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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 107036: S.S. West Madaket, photographed after World War I


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

S.S. West Madaket (American Freighter, 1918).
Served as USS West Madaket (ID # 3636) in 1918-1919

West Madaket, a 5808 gross ton (12,225-tons displacement) freighter, was built in 1918 at Seattle, Washington, as part of the First World War ship construction program. Transferred to the Navy when completed, she was placed in commission as USS West Madaket (ID # 3636) at the end of October 1918. The ship carried a cargo of flour from the West Coast to Rotterdam, Holland, between mid-November 1918 and January 1919, passing through the Panama Canal and stopping at New York and Falmouth, England, while en route. During February-April 1919 the ship made a second round-trip voyage to Europe, taking general cargo to France. USS West Madaket was decommissioned in May 1919 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board.

West Madaket was retained for the next two decades by the Shipping Board and its successor, the U.S. Maritime Commission. Beginning in February 1942 she was operated on behalf of the War Shipping Administration by the Waterman Steamship Corporation. S.S. West Madaket was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-707 on 5 May 1943, while she was part of Atlantic convoy ONS-5.

This page features all available views concerning the freighter West Madaket and USS West Madaket (ID # 3636).


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

Photo #: NH 65086

S.S. West Madaket (American Freighter, 1918)

Launching, at the Skinner and Eddy shipyard, Seattle, Washington, 5 October 1918.
Turned over to the Navy upon completion, this steamer was placed in commission as USS West Madaket (ID # 3636) on 30 October 1918. She was decommissioned and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board on 7 May 1919.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 74KB; 470 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 107056

USS West Madaket (ID # 3636)

At Rotterdam, Holland, 10 January 1919.
She is still painted in World War I "dazzle" camouflage, though her forward deck gun has been removed.
The original image is printed on post card stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 83KB; 900 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 107036

S.S. West Madaket (American Freighter, 1918-1943)

Photographed following World War I.
This ship served as USS West Madaket (ID # 3636) in 1918-1919.
The original photograph is from the Steamship Historical Society, Collection of John Lyman.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 900 x 550 pixels

 


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


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    Page made 28 February 2006
    New images added 27 December 2010