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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
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 the views we have 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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Page made 23 August 2004
New image added 13 September 2007