SS Maui

Last updated
MAUI starting maiden voyage.png
Maui steaming down San Francisco Bay start of her maiden voyage to Honolulu 7 April 1917. [1]
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Name
  • Maui
  • USS Maui
  • Maui
  • USAT Maui
NamesakeThe island of Maui in Hawaii (previous name retained)
Owner
  • Matson Navigation Company
  • United States War Department
Operator
  • Matson Navigation Company
  • United States Navy
  • Matson Navigation Company
  • United States Army
Builder Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California
Launched23 December 1916
Sponsored byMrs. William Matson [2]
Completed1917
Acquired(Navy) 6 March 1918
Commissioned(Navy) 6 March 1918
Decommissioned(Navy) September 1919
Maiden voyage7 April 1917 San Francisco to Honolulu [1]
FateScrapped 1948
Notes
General characteristics
Type Transport
Tonnage9,730 Gross register tons
Displacement17,430 tons at 30 ft (9.1 m) draft [3]
Length
  • 501 ft 2 in (152.8 m) length overall
  • 484 ft (147.5 m) between perpendiculars [3]
Beam58 ft (18 m) [3]
Draft30 ft 2 in (9.19 m)
Depth44 ft 9 in (13.6 m) molded to shelter deck [3]
Propulsion Steam engine
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Armament

SS Maui was built as a commercial passenger ship in 1916 for the Matson Navigation Company of San Francisco and served between the United States West Coast and Hawaii until acquired for World War I service by the United States Navy on 6 March 1918. The ship was commissioned USS Maui (ID-1514) serving as a troop transport from 1918 to 1919. The ship was returned to Matson for commercial service September 1919 and continued in commercial service until purchased by the United States Army in December 1941. USAT Maui was laid up by the Army in 1946 and scrapped in 1948.

Contents

Construction

Maui was built as the commercial passenger ship SS Maui in 1916 for the Matson Navigation Company of San Francisco by Union Iron Works at San Francisco, California, and launched on 23 December 1916 destined for the company's Hawaiian service. [5] Under the Postal Subsidy Act of 1891 the ship was built as a second class auxiliary cruiser. [2] At the time Maui was the largest passenger ship constructed on the Pacific Coast and the largest commercial installation of geared turbines. [1]

Characteristics

The hull was all steel construction with a double bottom, large hatches and cargo booms capable of handling up to 50 ton loads and four cargo ports on each side of the vessel. [3] A deep tank between #2 and #3 holds, extending to the lower deck, was provided for carriage of molasses or fuel oil with a dedicated pump for loading and unloading. [5] [1]

High and low pressure turbines for Maui. SS MAUI high and low pressure turbines 1917.png
High and low pressure turbines for Maui.

Propulsion was by two sets of single reduction type geared Westinghouse Parsons turbines of 5,000 shaft horse-power for each set, composed of two turbines of 2,500 hp each, for a total of 10,000 horse-power at full load that were provided with steam by eight oil fired Babcock & Wilcox water tube boilers. [6] Maui was the first large twin screw passenger ship with geared turbines with previous single screw installations being between 2,000 and 3,000 horsepower rating. [6] Each main propulsion unit was composed of a high and low pressure turbine and astern turbines developing 60% of the ahead power and, combined, designed for a speed of 16.5 knots (19.0 mph; 30.6 km/h) at propeller speed of 125 rpm under reduced boiler pressure and 129.5 at full pressure. [6] Total weight of propulsion machinery, located aft, was 146.32 tons. [6]

There was some uncertainty concerning the turbine teeth and surfaces as the delivery of engines had been rushed so that full testing in the factory had not taken place. [7] As a result, the lubricant for the first two voyages had been lard oil subsequently replaced with mineral oil with good performance until gear abrasion due to lubrication failure was determined after the eighth voyage in Honolulu. [7] The gears were transposed in San Francisco so that astern and forward surfaces were reversed and good surfaces were used for ahead turbines and lard oil was again used. [7] During the transit from San Francisco to New York after requisition by the government salt water entered the system due to an accident in an oil cooler causing the lard oil to go highly acidic requiring a complete overhaul in Baltimore where again abrasion to tooth surfaces was detected due to inferior oil and another failure of the oil cooling system; however, Maui made a round trip to Europe without gear trouble. [7] Despite these early problems the propulsion plant for Maui was proven so successful in both early commercial service and under demanding service with the Navy that similar Westinghouse propulsion plants were specified in the design of Matson's postwar ships Manulani and Manukai. [8]

Electric power was provided by two 30 kilowatt and one 50 kilowatt generators supplying 110-volt direct current. [6] Three ten ton Brunswick Refrigeration Company compressors chilled galley and pantry units and a large cluster of separate chill rooms for various classes of stores in a special gallery of 85 feet (25.9 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m) served by a handling room and a larger space for refrigerated cargo. [9]

Main dining salon of Matson liner Maui in 1917. MAUI main dining salon 1917.png
Main dining salon of Matson liner Maui in 1917.

Passenger accommodations were similar to the older Matsonia with a larger number of special staterooms with a capacity for 252 first class passengers in 64 three berth, 24 two berth and 12 single berth rooms. [2]

Passenger service

Sea trials were conducted 3 April 1917 and the new Matson liner departed San Francisco on maiden voyage to Honolulu on 7 April. [1] Maui became the flagship of the Matson fleet and, with Matsonia, accounted not only for passenger traffic between the mainland and Hawaii but 20,000 tons a month of cargo each way bringing goods from the mainland and returning with sugar and pineapples. [10] The sugar industry and islands received a "shock" with news announced in early June 1917 of a cable from President Matson concerning the fact the government would take over Maui for wartime service when she reached San Francisco on a voyage already underway and Matsonia as soon as she returned from the round trip. [10] Sugar stocks were already building up in the islands and loss of the two ships was of concern with hopes expressed that seized German ships might be put on the route. [10]

Government requisition

United States Shipping Board service

Maui was one of the vessels requisitioned for World War I service with the United States Shipping Board and, on the anniversary of her launch, on 23 December 1917 sailed through the Golden Gate for the Atlantic stopping at Tocopilla, Chile to load nitrates. [11] On 19 January 1918 the ship transited the Panama Canal arriving at Hampton Roads on 25 January awaiting orders which sent her to Charleston, South Carolina to unload the cargo. [12] From Charleston Maui sailed to Baltimore, arriving on 14 February, where on 2 March the ship was ordered into Naval service. [12]

United States Navy service

USS Maui in 1919. USS Maui (ID-1514).jpg
USS Maui in 1919.

As a Naval transport Maui transported United States Army troops and cargo to Europe on her outbound voyages and brought passengers and sick and wounded military personnel back to the United States on her return voyages until the end of the war in November 1918. After the war, she conducted voyages to bring American troops back to the United States for demobilization.

The U.S. Navy commissioned Maui on 6 March 1918 as the troop transport USS Maui (ID-1514), assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force, under the command of Lieutenant Commander W. F. M. Edwards (USNRF) who had been the ship's commercial captain on her last Hawaiian voyage and had automatically entered Naval service with acquisition of the ship. [4] [12] A number of the Matson officers and crew, also members of the reserve, remained with the ship in Naval service. [12] On March 17 Commander C. A. Abele (USN) assumed command with Edwards becoming the ship's navigator as regular Naval officers reported aboard in preparation for sailing on 2 April and arrival at Army Pier Number 4, Hoboken Port of Embarkation on 4 April where stores and ammunition were loaded in preparation for trials which began on 10 April. [13] On 15 April the first of 478 troops bound for France on the ship's first wartime voyage came aboard with sailing the next day to join a convoy led by USS Seattle but suffered loss of her port engine, found to be failure of the thrust bearing due to blockage in lubricant, and was ordered back to port where another mishap on 21 April cost the life of seaman second class C. F. Conway and near loss of rescuers. [14] [7] With some repair, Maui proceeded to sea later on 21 April and zig zagged unaccompanied using full power on her starboard engine and half on her port engine the ship rejoined the convoy on 28 April bound for Brest, France and completion of her first wartime crossing. [15] By the first anniversary of the ship's commissioning, 6 March 1919, she had made seven round trips to France and was tied up at Army Pier Number 1 at Hoboken. [16] On 3 October Edwards again took command and served throughout the war in that capacity with his rank advanced to Commander 13 May 1919. [17] Maui was in New York when the end of the war came 11 November 1918 and joined in the early morning (New York time) celebration of ship's whistles throughout the harbor. [18]

Maui was one of the first transports with returning troops after the war. Despite orders to sail 24 December, the ship was in New York for Christmas Day, sailing 26 December and celebrating the new year of 1919 at sea headed back to France for more homeward bound troops. [19] She arrived back in New York with harbor craft making a loud welcome and docking to a large Army band celebrating her New York arrival 25 January 1919 with 3,000 troops for demobilization through the New York Port of Embarkation. [20] [21] The next trip, made without cargo, began on 2 February and met a gale on 10 February caused damage to the ship and loss of four men; two overboard (Boatswain E. J. Rumph and Cxwain A. J. Rousseau) and two (First Officer Lt. J. Marmion & Seaman V. Lindgren) of injuries in a simultaneous accident in the damaged forecastle that also injured another five men. [22] On 4 May troops of 109th Infantry, an element of the 28th Division, were returned to Philadelphia where the city turned out and a regatta was planned; one disrupted when Maui demonstrated full speed upstream at 17.5 knots (20.1 mph; 32.4 km/h) leaving the welcoming boats behind and arriving an hour early. [21] [23] [note 1] Upon debarking troops Maui returned to Brest for more troops landing them for demobilization through the Newport News Port of Embarkation within twenty days. [21]

For some time the ship had been back under her merchant service officers and crew and by her tenth voyage had transported about 32,000 men to and from France with about 20,000 being men returned home. [24] [note 2] In September 1919 and again if February 1920 the ship had faced onboard influenza but in total, including the influenza, lost only four Army men during her transport service. [22]

On 13 September 1919 Maui departed Norfolk, Virginia with a load of government owned coal for San Francisco where she would be decommissioned and returned to Matson upon unloading. [4] [25]

Post war commercial service

Maui, probably in port at Honolulu ca. 1920. SS MAUI in post WW I commercial service ca 1920.png
Maui, probably in port at Honolulu ca. 1920.

By January 1920 Maui had been restored to commercial configuration and had made two trips to Hawaii on her regular schedule. [26] After renovation at Bethlehem Shipbuilding's Union Plant the ship departed for Honolulu on 5 May with full cargo and complete list of passengers for the first time since the war. [27]

Due to the difficult economic circumstances prevailing during the Great Depression, she was laid up at San Francisco in 1933. In 1934, Maui was converted into a cargo ship and returned to commercial operations. In November 1941 she was involved in a collision in San Francisco Bay.

United States Army Transport

On 3 December 1941, the United States Army purchased Maui for World War II service, converted her into a troop transport, and placed her in service as the United States Army Transport USAT Maui. [28] Maui was part of a particularly important convoy, Number 2033 escorted by USS New Orleans departing San Francisco on 12 February 1942 arriving at Brisbane, Australia on 5 March, that transported Army air units, planes and supplies to Australia to reinforce that area against Japanese advances in the Southwest Pacific. [29] She operated in the Pacific Ocean for the remainder of World War II, carrying personnel and cargo to Alaska, the South Pacific, the Southwest Pacific, the Philippines, and, after the end of the war in August 1945, to Japan. [4]

Maui completed her Army service in early 1946 and was transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal entering the reserve fleetat Olympia, Washington 30 August 1946 and totally stripped by 19 September 1947. [28] On 16 January 1948 the ship was sold to Zidell Ship Dismantling Company for $40,000 scrapped in 1948. [28]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Philadelphia in the World War, 1914–1919 on page 744 notes a second visit to the city by Maui on 18 August.
  2. ↑ The "Log" reference notes that the statistics were compiled before an eleventh trip was made.

Related Research Articles

SS <i>Yale</i> (1906) U.S. passenger steamship

SS Yale, a 3,731 gross ton coastal passenger steamship, was built by the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works in 1906, for service between New York and Boston. In March 1918 the U.S. Navy acquired her from the Pacific Steamship Company of Seattle, Washington, placing her in commission later in that month as USS Yale (ID-1672).

USS <i>Refuge</i> Hospital ship of the United States Navy

USS Refuge (AH-11), was a hospital ship of the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was built in 1921 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., of Camden, New Jersey, as SS Blue Hen State, but was renamed President Garfield in 1923 and then SS President Madison in 1940 for service with American President Lines. Acquired by the Navy from the War Shipping Administration on 11 April 1942 the ship was commissioned as the transport USS Kenmore until conversion to a hospital ship.

USS <i>Monadnock</i> (ACM-10) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Monadnock (ACM-10) was a coastal minelayer in the U.S. Navy, the third vessel named after Mount Monadnock, a solitary mountain (monadnock) of more than 3,100 feet in southern New Hampshire close to the border of Massachusetts. The ship was built as the cargo vessel Cavalier for the Philadelphia and Norfolk Steamship Company by Pusey and Jones Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware in 1938. The Navy purchased the ship 9 June 1941 for wartime use. After decommissioning the ship was sold in June 1947 for commercial use then sold to a Panamanian company in 1949 to be renamed Karukara. In 1952 the ship became Monte de la Esperanza for a company in Bilbao, Spain transporting bananas to the United Kingdom from the Canary Islands for more than 20 years. She was later sold to the Marine Institute of Spain for operation as a hospital ship for more than 10 years serving the fishing fleet of the Canary Islands as Esperanza del Mar until becoming an artificial reef off Spain in 2000.

USS <i>Miantonomah</i> (CMc-5)

USS Miantonomah (CM-10/CMc-5) was built as SS Quaker by Pusey & Jones Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware in 1938 as a commercial coastwise ship operating as a fast inland water passenger and freight carrier. Quaker was acquired by the Navy in May 1941 for conversion to a coastal minelayer. Miantonomah operated off the east coast of the United States, Africa and the Mediterranean and took part in the invasion of Europe in 1944. The ship was sunk by a mine 25 September 1944.

USS <i>Euryale</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Euryale (AS-22) was built as the Hawaiian Merchant by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey for the Matson Navigation Company. Hawaiian Merchant was launched 12 April 1941, minutes after sister ship Hawaiian Shipper, and was completed April 1941. Matson intended the ship to join Hawaiian Planter and Hawaiian Shipper in the U.S. Pacific Coast—Australia route. The ship was under United States Army Transportation Corps charter when the United States went to war and came under the control of the War Shipping Administration which allocated the ship to the Army's continued charter until the ship was purchased 15 April 1943 by the United States Navy and commissioned 2 December 1943 as USS Euryale (AS-22), serving as a submarine tender through the war. Euryale was decommissioned 7 October 1946, going into reserve until 9 August 1972 when she was delivered to the Maritime Administration with immediate sale to American Ship Dismantler, Inc. for disposal.

USS <i>Hugh L. Scott</i> US Passenger and Cargo Liner & Naval troopship

USS Hugh L. Scott (AP-43) was a Hugh L. Scott-class transport ship. She was built in 1921 and spent 20 years in merchant service as a passenger and cargo liner. In July 1941 the ship was delivered to the United States Department of War for Army service as the United States Army Transport Hugh L. Scott operating in the Pacific. In August 1942 the ship was transferred to the United States Navy for conversion to an attack transport, served as a troopship in Operation Torch in November 1942, and was sunk by a U-boat four days later. 59 crewmen and soldiers died during the sinking.

SS <i>President Cleveland</i> (1920) An American passenger vessel

SS President Cleveland was originally built as Golden State for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), one of the planned World War I troop transports converted before construction into passenger and cargo vessels launched as Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 ships first known, along with the smaller Design 1095 versions, in the trade as "State" ships due to names assigned for the nicknames of states and later as "535s" for their length overall. Almost all ships of both designs were renamed for United States presidents by May 1921, with Golden State being renamed President Cleveland. As one of the USSB-owned ships operated by agents of the board, President Cleveland was allocated to and operated by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company until sold by the USSB to the Dollar Steamship Line in 1925. After the demise of that line and creation of a new, replacement line, American President Lines, the ship remained with that line until government acquisition for the Second World War.

USS <i>George F. Elliott</i> (AP-13)

USS George F. Elliott (AP-13) was a Heywood-class transport acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I and then reacquired by the Navy for service as a troop carrier during World War II. In 1942, she was attacked off Guadalcanal by Japanese planes and sank shortly thereafter.

USS <i>Talamanca</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Talamanca (AF-15) was the United Fruit Company cargo and passenger liner Talamanca that served as a United States Navy Mizar-class stores ship in World War II.

SS <i>Great Northern</i> Passenger ship built in 1914

Great Northern was a passenger ship built at Philadelphia by William Cramp & Sons under supervision of the Great Northern Pacific Steam Ship Company for the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Company, itself a joint venture of the Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railway. Great Northern, along with sister ship Northern Pacific, were built to provide a passenger and freight link by sea between the northern transcontinental rail lines via the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway terminal at Astoria, Oregon and San Francisco beginning in spring of 1915.

USS <i>Leedstown</i> (AP-73)

USS Leedstown (AP-73), built as the Grace Line passenger and cargo ocean liner SS Santa Lucia, served as a United States Navy amphibious assault ship in World War II. The ship had first been turned over to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) and operated by Grace Line as the WSA agent from February to August 1942 in the Pacific. In August the ship, at New York, was turned over to the Navy under sub-bareboat charter from WSA. She was sunk 9 November 1942 off the Algerian coast by a German submarine after German bombers caused damage the day before.

USS <i>Henry T. Allen</i>

USS Henry T. Allen was a Harris class attack transport in service with the United States Army from 1940 to 1941. She was then transferred to the United States Navy where she served until 1946. She was scrapped in 1948. The ship was originally built as an Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 ship in 1919 and operated in commercial service as Wenatchee and President Jefferson until being laid up in 1938.

SS <i>Manchuria</i> (1903) Passenger and cargo liner

SS Manchuria was a passenger and cargo liner launched 1903 for the San Francisco-trans Pacific service of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. During World War I the ship was commissioned 25 April 1918–11 September 1919 for United States Navy service as USS Manchuria (ID-1633). After return to civilian service the ship was acquired by the Dollar Steamship Line in 1928 until that line suffered financial difficulties in 1938 and ownership of Manchuria was taken over by the United States Maritime Commission which chartered the ship to American President Lines which operated her as President Johnson. During World War II she operated as a War Shipping Administration transport with American President Lines its agent allocated to United States Army requirements. After World War II, she was returned to American President Lines, sold and renamed Santa Cruz. The liner was scrapped in Italy in 1952.

SS <i>Point Bonita</i>

SS Point Bonita was constructed in 1918 and launched 27 March 1918 after a hull being built for foreign owners at Albina Engine and Machine Works was requisitioned during World War I by the United States Shipping Board (USSB). The ship saw service as the Navy transport USS Point Bonita, assigned Identification Number 3496, from 7 October 1918 to 7 April 1919, was returned to the USSB and saw civilian service with several commercial companies as San Pedro and Oliver Olson before again seeing service in World War II as USS Camanga (AG-42). After return to commercial service as Oliver Olson the ship was wrecked at the entrance to Bandon harbor in Oregon.

USS <i>Floridian</i>

USS Floridian (ID-3875) was a United States Navy troop transport in commission in 1919.

SS <i>President Taylor</i>

President Taylor was a cargo-liner, ex President Polk, ex Granite State, requisitioned for war service in December 1941 and allocated by the War Shipping Administration (WSA) to the U.S. Army and operating as a troopship in the Pacific Ocean in World War II when grounded and eventually lost on 14 February 1942.

USAHS <i>Marigold</i> U.S. Army hospital ship

USAHS Marigold was a United States Army hospital ship during World War II. The ship was built as Old North State in 1920 for the United States Shipping Board as a civilian passenger/cargo liner. The ship changed ownership and operating companies several times with name changes to President Van Buren and President Fillmore before being acquired for military transport service in 1941. After government acquisition during World War II President Fillmore served as a War Shipping Administration troop transport before conversion to hospital ship service.

SS <i>President Taft</i> (1920) American ship

SS President Taft was launched as one of the "state" ships, Buckeye State, completed by the United States Shipping Board as cargo passenger ships after originally being laid down as troop transports. Buckeye State had been laid down as Bertrice but was converted and renamed before launching. Originally assigned to the Matson Navigation Company as the Shipping Board's agent, the ship was later renamed President Taft and assigned to Pacific Mail Steamship Company for operation. In 1925 the Shipping Board sold the ship to Dollar Steamship Company. President Taft was operated by Dollar and then its successor American President Lines until requisitioned by the War Department on 17 June 1941.

The Design 1095 ship was an Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC) design for a troop transport to be built at New York Shipbuilding Corporation and delivered to the United States Shipping Board (USSB) that, at the end of World War I hostilities, was modified to a combined passenger and cargo vessel. The contract was for thirteen ships, EFC hulls 2579 though 2591, but later adjusted to seven ships with the remainder being changed during construction to the slightly larger ships of EFC Design 1029 built from the start as passenger and cargo ships rather than being modified from the troop ship plan.

SS <i>Panama</i> (1939) American ship

SS Panama was laid down 25 October 1937 as hull number 1467, launched on 24 September 1938 and completed 22 April 1939 at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Quincy Massachusetts. The ship was given the official number 238343 and was owned and operated by the Panama Railroad Company. The ship was built for 202 single class passengers with a crew of 124. Panama was sister ship to USS Ancon and SS Cristobal.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Pacific Marine Review (May 1917), p. 78).
  2. 1 2 3 Pacific Marine Review (January 1917), p. 52.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Pacific Marine Review (January 1917), p. 50.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Maui (SP-1514).
  5. 1 2 Pacific Marine Review (January 1917), pp. 50–52.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Smith, Pacific Marine Review (March 1917), p. 39.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Marine Engineering (July 1920), p. 581.
  8. ↑ Marine Engineering (September 1921), p. 707.
  9. ↑ Pacific Marine Review (May 1917), p. 79).
  10. 1 2 3 Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer (June 1917), p. 409.
  11. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, p. 18.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Hennerich et al. 1919, p. 20.
  13. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, p. 24.
  14. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, pp. 26, 28.
  15. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, p. 28.
  16. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, p. 13.
  17. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, pp. 42, 85.
  18. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, p. 48.
  19. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, p. 55.
  20. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, p. 61.
  21. 1 2 3 Pacific Marine Review (September 1919), p. 114.
  22. 1 2 Hennerich et al. 1919, pp. 61–69.
  23. ↑ Philadelphia. War History Committee 1922, p. 45.
  24. ↑ Hennerich et al. 1919, pp. 87.
  25. ↑ Pacific Marine Review (October 1919), p. 124.
  26. ↑ Pacific Marine Review (January 1920).
  27. ↑ Pacific Marine Review (June 1920).
  28. 1 2 3 Maritime Administration Vessel Status Card: Maui.
  29. ↑ Williams 1960.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.