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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 103142:  USS Sixaola in a harbor, circa late 1918

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Sixaola (ID # 2777), 1918-1919
Originally, and later, S.S. Sixaola (American Passenger-Cargo Ship, 1911)

S.S. Sixaola, a 5017 gross ton refrigerated passenger-cargo ship, was built in 1911 at Belfast, Ireland. In September 1918 she was acquired by the Navy and placed in commission as USS Sixaola (ID # 2777) for service with the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. Later in the month she began a voyage to France with a cargo of beef and motor vehicles. Sixaola returned to the U.S. one day before the 11 November 1918 Armistice brought most World War I fighting to an end. She made a second round-trip to France in November and December and a third in January and February 1919. On 23 February, while loading for her next voyage, Sixaola caught fire at her New York pier. Two lives were lost in the accident, and the ship was left partially capsized and sunk.

Sixaola was raised a few months later and, in mid-June, decommissioned and transferred to the War Department. Following repairs, she was returned to her owners, the Carillo Steamship Company of New York. As part of the United Fruit Company's fleet, she continued commercial operation for more than two more decades. In April 1922 the Government's Joint Merchant Vessel Board changed her registry ID # from 2777 to 4525, but this appears to have been of bureaucratic significance only. On 12 June 1942, while off the coast of Panama, S.S. Sixaola was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-159. Of the 201 crewmen, passengers and Navy Armed Guardsmen on board, 29 were killed as a result of this attack.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Sixaola (ID # 2777) and the commercial S.S. Sixaola of 1911.


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 103269

S.S. Sixaola
(American Passenger-Cargo Ship, 1911

In port, prior to her World War I era Naval service.
This ship was commissioned as USS Sixaola (ID # 2777) on 19 September 1918. She was transferred to the War Department on 12 June 1919.
On or about 5 April 1922 the Joint Merchant Vessel Board changed her registry ID # from 2777 to 4524.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 43KB; 740 x 450 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103142

USS Sixaola
(ID # 2777)

In a harbor, circa late 1918.
Note that Sixaola has her name exhibited in large letters across her bridge face. Other camouflaged ships are in the left distance and a coal barge is in the foreground.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

U.S. Army Signal Corps Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43136

USS Sixaola
(ID # 2777)

Partially capsized at her pier, at New York, New York. She had sunk there after a fire on 23 February 1919.
Raised and repaired, Sixaola was returned to her owner, the United Fruit Company, for which she operated until sunk off Colon, Panama Canal Zone, on 12 June 1942 by the German submarine U-159.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 580 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 22 November 2005