S.S. West Galeta, a 12,287 ton (displacement) freighter, was built at Los Angeles, California, in 1918. Part of the World War I ship construction program, she was turned over to the Navy upon completion and placed in commission early in September 1918 as USS West Galeta (ID # 3330). She steamed to Chile soon afterwards, encountering heavy weather en route, and there loaded a cargo of nitrates. After transiting the Panama Canal, the ship arrived at New York City a week before the 11 November Armistice brought active combat to an end. Her next trip was to France, and another bout with stormy seas while en route damaged much of her deck cargo. West Galeta returned to the U.S. in late January 1919. A second French voyage, beginning in mid-February, was delayed on the return leg when she lost her propeller and had to be repaired at Brest. Decommissioned in May 1919, West Galeta was transferred to the U.S. Shipping Board, which retained her until 1933, when she was abandoned.
This page features the only view we have concerning the freighter West Galeta, which was USS West Galeta (ID # 3330) 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 29 October 2005