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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 89762: S.S. Wassaic at anchor, probably in mid-1918


Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

S.S. Wassaic (American Freighter, 1918).
Served as the USS Wassaic (ID # 3230) in 1918-1919

The steamship Wassaic, a 5898 gross ton freighter, was built in 1918 at Los Angeles, California, as part of the World War I shipbuilding program. After steaming from the West Coast to New Orleans, Louisiana, she was taken over by the Navy in October and placed in commission as USS Wassaic (ID # 3230). In November, just before the Armistice ended the fighting, she departed for France with U.S. Army cargo, but problems with her machinery forced her into New York for repairs. Wassaic completed the voyage during December, returning to the U.S. in early February 1919. She made a second two-way trans-Atlantic trip in March and April. USS Wassaic was decommissioned in late May 1919 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board, which retained her until she was abandoned during the early 1930s.

This page features all available views related to the freighter Wassaic, which was USS Wassaic (ID # 3230) in 1918-1919.


Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: None

S.S. Wassaic (American Freighter, 1918)

Photographed on 25 July 1918 by her builder, the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., San Pedro, Calif.

Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-S.

 
Photo #: NH 89762

S.S. Wassaic (American Freighter, 1918)

At anchor, probably when first completed by the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Los Angeles, California, in mid-1918.
This Emergency Fleet Corporation steamship was acquired by the Navy and placed in commission as USS Wassaic (ID # 3230) on 14 October 1918. She was returned to the U.S. Shipping Board on 29 May 1919.
Note her pattern camouflage.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 31KB; 740 x 195 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102513

S.S. Wassaic (American Freighter, 1918)

Underway, probably when first completed by the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Los Angeles, California, in mid-1918.
This Emergency Fleet Corporation steamship was acquired by the Navy and placed in commission as USS Wassaic (ID # 3230) on 14 October 1918. She was returned to the U.S. Shipping Board on 29 May 1919.
Note her pattern camouflage.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 540 pixels

 


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Page made 6 June 2004