USS Eurana (SP-1594)

USS "Eurana" (SP-1594) was a cargo ship in the United States Navy during World War I. She was later named Alamar.

"Eurana" was built in 1916 by the Union Iron Works (later called Bethlehem Shipbuilding, owned by Bethlehem Steel) in San Francisco, California. The time period of construction was from January 1, 1916 to December 31, 1916. She was issued the hull number 120, and released to her new owner, the American South African Line, as a passenger freighter. The U.S. Navy acquired the Eurana on September 13, 1918, commissioning it the same day, with the command going to Lieutenant Commander J. Foster, USNRF. She operated for the Navy under the name USN "Eurana", with the Hull # SP 1594, as a Section Patrol Craft. From October 4, 1918 to September 14, 1919, she made 4 voyages from east coast ports to carry passengers and cargo for the Army Expeditionary Force and the Army of Occupation to La Pallice, Verdon, Bordeaux, St. Nazaire, and Brest, France. She was present in Brest on June 29, 1919 to honor President Woodrow Wilson leaving France in the USS "George Washington". "Eurana" was decommissioned from the US Navy on October 9, 1919 at Norfolk, and returned to the Army for transfer to her owner.

As "Alamar"

"Eurana"’s name was later changed to SS "Alamar", and was used in World War II. At Murmansk, on May 27, 1942, "Alamar" was hit by several aerial bombs on her afterdeck and set afire after Stukas (dive bombers) attacked for one and a half hours. Flames soared high from the high test gasoline stored topside. "Alamar" fell back from the other ships, out of control, nearly colliding with another injured ship. At 12:30 pm, both ships slipped beneath the water without losing any sailors. "Alamar" was scuttled.

On July 5, 1942, SS|Massmar, with survivors from "Alamar", hit a mine and was sunk. This also occurred at Murmansk. 23 of the "Alamar" crew survived.

Sources

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/shusn-no/spid1500.htm USN Ships by Hull Number]
* [http://pier70sf.org/history/shipsBuilt/ShipsBuiltAll.html Ships Built at Pier 70, San Francisco]
*navsource|12/171594|Eurana
* [http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:iOqAO5k08icJ:64.70.201.125/verify/1_Citations/nc_02_WW1_Navy-SUB.html+uss+eurana&hl=en Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross to Members of the US Navy]
* http://www.wastrust.com/pdf/western_ships_built_list.pdf