Ajax and Hercules were built by Deutsche Maschinenbau AG (1910–1977) (that later became part of Demag, in Wilhelmshaven, Germany).

After the Ajax and Hercules, Deutsche Maschinenbau AG later made the Langer Heinrich, or Long Henry in 1915, in use for 100 years.

The two cranes were to be completed in 580 days and delivered to the Panama Isthmus by December 2, 1914, from Emden, Germany.

[8][9] Ajax was called in rescue service after the sinking of United States Navy O-class submarine USS O-5 (SS-66).

USS O-5 sank bow first in 42 feet (12.80 m) of water on October 28, 1923, at Limon Bay toward the entrance to the Panama Canal.

The salvage team opened the torpedo room hatch, and two trapped sailors, Henry Breault and Lawrence T. Brown emerged.

Sian Yung sank in the Panama Canal in the Gaillard Cut after hitting rocks in 1970.

The Ajax and Hercules were able to raise her to the point she could be patched, pumped then moved to the Bay of Panama.

Sian Yung sunk with a cargo of rice, baled cotton and 200 barrels of heavy fuel oil, these were removed before the Ajax and Hercules raised her.

[19] Ajax and Hercules are briefly mentioned in Egon Erwin Kisch's 1929 travel report Paradies Amerika.