Navy contracted with the company to expand the yard.
   The first ships laid down and launched (all in 1942) were DesRon 23’s Aulick, Charles L. Ausburne, Claxton and Dyson. The yard eventually completed 12 Fletcher-class destroyers,

Twelve Fletcher-class destroyers were built at Orange, followed by a destroyer escort building program, then twenty-seven Gearing-class destroyers. Of these, DDs 873–890 were completed before DDs 817–825. Keels for all of these ship were laid and thirteen—Hawkins through John R. Craig—were delivered before the end of World War II. Basilone and Carpenter were not delivered until 1949. Gray indicates ship commissioned after World War II.

followed by 102 destroyer escorts; then by 27 Gearing-class ships, 14 of which were delivered to the Navy after VJ Day.
   At its peak, the Orange yard employed 20,000 people. After the war, it reverted to fabrication and for many years was a division of U.S. Steel. Today, a division of Signal International, it builds offshore drilling rigs.
   On 11 August 2000, Consolidated’s 14th Gearing-class destroyer, Orleck (DD 886), returned under tow from Turkey after having been in commission in the United States and Turkish Navies since 15 September 1945. Orleck is now being restored at a berth on Front Street in downtown Orange by the Southeast Texas War Memorial & Heritage Foundation.