SS President Harrison

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Kachidoki Maru
History
United States
Name
  • Wolverine State (1920–1922)
  • President Harrison (1922–1941)
Namesake
Owner
Operator
  • Pacific Mail Steamship Co.
    (1921–Jun 1922)
  • Los Angeles Steamship Co.
    (Oct 1922–Feb 1923)
  • Swayne & Hoyt (1923)
Port of registrySan Francisco
Ordered1 July 1918
BuilderNew York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden
Yard number248
Laid down13 May 1919
Launched16 September 1920
Sponsored byMrs. Edith W. Tweedale
Commissioned6 January 1921
Maiden voyage22 January 1921
Identification
FateRan aground, 8 December 1941
Empire of Japan
NameKachidoki Maru (勝鬨丸)
In service1942-1944
Identification5025
FateSunk by USS Pampanito, 12 September 1944
General characteristics
Type
Passenger-cargo ship
Tonnage
Length502.1 ft (153.0 m)
Beam62.2 ft (19.0 m)
Depth28.3 ft (8.6 m)
Installed power782
ihp
Propulsion
  • 2 x
    triple expansion
  • Twin screws
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)

Wolverine State was a

prisoners of war
of which 431 were killed.

Design and construction

After the United States entry into World War I, a large shipbuilding program was undertaken to restore and enhance shipping capabilities both of the United States and their Allies. As part of this program, EFC placed orders with nation's shipyards for a large number of vessels of standard designs. Design 1095 ship was originally conceived as a fast troop transport, subsequently modified into passenger and cargo vessel of approximately 13,000 deadweight tonnage after the end of hostilities.

Wolverine State was part of initial order for seven vessels placed by the USSB on 1 July 1918 with the New York Shipbuilding Corp. The ship was laid down at the shipbuilder's yard on 13 May 1919 (yard number 248) and launched on 16 September 1920, with Mrs. Edith W. Tweedale, wife of Alonzo Tweedale, controller for the USSB, being the sponsor.[1][2] While the vessel was primarily designed for cargo transportation, she also possessed first-class accommodations for 78 passengers. Wolverine State had three decks and also had weather decks constructed on top amidships. A dining hall, a smoking room and a social hall were built and made available for passenger entertainment.[3] The vessel was built on the transverse system of framing and had her hull subdivided into fourteen watertight compartments.[3] She also possessed all the modern machinery for quick loading and unloading of cargo from nine main hatches, including thirty two 6-ton and one 30-ton booms and twenty steam winches.[3] She also had two of her storage chambers totaling approximately 1,300 tons equipped with refrigerating machinery for transportation of perishable goods such as meat, fruits and vegetables.[3] The ship had electric lights in cabins and along the decks, had submarine signal system installed and was equipped with wireless apparatus.

As built, the ship was 502.1 feet (153.0 m) long (

triple expansion steam engines, with cylinders of 24-inch (61 cm), 40+1⁄2-inch (103 cm), 54-inch (140 cm) and 54-inch (140 cm) diameter with a 45-inch (110 cm) stroke, that drove two screw propellers and moved the ship at up to 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[5] The steam for the engines was supplied by six single-ended Scotch marine boilers
fitted for oil fuel.

The sea trials were held on 5 January 1921 in the Delaware Bay, off Cape Henlopen. The ship was able to achieve an average speed of 15 knots (28 km/h) over the measured mile, and top speed of 16.5 knots, exceeding her contract requirements.[6][7] After successful completion of sea trials, the ship was turned over to the Shipping Board representatives the next day.[8]

Operational history

Under USSB control

Upon delivery to her owners, Wolverine State was immediately allocated to the

Saigon.[12] The vessel departed Calcutta three weeks later with over 7,000 tons of oriental goods as well as exotic birds and monkeys, and reached San Francisco on May 28, successfully concluding her first trip in the Pacific.[13] She immediately sailed out on her second voyage. During the first night out from San Francisco, flames were observed coming out of the funnel. The steamer had to stop and after an investigation it was discovered that large number of 2x4 planks were left in the air space separating the inner and out linings of the funnel. It took approximately five to six hours to clear out the chimney, but the ship suffered no damage and was able to proceed on her journey.[14] While the vessel was still on her trip, rumors started appearing that the Shipping Board was going to discontinue the service to India as unprofitable.[15] Wolverine State returned home from her second trip in early September via Hawaii where she loaded part cargo of pineapples, hides and tallow.[16] Upon arrival, several members of her crew were arrested for an attempted smuggling of 48 quart bottles of whiskey.[17] Regardless of the rumors, Wolverine State departed for her third trip to India in mid-October, carrying among other cargo approximately 100,000 feet of cedar lumber, ordered by Japanese to make pencils, but believed by many to be used in production of airplanes.[18][19] On her return trip, one of the cylinders on her engines cracked and exploded, forcing the ship to reduce her speed significantly. After an 18-hour long struggle to repair the blown cylinder in super-heated environment, the crew managed to fix the problem Wolverine State managed to catch up on her lost time and reached her destination only three hours behind her scheduled arrival time on January 10, 1922.[20] After Wolverine State departed for her last voyage to India, the Shipping Board officially announced the removal of all three vessels from the route, although the Pacific Mail managed to retain two of the withdrawn steamers for a shorter route to Honolulu and the Philippines.[21][22] The Shipping Board also agreed to recondition and rebuilt both vessels to increase the number of steerage passengers to approximately 220.[23] The steamer arrived home from her last trip to India in mid-April with a cargo of consisting mostly of jute and gunny sacks in addition to 1,000 tons of rubber, and was subsequently put into drydock of Moore Shipbuilding Company for reconditioning.[24][25][26] At the same time USSB also decided to rename all of the big liners in honor of the United States presidents, with Wolverine State becoming President Harrison.[27]

The rebuilding work was finalized by June and President Harrison was scheduled to depart for Manila and Hong Kong, when USSB abruptly cancelled the route again citing lack of profitability.

Los Angeles Steamship Co. made an emergency request to the Shipping Board to provide them with a temporary replacement for the burned steamer City of Honolulu in order to maintain the schedule.[30] The ship left Los Angeles on the first trip on her new route on October 23 and reached Hawaii about a week later. In the meantime, USSB assigned President Harrison to Swayne & Hoyt to operate between the West Coast of the United States and ports on the east coast of South America. The transfer was delayed for several months to give Los Angeles Steamship Co. a chance to find and refit a suitable replacement steamer.[31] President Harrison departed Honolulu on November 4 with passengers and cargo consisting of typical Hawaiian exports, such as bananas and pineapples.[32] The Shipping Board then extended her lease with the Los Angeles Steamship Co. for four trips, and then for one extra trip in January 1923, before finally allocating the steamer to Swayne & Hoyt in early February.[33][34][35]

President Harrison was immediately put into service as part of the

President Harding set out on a journey to cross the country, visit Alaska Territory, travel south along the West Coast, then go by ship from San Diego through the Panama Canal to Puerto Rico. President Harrison was selected initially to serve as a vessel by which the President would undertake such travel. The ship's accommodations were to be refurbished and rebuilt in anticipation of important passenger, and all passenger reservations were preemptively cancelled to ensure the President would not be disturbed on his voyage. The company even went as far as switch the captains at sea to ensure the most experienced master was navigating the vessel.[39][40] However, about a month later this arrangement was cancelled and President Harrison instead went back to her usual duties, leaving on her second trip to South America in early August.[41]

While President Harrison was on her voyage,

drydock to apply finishing touches before her inaugural trip, scheduled for early January 1924.[45]

Dollar Steamship Co. (1924–1938)

The round-the-world service announced by the Dollar Steamship Co. envisioned biweekly departures by all seven vessels, allowing the passengers to leave one ship at any port and reboard a different vessel and continue their journey. The ships were to call at Honolulu,

James Rolph Jr., John Philip Sousa and Admiral Edward R. Simpson, to inaugurate the service.[48] The ship arrived at Boston on 25 March 1924 after 79 days long voyage, one day behind the schedule, to successfully complete the first leg of her inaugural trip.[49] President Harrison returned to California at the end of April, successfully completing her first round-the world voyage in approximately 110 days.[50] The vessel continued serving roughly the same route until the start of World War II. On her second trip President Harrison picked up a group of Siamese dancers and performers at Singapore and brought them to New York to perform at the Hippodrome.[51] During her third voyage, the ship was reported to be in distress while travelling in the Mediterranean, however, that soon turned out to be a mix-up and the vessel safely arrived at Boston in late February 1925.[52][53] On her next voyage, President Harrison carried home the body of Pancho Villa after he suddenly died during the operation.[54]

In October 1926 while the ship was off the Baja California coast, one of the passengers aboard the vessel fell seriously ill, prompting US Navy

Yangtze River. As a result of grounding, she sustained considerable damage to her bottom prompting passenger evacuation.[56][57] The steamer was refloated next day and was able to proceed to Shanghai under her own power where she entered the drydock for repairs. The grounding forced the Dollar Lines to adjust their schedules as it was learned the work on President Harrison would take several months to finalize.[58] It took almost two months to complete the repairs and the liner was finally able to leave Shanghai at the end of January 1927.[59]

In early January 1929 it was announced that the Dollar Steamship Company decided to upgrade and remodel several of their liners, including President Harrison at a total cost of approximately $2,000,000. It was planned to increase the number of available accommodations to about 150 and make general improvements to the cabins as well as addition of the covered promenade deck.[60][61] The contract for remodeling was awarded to the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and the work on President Harrison commenced soon after her arrival from her regular round-the-world trip.[62] It took more than two months to finish the upgrades, and President Harrison sailed out from Newport News on 29 April 1929 to resume her regular service.[63]

In the afternoon of 21 August 1929 President Harrison spotted a lifeboat carrying 13 survivors from old German steamer SS Quimistan near Sable Island. The second lifeboat with 13 more survivors, including the captain, was found an hour and a half later. Quimistan was on her last voyage from Norfolk to Genoa to be scrapped there, when she suddenly developed a leak in the afternoon of August 18. After several hours of trying unsuccessfully to stop the water, the crew was forced to abandon the ship in sinking condition in the early morning hours of August 19. Quimistan was spotted drifting and burning by steamer SS Yuma who reported her as a menace to navigation.[64][65] The entire crew was safely landed in New York on August 24, while Quimistan was never located and was presumed to sink soon after the crew left her.[66]

American President Lines (1938–1941)

President Harrison was

Hokkaido, Japan.[69] Japan salvaged and repaired the ship, renaming her Kakko Maru and later Kachidoki Maru.[68]

Kachidoki Maru (1942–1944)

The troopship was part of convoy HI-72, transporting some 950 Australian and British prisoners of war (POWs) and 1,095 Japanese from Singapore to Formosa (Taiwan). Another ship in the convoy was SS Rakuyō Maru with 1,317 Allied POWs on board.[68]

On the morning of 12 September 1944, the convoy was attacked in the Luzon Strait by a wolfpack consisting of three US submarines: Growler, Pampanito and Sealion. Rakuyō Maru was torpedoed by Sealion and sunk with 1,159 POWs killed.

Kachidoki Maru was torpedoed and sunk by Pampanito. Japanese destroyers rescued most Japanese and 520 British prisoners from Kachidoki Maru. 431 prisoners of war, 45 troops and 12 crewmen were killed. The survivors were transferred to Kibutsu Maru and taken to Japan.[70]

References

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  2. ^ "Wolverine State (2220952)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "502-Foot Passenger And Cargo Vessels". International Marine Engineering. Vol. XXV, no. 4. April 1920. pp. 265–267.
  4. ^ a b Merchant Vessels of the United States. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. 1923–1924. p. 90.
  5. ^ Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motorships. London: Lloyd's Register. 1924–1925.
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  43. ^ Eighth Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board. Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office. 1924. p. 97.
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  67. ^ Bucci, Amy (22 March 2012). "Are the Lost Peking Man Fossils Buried Under a Parking Lot in China?". Explorers Journal. National Geographic. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  68. ^ a b c "KACHIDOKI MARU Tabular Record of Movement". Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  69. ^ "usmm.org American Merchant Marine Prisoners of War during World War II". Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  70. ^ "Japanese Escorts". Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 2016-10-22.

External links

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