USS Zaanland (ID-2746)

USS "Zaanland" (Id. No. 2746) was a cargo ship that served in the United States Navy in 1918.

SS "Zaanland" was a steel-hulled, single-screw cargo vessel completed in 1900 at Port Glasgow, Scotland, by Russell and Company. The Royal Dutch Lloyd line owned her at the outbreak of World War I. The ship sought security at Hampton Roads, Virginia, lest, at sea, she fall prey to warships of the Royal Navy

On 20 March 1918, "Zaanland" was seized at Newport News, Virginia, by the United States Government under the right of angary, which allowed a belligerent power to use the property of a neutral nation if necessary, subject to full indemnification. She was acquired by the United States Navy for use by the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS) on 25 March 1918, the cargo ship was assigned the identification number (Id. No.) 2746 and commissioned as USS "Zaanland" at Hampton Roads on 29 March 1918, Lieutenant Commander Daniel Brown, USNRF, in command.

"Zaanland" was repaired and fitted out at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, before sailing for the Gulf of Mexico on 4 April 1918. Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, on 11 April 1918, she simultaneously underwent further repairs and conversion work and loaded 4,946 tons of general cargo consigned by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. She departed New Orleans on 20 April 1918 and arrived back at Hampton Roads on 25 April 1918.

"Zaanland" sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on 30 April 1918, in Convoy HN-67, bound for La Pallice, France. During the voyage, in a heavy mist at 2026 hours on 12 May 1918, she apparently suffered a rudder casualty and was rammed by the tanker USS "Hisko" (ID-1953). The collision tore a jagged, 15-foot hole in the cargo ship's starboard side, amidships between her bridge and fireroom. "Zaanland" soon assumed a heavy list and began to sink by the bow. At 2040 hours, all hands were called topside as boats were launched. Within an hour, all of "Zaanland"'s crew were safely aboard the United States Army-chartered Munson Steampship Lines cargo ship SS "Munalbro", which later in 1918 would be commissioned into the U.S. Navy as USS "Munalbro".

Although settling deeper in the water with each passing hour, "Zaanland" remained afloat into the next day. At 0400 hours on 13 May 1918, Lieutenant Commander Brown reboarded "Zaanland" and inspected the ship. He found that there was no hope of towing the vessel to port and predicted that she probably would sink within a few hours. His observation proved to be correct, for "Zaanland" sank, bow first, at 0710 hours on 13 May 1918.

"Munalbro", while endeavoring to overtake the convoy, soon met SS "Minnesota" en route, and transferred "Zaanland"'s crew to the west-bound vessel for passage back to the United States.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-xz/zaanland.htm Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center: Online Library of Selected
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