Name USS Californian Acquired 13 May 1918 Launched 12 May 1900 Builder Union Iron Works | Completed 1900 Commissioned 14 May 1918 Length 126 m | |
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Namesake A resident of California (previous name retained) Fate Sunk by naval mine 22 June 1918 | ||
USS Californian was a United States Navy cargo ship in commission in 1918.
SS Californian was launched on 12 May 1900 at San Francisco, California, by Union Iron Works and delivered later that year to the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company of New York City. After the United States entered World War I, the United States Shipping Board acquired Californian for war service and transferred her to the U.S. Navy on 13 May 1918. The Navy commissioned her as USS Californian on 14 May 1918 with Lieutenant Commander D. Malman, USNRF, in command.
Californian immediately loaded a cargo of coal, fuel oil, and general supplies for the American Expeditionary Force in France and departed on 31 May 1918 to join a convoy off New York City.
On 22 June 1918, while proceeding through the Bay of Biscay, Californian struck a naval mine. Although a gallant attempt was made to tow her to port, she sank later that day. Her crew abandoned ship in good order and was picked up by the patrol vessel USS Corsair (SP-159) without suffering any casualties.
Unlike most commercial ships commissioned into U.S. Navy service during World War I, Californian never received a naval registry Identification Number (Id. No.).