SS Sierra was a steamshiplaunched in 1900. It served as a passenger ship from 1900 to 1918, completing its 100th voyage between San Francisco and Honolulu in March 1914.[2] In 1918, during World War I, the United States Navy acquired the ship and it served as a troopship as the USS Sierra (ID-1634). It was decommissioned from naval service in 1919, and was later renamed SS Gdansk.
The steamer had a double bottom, watertight compartments, two sets of triple-expansion steam engines developing over 8,000 horsepower (6,000kW), and twin screws capable of driving the vessel over 17 knots (31km/h; 20mph). Sierra had a bilge keel and wireless equipment. The vessel had accommodations for first class, second class and "between decks" passengers. The ship was the first of a series of three to be built for the line with the others being Sonoma and Ventura.[3]
The vessel measured 416ft 0in (126.80m) long with a beam of 50ft 2in (15.29m), a mean draft of 24ft 0in (7.32m) and a depth of hold of 25ft 11in (7.90m).[4] The ship was assessed at 5,989gross register tons(GRT)[1] and had a normal displacement of 9,680 long tons (9,840t).[4][1] In United States Navy service, the ship was armed with four 6-inch (152mm) guns, two 1-pounder guns and two machine guns and had a complement of 284.[4]
Construction and career
Inside passenger list for departure from San Francisco, California, on 12 August 1911, of the Oceanic Steamship Co.'s steamer Sierra.
As a passenger ship
Sierra was constructed as a commercial passenger ship that was launched on 29 May 1900 by William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia for the Oceanic Steamship Company.[4][5] After entering service, the ship was assigned to the San Francisco to Australia service via Hawaii.[6] The ship was the first of a series of three to be built for the line with the others being Sonoma and Ventura.[3]Sierra made 40 visits to Honolulu in the Australian service. Captain H. C. Houdlette was in command of the vessel. In 1909, Sierra was overhauled for service between San Francisco and Honolulu. She took the place of the steamer Alameda.[2]Sierra operated between San Francisco and Honolulu on the line's John D. Spreckels & Bros. Co., service. Captain Houdlette, commanded Sierra and completed its 100th voyage between San Francisco and Honolulu on 2 March 1914.[7]Sierra was a favorite honeymoon ship for passengers wanting to travel from California to Honolulu, Hawaii.[8]
As a navy ship
The United States Navy acquired her from the John D. Spreckel Brothers Company on 27 May 1918 for use as a troop transport during World War I and assigned her the identification number 1634. After conversion work was complete, she was commissioned as USS Sierra (ID-1634) on 1 July 1918.[4]Sierra was assigned to transatlantic service upon commissioning, and she transported troops from the United States to France until the end of World War I on 11 November 1918. After the war, she engaged in the reverse process of bringing American troops home from Europe for another eleven months. Sierra was decommissioned on 1 October 1919. On the same day, her name was stricken from the Navy list and she was returned to her owners.[4]
Sale and later career
In 1934, Yuji Kimoto of Osaka, Japan, bought the ship from the Oceanic Steamship Company for the price of $59,500.[9][1] As SS Sierra, the ship returned to commercial passenger service. She was later renamed SS Gdansk.[1]
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San Francisco
United States
