West Alsek, a 5573.93 gross ton freighter, was built at Seattle, Washington, as part of the World War I merchant ship construction effort. She was taken over by the Navy upon completion in early June 1918 and immediately placed in commission as USS West Alsek (ID # 3119). Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, the new ship carried a cargo of flour to New York on her first voyage. At the beginning of August she sailed in convoy for France, where she discharged cargo to support Allied forces on the Western Front. West Alsek made a second voyage to France in October and November 1918 and returned to the United State in mid-January 1919, two months after the fighting had ended. She was decommissioned late in that month and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board. SS West Alsek was abandoned in 1933.
This page features the only view we have concerning the freighter West Alsek, which served as USS West Alsek (ID # 3119) in 1918-1919.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 14 March 2004