Return to WWI Auxiliaries.
UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --
S.S. Western Spirit (American Freighter, 1918).
Served as USS Western Spirit (ID # 3164) in 1918-1919
Western Spirit, a 5730 gross ton (12,185 tons displacement) freighter, was built at Portland, Oregon, for the U.S. Shipping Board. She was completed in July 1918 and turned over the the Navy, which placed her in commission as USS Western Spirit (ID # 3164) and assigned her to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. The ship's maiden voyage was made to Chile, where she picked up a cargo of nitrates for transportation to the U.S. Gulf coast by way of the Panama Canal. In October 1918 Western Spirit began her only wartime trip to Europe. Delayed by engine problems, she arrived at a French port in November, after the Armistice had brought World War I combat to an end. Western Spirit returned to the U.S. in January 1919, and made another voyage to France in February-April. She was decommissioned later in April 1919. Returned to the Shipping Board at that time, she was abandoned by that agency in 1933.
This page features all available views concerning the freighter Western Spirit and USS Western Spirit (ID # 3164).
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
|
Photo #: NH 104948 USS Western Spirit (ID # 3164) Photographed circa mid-July 1918, probably off the Albina Dock, Portland, Oregon. This photo may show the ship while she was still S.S. Western Spirit, at the time of her construction was completed by the Northwest Still Company, of Portland. She was acquired by the Navy on 19 July 1918, but not actually placed in commission until the 30th of that month. The ship is wearing pattern camouflage. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
 |
|
Photo #: NH 102562 S.S. Western Spirit (American Freighter, 1918) Photographed off the Albina Dock, Portland, Oregon, circa mid-July 1918, probably upon completion of construction by the Northwest Steel Company, of Portland. This ship was acquired by the Navy on 19 July 1918 and placed in commission as USS Western Spirit (ID # 3164) on 30 July 1918. She was returned to the U.S. Shipping Board on 17 April 1919. Note her pattern camouflage, and the stern wheel tug alongside. The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 530 pixels |
 |
|
Photo #: NH 99431 S.S. Western Spirit (American Freighter, 1918) In port, possibly at Portland, Oregon, in July 1918, when first completed by the Northwest Steel Company, of Portland. This ship was commissioned as USS Western Spirit (ID # 3164) on 30 July 1918. She was decommissioned on 17 April 1919 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board. Note her pattern camouflage. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 36KB; 740 x 210 pixels |
 |
Return to WWI Auxiliaries.Page made 23 August 2004
New image added 13 September 2007