USS West Avenal (ID-3871)

USS "West Avenal" (ID-3871) was a cargo ship in the United States Navy during World War I. She had been built as SS "West Avenal" for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) as part of the "West" boats, a series of steel-hulled cargo ships built on the West Coast of the United States. "West Avenal" was launched in October 1918 by the Western Pipe and Steel Company of San Francisco, California, and delivered to the U.S. Navy when she was completed in February 1919. After she was commissioned and had taken on a load of flour, "West Avenal" sailed to Norfolk, Virginia, where she was decommissioned in early April.

Though little is available regarding "West Avenal"'s civilian career, she is known from contemporary news account to have visited ports in Spain, Italy, France, Brazil and Uruguay in the early 1920s. In January 1920, "West Avenal" was rammed by a British cargo ship in New York Harbor and was grounded to prevent her sinking. By late 1928, "West Avenal" had been abandoned by the USSB, and was scrapped in August 1929.

Design and construction

The "West" ships were cargo ships of similar size and design built by several shipyards on the West Coast of the United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) for emergency use during World War I. All were given names that began with the word "West", like "West Avenal",Crowell and Wilson, pp. 358–59.] one of some 15 "West" ships built by the Western Pipe and Steel Company of San Francisco, California.

"West Avenal" (Western Pipe and Steel No. 3) was launched on 13 October 1918, and delivered to the United States Navy upon completion on 1 February 1919. The ship was GRT|5,692|first=yes, and was convert|410|ft|5|in|m long (between perpendiculars) and convert|54|ft|m|1 abeam. "West Avenal" had a steel hull and a convert|29|ft|9|in|m|adj=on deep hold. She displaced 12,200 t, and had a deadweight tonnage of DWT|8,735. The ship had a single steam turbine that drove a single screw propeller, and moved the ship at a convert|10.5|knots|km/h|adj=on pace.

Career

USS "West Avenal" (ID-3871) was commissioned into the Navy on 1 February with Lieutenant Commander Franz Patterson, USNRF, in command. "West Avenal" took on an initial load of flour and departed San Francisco on 17 April for New York. cite journal | title = Marine Mishaps | journal = Shipping: A Weekly Journal of Marine Trades | year = 1919 | date = 1 March | volume = VI | issue = 9 | page = 47 | location = New York | publisher = Shipping Publishing Company | oclc = 8414304 ] She soon developed a steering gear problem and put in to San Diego for repairs. After getting underway again, she transited the Panama Canal and, cutting short her journey, arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on 4 April. There she was decommissioned the next day and returned to the USSB.

Little is known of "West Avenal"'s civilian career. A few mentions of the ship crop up in contemporary news accounts, hinting at wide-ranging travels. In August 1919, for example, "The New York Times" shows "West Avenal" slated for departure to Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 12 August. [cite news | title = Shipping and mails | work = The New York Times | date = 9 August 1919 | page = 19 ] The following January, the newspaper reported that "West Avenal" was rammed by the British Leyland Line cargo ship "Lacastrian". Departing New York in a dense fog on the morning of 9 January 1920 for Antwerp, "Lacastrian" rammed into the port side of "West Avenal", which was inbound with a load of onions from Valencia, Spain. The damage was severe enough that "West Avenal"'s captain ordered her grounded to avoid sinking in New York Harbor. [cite news | title = Ships collide in fog | work = The New York Times | date = 10 January 1920 | page = 19 ] More than two weeks later, "The Washington Post" printed a photograph of "West Avenal", still grounded off the Red Hook flats. [cite news | title = The S.S. West Avenal… | format = photo caption | work = The Washington Post | date = 25 January 1920 | page = 55 ] Another report in the "Times" a year later showed her arrival in Saint-Nazaire, France, on 13 August 1920. [cite news | title = Shipping and mails | work = The New York Times | date = 19 August 1920 | page = 19 ]

In January 1921, "The Atlanta Constitution" ran a travelogue of a local man who had sailed on "West Avenal" to South America in August 1919. During his travels, "West Avenal" had departed the U.S. on 27 August and called at Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Rio de Janeiro (where the ship arrived on 24 September)"West Avenal" arrived at Rio de Janeiro the same day King Albert and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium arrived there.] and Santos in Brazil; and Montevideo, Uruguay. [cite news | title = Atlantan writes of experiences in South America | work = The Atlanta Constitution | date = 5 January 1921 | page = 8 ] Another report in "The New York Times" the following year listed "West Avenal"'s arrival in Genoa, Italy, on 19 January 1921. [cite news | title = Shipping and mails | work = The New York Times | date = 27 January 1921 | page = 32 ]

By late 1928, the USSB had abandoned "West Avenal", and she was delivered to shipbreakers for disposal on 29 August 1929.

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