USSWest Zula

SSWest Zulaunderway ca. September 1918, probably during herbuilder's trials,and prior to her acquisition by theUnited States Navyfor service as USSWest Zula(ID-3501). She is painted indazzle camouflage.
History
United States
Name	USSWest Zula
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Company,San Pedro, Los Angeles
Launched	4 July 1918
Completed	September 1918
Acquired	26 September 1918
Commissioned	26 September 1918
Decommissioned	24 February 1919
Stricken	24 February 1919
Fate	Transferred toUnited States Shipping Board24 February 1919 In reserve 1919–1933 Abandoned 1933, scrapped 1937
General characteristics
Type	Design 1013 ship(cargo ship)
Tonnage	6,000Gross register tons
Displacement	12,287tons
Length	423 ft 9 in (129.16 m)
Beam	54 ft (16 m)
Draft	24 ft 2 in (7.37 m)
Propulsion	Steam engine
Speed	10.5knots
Complement	71
Armament	None

SSWest Zulain port ca. September 1918, probably at the time of her completion by theLos Angeles Shipbuilding and Dry Dock CompanyofSan Pedro, Los Angeles,and prior to her acquisition by theUnited States Navyfor service as USSWest Zula(ID-3501). She is painted indazzle camouflage.

USSWest Zula(ID-3501)was aUnited States Navycargo shipin commission from 1918 to 1919.

Construction, acquisition, and commissioning

West Zulawas built as the commercial cargo ship SSWest Zulaby theLos Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock CompanyatSan Pedro, Los Angeles,for theUnited States Shipping Board.Launchedon 4 July 1918, she was completed in September 1918, and the U.S. Navy acquired her from the Shipping Board on 26 September 1918. Assigned the naval registry identification number 3501, she wascommissionedthat day as USSWest Zula(ID-3501) atSan Pedro,California.

Operational history

Assigned to theNaval Overseas Transportation Service,West Zulaconductedsea trialsand then departed forChile.She loaded a cargo ofguanoatArica,Chile, got underway on 22 November 1918, and proceeded via thePanama CanaltowardNew York City.After passing through the canal, however, she was re-routed toJacksonville, Florida,where she unloaded her cargo ofnitratesbefore steaming on toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania,for repairs which lasted until the end of January 1919.

Shifting to New York City on 31 January 1919,West Zulaunderwent further repairs there before she wasdecommissionedon 24 February 1919. She was returned to the Shipping Board that day and simultaneously stricken from theNavy List.

Once again SSWest Zula,she was berthed in the Shipping Board'sreserve fleetatNorfolk, Virginia.While she was laid up there, she deteriorated until she was abandoned in 1933.

References

• This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.The entry can be foundhere.
• Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: S.S.West Zula(American Freighter, 1918). Served as USSWest Zula(ID # 3501) in 1918–1919
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: West Zula (ID 3501)