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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 48486:  SS West Hosokie off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 11 March 1919

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

USS West Hosokie (ID # 3695), 1918-1919.
Originally the civilian freighter West Hosokie (1918)

USS West Hosokie, a 6087 gross ton cargo ship, was built in 1918 at Seattle, Washington, as the civilian freighter of the same name. The U.S. Navy took her over upon completion in late August 1918 and promptly placed her in commission. Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, the ship's maiden voyage, in September-November 1918, was made to Arica, Chile, where she loaded a cargo of guano and tranported it to New Orleans. West Hosokie crossed the Atlantic to France with U.S. Army cargo in December and returned to the U.S. in March 1919. Her second trip to France and back, also with Army cargo, took place in April-June.

USS West Hosokie was decommissioned in early July 1919 and transferred to the U.S. Shipping Board. She subsequently entered commercial trade and was active for well over three more decades. Renamed Constance Chandler in the mid-1930s and Liloa a few years later, she remained under the U.S. flag until January 1945, when she was turned over to the Soviet Union. Under the name Belorussia, the old ship appears to have survived until the mid-1950s.

This page features all the views we have related to USS West Hosokie (ID # 3695) and to the civilian freighter West Hosokie.


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 65073-A

West Hosokie
(American Freighter, 1918)

Photographed by her builder, the Skinner & Eddy Corporation of Seattle, Washington, while on trials off Seattle on 29 August 1918. She had been built in 65 working days.
This ship was acquired by the Navy on the day of her trials and placed in commission as USS West Hosokie (ID # 3695). She was returned to the U.S. Shipping Board on 2 July 1919.
Note her pattern camouflage.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 555 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 48486

USS West Hosokie
(ID # 3695)

Off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 11 March 1919.
Her pattern camouflage is a modified version of that applied when she was completed in August 1918.
Note the absence of guns, and signalman "wig-wagging" atop the pilothouse.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 399

USS West Hosokie
(ID # 3695)

At the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa March 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41945

USS West Hosokie
(ID # 3695)

Ship's officers and men pose with a 14"/50 Mark IV gun stowed on her foredeck, after it had been transported across the Atlantic from France. Taken at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 10 March 1919.
Photographed by Charles M. Clark, Ledger Art Service, Philadelphia.
These guns were part of the Naval Railway Battery in France during the final months of World War I.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 159KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41941

USS West Hosokie
(ID # 3695)

Unloading 14"/50 Mark IV guns at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 10 March 1919.
Photographed by Charles M. Clark, Ledger Art Service, Philadelphia.
These guns were part of the Naval Railway Battery in France during the final months of World War I.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 105KB; 490 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41939

USS West Hosokie
(ID # 3695)

Unloading 14"/50 Mark IV guns at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 10 March 1919.
Photographed by Charles M. Clark, Ledger Art Service, Philadelphia.
These guns, being returned to the U.S. from France, were employed by the Naval Railway Battery on the Western Front during the final months of World War I.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 525 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41940

USS West Hosokie
(ID # 3695)

Unloading 14"/50 Mark IV guns at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 10 March 1919.
Photographed by Charles M. Clark, Ledger Art Service, Philadelphia.
These guns were part of the Naval Railway Battery in France during the final months of World War I.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 505 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41942

14"/50 Mark IV gun


Being unloaded from USS West Hosokie (ID # 3695), at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 10 March 1919.
Photographed by Charles M. Clark, Ledger Art Service, Philadelphia.
This gun was part of the Naval Railway Battery in France during the final months of World War I.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41943

14"/50 Mark IV gun


Being unloaded from USS West Hosokie (ID # 3695), at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 10 March 1919.
Photographed by Charles M. Clark, Ledger Art Service, Philadelphia.
This gun was part of the Naval Railway Battery in France during the final months of World War I.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 475x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 41944

Gun Car Girder for a 14"/50 Naval Railway Gun


Being unloaded from USS West Hosokie (ID # 3695), at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 10 March 1919.
Photographed by Charles M. Clark, Ledger Art Service, Philadelphia.
This girder, with the number "300652" visible on its side,was part of the Naval Railway Battery in France during the final months of World War I.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 595 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 8 February 2004
New images added 18 February 2004