SS Point Bonita

Last updated

S.S. Point Bonita.jpg
S.S. Point Bonita (American freighter, 1918) on a trial trip on 22 June 1918, near the yard of her builder, the Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon. This ship was in commission as USS Point Bonita (ID-3496) from October 1918 to April 1919
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Name
  • Point Bonita
  • San Pedro
  • Oliver Olson
  • Camanga
Namesake
Orderedby foreign owners, requisitioned by USSB 1918
Builder Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon
Laid down29 May 1917
Launched27 March 1918
Completeddelivered 24 June 1918
Acquiredby the Navy, 7 October 1918; reacquired 25 April 1942
Commissioned7 October 1918 as USS Point Bonita (ID-3496)
Decommissioned7 April 1919, at New York City
In service25 April 1942 as USS Camanga (AG-42)
Out of service10 December 1945, at San Francisco, California
Strickendate unknown
Homeport Nouméa
IdentificationUnited States Official number: 216512 [1]
FateRan aground 3 November 1953 at the tip of the south jetty at Bandon, Oregon, and subsequently made part of the jetty.
General characteristics
TypeCommercial cargo ship
Tonnage
Displacement5,200 tons [3]
Length300'
Beam44'
Draft21' 2"
Propulsiontriple expansion reciprocating steam engine, single screw, 1,470shp
Speed9 knots
Complement60 officers and enlisted
Armament

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.

Contents

Construction

The ship was built in 1918, by Albina Engine and Machine Works, Portland, Oregon as the yard's hull #3 being built for foreign owners with keel laid on 29 May 1917. [4] [5] The hull was requisitioned by the United States Shipping Board and launched 27 March 1918 as Point Bonita. The ship design later became the Emergency Fleet Corporation designated Design 1049. [1] [3] [4] The ship was delivered on 24 June 1918. [5]

World War I service

Point Bonita was acquired on 7 October 1918 by the Navy and commissioned the same date. The ship was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. The ship departed New York 19 October in convoy and arrived at Nantes on 7 November with a cargo of military supplies and high explosives. After unloading she departed 15 November for Brest to join a westbound convoy on 18 November arriving at New York 16 December. There she loaded a cargo for the USSB, picked up Navy coal at Norfolk and departed for Hawaii 8 January 1919 arriving at Pearl Harbor 7 February. Upon arrival back at New York Point Bonita decommissioned and was transferred to the USSB on 7 April 1919. [3]

Interwar civilian service

In 1920 Point Bonita was sold to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company where she was engaged in freight only trade between San Francisco and Baltimore with a call at New York. [3] [6]

World War II service

Oliver Olson was delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) 25 April 1942 from Oliver J. Olson & Company at Honolulu, Hawaii and delivered to the Navy the same day under a sub bareboat charter with WSA. [2]

Commissioned on the day of delivery under the command of Lieutenant R. M. Baughman, USNR as Camanga the ship was designated AG-42. [7] Illustrating graphically the need for all available shipping in meeting the Navy's enormous logistic assignment in the Pacific Ocean, Camanga, already 24 years old, sailed from Pearl Harbor 1 June 1942 for Pago Pago, Samoa, where she took up duty carrying cargo and fuel drums between the Samoan and Ellice Islands. [7]

After overhaul at San Francisco, California, between 30 March and 6 June 1943, Camanga returned to Nouméa for operations throughout the South Pacific Ocean. She continued this essential back-area support of fleet operations from Guadalcanal to the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago between April and October 1944, returning then to base at Nouméa. [7]

An overhaul at Auckland, New Zealand, from November 1944 to January 1945 was the only further interruption to her busy schedule in the New Caledonia area until 1 October 1945 when she cleared for the U.S. West Coast. [7] During this period Camanga was assigned to Service Force Pacific Fleet and under the command of Lieutenant F.A. Muller and Lieutenant Commander J. W. Baldwin. [8]

Camanga was decommissioned at San Francisco, California, 10 December 1945 and returned to the War Shipping Administration the same day. [7]

Wreck

Wreck of the Oliver Olson at Bandon, OR, South Jetty. Photo by Howard O. Wahlen spring 1954. Oliver Olson wreck at Brandon, OR. Photo by Howard O. Wahlen spring 1954..jpg
Wreck of the Oliver Olson at Bandon, OR, South Jetty. Photo by Howard O. Wahlen spring 1954.

After decommissioning, the ship was reacquired by the Oliver J. Olson Steamship Company. She returned to her former name, Oliver Olson, and was employed in the transportation of lumber. On 3 November 1953, she ran aground at the entrance to Bandon harbor in Oregon, becoming stuck on Coquille River's south jetty. [9] The 29 members of crew were rescued, but the ship was declared a total loss and offered for sale to the scrap industry. [10] The wreck was only partially salvaged, however, and what remained of the hull was eventually filled with rocks to form an extension of the jetty. [11] The ship can still be seen today at low tide.

Related Research Articles

SS <i>Absaroka</i>

SS Absaroka was a steamer, named after the Absaroka Range of mountains in Montana and Wyoming, completed in February 1918 for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) which briefly operated the ship. From 17 September 1918 to 4 March 1919 the ship was commissioned as USS Absaroka with the identification number IX-2581 in United States Navy and operated by the Naval Overseas Transportation Service.

USS <i>Neville</i>

USS Neville (AP-16/APA-9) was a Heywood-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1918 to 1919 and from 1940 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1957.

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>Majaba</i> (AG-43) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Majaba (AG-43/IX-102) was the Design 1049 cargo ship Meriden built in 1919 by the Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon. All the ships were requisitioned by the United States Shipping Board (USSB) for World War I service. The ship was bought by the E. K. Wood Lumber Co., of San Francisco, California in 1923 and renamed El Capitan. The ship was chartered by the U.S. Navy through the War Shipping Administration (WSA) in April 1942 and commissioned as Majaba.

USS <i>Tuluran</i> (AG-46) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Tuluran (AG-46) was under construction for the British at the Toledo Shipbuilding Company as the cargo ship War Bayonet in 1917 when requisitioned by the United States Shipping Board (USSB) for World War I service. The ship was launched and completed as Lake Superior. The Navy acquired the ship from the USSB with assignment to the Naval Overseas Transport Service (NOTS) with the identification number ID-2995. The ship was returned to the USSB which sold the vessel in 1926. The ship was renamed C. D. Johnston III and that vessel operated out of Oregon until again sold and based in San Francisco. Another sale resulted in the vessel being renamed Anna Shafer which was acquired by the War Shipping Administration (WSA) in 1942 and allocated to the Navy for World War II service.

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

USS Besboro (AG-66) was built as Caddopeak, a United States Shipping Board (USSB) Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1049 cargo ship built by Albina Engine & Machine Works, launched 18 October 1918. From 1922 Caddopeak served several commercial shipping companies until sold in 1937 to Burns Steamship Company and renamed Lurline Burns. On 2 February 1942 the ship was delivered to the War Shipping Administration, allocated to the United States Army and operated by Burns and Alaska Steamship Company under an Army charter agreement.

SS <i>Pennsylvanian</i> 1913 cargo ship

SS Pennsylvanian was a cargo ship built in 1913 for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company. During World War I she was requisitioned by the United States Navy and commissioned as USS Pennsylvanian (ID-3511) in September 1918, and renamed two months later to USS Scranton. After her naval service, her original name of Pennsylvanian was restored.

USS <i>West Alsek</i> (ID-3119) American cargo ship

USS West Alsek (ID-3119) was a cargo ship in the United States Navy during World War I. She had been built as SS West Alsek for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) as part of the West boats, cargo ships built on the West Coast of the United States. She sailed on two voyages for the U.S. Navy before she was decommissioned after the Armistice.

USS <i>West Apaum</i> (ID-3221) Cargo ship in the United States Navy

USS West Apaum (ID-3221) was a cargo ship in the United States Navy during World War I. She had been built as SS West Apaum 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.

USS <i>West Bridge</i> United States Navy cargo ship

USS West Bridge (ID-2888) was a Design 1013 cargo ship in the United States Navy during World War I. She was begun as War Topaz for the British Government but was completed as West Bridge. After being decommissioned from the Navy, the ship returned to civilian service as West Bridge, but was renamed Barbara Cates, and Pan Gulf over the course of her commercial career under American registry.

USS <i>West Carnifax</i> (ID-3812) Cargo ship in United states navy

USS West Carnifax (ID-3812) was a cargo ship in the United States Navy shortly after World War I. After she was decommissioned from the Navy, the ship was known as SS West Carnifax, SS Exford, and SS Pan Royal in civilian service under American registry.

MS <i>West Honaker</i> American diesel-powered cargo ship

MS West Honaker was a diesel-powered cargo ship of the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) that was part of the "Corncob Fleet" of old ships sunk as part of the "gooseberry" breakwater off Utah Beach during the Normandy invasion. The ship was originally built as SS West Honaker, a steam-powered cargo ship built for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), a predecessor of the USMC. At the time of her completion in 1920, the ship was inspected by the United States Navy for possible use as USS West Honaker (ID-4455) but was neither taken into the Navy nor ever commissioned under that name.

MS <i>West Grama</i> American cargo ship

MS West Grama, sometimes spelled as West Gramma, was a diesel-powered cargo ship of the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) that was sunk as part of the "gooseberry" breakwater off Utah Beach during the Normandy invasion. Prior to her diesel conversion, she was known as SS West Grama. In 1919, she was briefly taken up by the United States Navy under the name USS West Grama (ID-3794).

SS <i>Mauna Loa</i> American cargo ship

SS Mauna Loa was a steam-powered cargo ship of the Matson Navigation Company that was sunk in the bombing of Darwin in February 1942. She was christened SS West Conob in 1919 and renamed SS Golden Eagle in 1928. At the time of her completion in 1919, the ship was inspected by the United States Navy for possible use as USS West Conob (ID-4033) but was neither taken into the Navy nor commissioned.

USS <i>West Corum</i> (ID-3982) Cargo ship in United States Navy

USS West Corum (ID-3982) was a cargo ship for the United States Navy in 1919. The ship was built as SS West Corum and reverted to that name at the end of her Navy service. During World War II, the ship was United States Army transport ship USAT West Corum, later renamed to Will H. Point.

USS <i>Lake Arthur</i> (ID-2915) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

SS Lake Arthur (ID-2915) was a Design 1020 cargo ship that served in the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS) of the United States Navy during World War I. Originally ordered and begun under the name SS War Plum, she was renamed SS Lake Arthur by the United States Shipping Board (USSB). After her naval service, she operated commercially under a variety of names, before being scuttled in the North Sea with a load of chemical weapons in November 1945.

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.

SS Empire Chamois was a 5,864 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1918 by Ames Shipbuilding and Drydock Co, Seattle. She was ordered by the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique but was requisitioned by the United States Navy and commissioned as USS West Mount with the pennant number ID-3202 in 1918. She was decommissioned in May 1919 and passed to the United States Shipping Board (USSB) as SS Westmount. In 1927 she was sold to the Dimon Steamship Corporation and renamed SS Pacific Redwood. She returned to the USSB in 1932 and passed to the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) in 1937. In 1940, she was passed to the Ministry of Shipping, passing to the Ministry of War Transport in 1941 and being renamed SS Empire Chamois. She was sold to Astral Shipping Co Ltd in 1946 and renamed SS Granview. In 1949 she was sold to the Compagnia Maritime del Este, Panama and renamed SS Chamois, serving until 1958 when she was scrapped. She was the last Ames-built ship afloat.

SS <i>Harry Luckenbach</i>

The SS Harry Luckenbach, built as a cargo ship ordered by the Luckenbach Steamship Company and built at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. in Chester, Pennsylvania in 1919. The as yet unnamed ship was requisitioned by the United States Shipping Board (USSB) before completion and converted to a troop transport. The USSB allocated the ship, which had been fitted out with temporary troop accommodation in its cargo spaces, to the Navy which commissioned the ship on 7 July 1919 as USS Sol Navis with the Identification number 4031A. The ship was decommissioned October 1919 after two trips to France.

SS <i>Arcata</i> Ship built in Portland, Oregon, United States

SS Arcata, was built in 1919 as the SS Glymont for the United States Shipping Board as a merchant ship by the Albina Engine & Machine Works in Portland, Oregon. The 2,722-ton cargo ship Glymont was operated by the Matson Navigation till 1923 in post World War I work. In 1923 she was sold to Cook C. W. of San Francisco. In 1925 she was sold to Nelson Charles Company of San Francisco. In 1937 she was sold to Hammond Lumber Company of Fairhaven, California. For World War II, in 1941, she was converted to a US Army Troopship, USAT Arcata. She took supplies and troops to Guam. On July 14, 1942, she was attacked by Japanese submarine I-7 and sank. She was operating as a coastal resupply in the Gulf of Alaska, south of the Aleutian Islands at, approximately 165 nautical miles southeast of Sand Point, when she sank. She was returning after taking supplies to Army troops fighting in the Aleutian Islands campaign.

References

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.