USS American was a 5650 gross ton cargo ship built at Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1900. Employed commercially prior to World War I, she was commissioned for wartime Naval Service in May 1918. Between June and September of that year the ship made two round-trip voyages to France. On 7 October 1918, while steaming in convoy during the initial leg of a third such trip, she collided with USS West Gate (ID # 3216). The latter rapidly sank, with the loss of seven of her crew, and American had to go to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for repairs. She began another voyage, to Gibraltar, in late November, more than two weeks after the Armistice. USS American arrived back in New York City in February 1919 and was returned to her owners a month later.
This page features all available views of American (ID # 2292).
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Page made 23 November 2002