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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 65081:  Launch of SS Westpool, at Seattle, Washington, 1918


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

S.S. Westpool (American Freighter, 1918).
Served as USS Westpool (ID # 3675) in 1918-1919

S.S. Westpool, a 5650 gross ton (12,170 tons displacement) freighter, was built by J.F. Duthie and Company at Seattle, Washington as part of the World War I ship construction effort. When completed in early November 1918 she was taken over by the Navy and placed in commission as USS Westpool (ID # 3675). Some days later she departed on her maiden voyage, bound for the Panama Canal Zone where she loaded cargo and carried it to the East Coast. At the beginning of February 1919 the ship left New York City with Army cargo destined for Belgium and Great Britain. Westpool steamed back to New York in late March and was soon decommissioned.

Returned to the U.S. Shipping Board at that time, she had intermittant commercial service during the inter-war decades. Early in World War II Westpool was acquired by the British government. Her service in their hands was brief, however, as she was sunk by the German submarine U-74 on 3 April 1941.

This page features the only views we have concerning the steamship Westpool, which served as USS Westpool (ID # 3675) 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.

Photo #: NH 65081

S.S. Westpool
(American Freighter, 1918)

Afloat immediately after launching, at the J.F. Duthie and Company shipyard, Seattle, Washington, in 1918.
This ship was placed in commission as USS Westpool (ID # 3675) on 2 November 1918 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board on 31 March 1919.
Note the banners hanging from her bow, advertising the 4th Liberty Loan war bond drive. See Photo # NH 65081 (cropped) for a close-up view of these banners.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 50KB; 740 x 500 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 65081 (cropped)

Fourth Liberty Loan, 1918

Banner reading "Buy a 4th Liberty Loan Bond -- that the Government may build more ships", hung from the bow of S.S. Westpool during her launching at the J.F. Duthie and Company shipyard, Seattle, Washington.
This image is cropped from Photo # NH 65081.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 62KB; 650 x 675 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 12 September 2006