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Identification Numbered Vessel Photo Archive

Sagua (ID 1627)



Civilian call sign (1919):
Love - George - Quack - Vice
Refrigerated Freighter:

  • Built in 1914 as Van der Duyn by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
  • Acquired by the Navy 9 August 1918
  • Commissioned USS Sagua (ID 1627), 12 August 1918
  • Decommissioned 19 May 1919 and returned to the United States Shipping Board for return to her owner, the Siberia Steamship Corp. of Erie Basin, Brooklyn, NY
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 6,000 t.
  • Length 345'
  • Beam 45'
  • Draft 21' 1"
  • Speed 11.5 kts.
  • Complement 81
  • Propulsion: Three single ended boilers, one 1,750hp vertical triple expansion steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Sagua 78k In port on a snowy day, circa winter 1918-1919. Barge Lehigh Valley 500 is in the foreground
    U.S. Navy photo NH 102253    		 Naval Historical Center
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Ned A. Port, USN1918 - 1919
    02LCDR Albert Prince Spaulding, Jr., USNRF1919
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Sagua (No. 1627) was built in 1914 by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England and served the Siberia Steamship Corp., Erie Basin Brooklyn, N.Y., before being taken over by the Navy on a bare-boat basis for the Army account on 9 August 1918, and commissioned at New York on 12 August 1918.

    Following refitting and refurnishing, the refrigerator ship was assigned to NOTS and sailed in convoy on 17 August for France with a cargo of beef and automobiles, arriving at Rochefort on 3 September. She proceeded on to St. Nazaire where she discharged her cargo; got underway on 14 September for the United States, and returned to New York on the 27th. Eight days later, she was again headed for France with a cargo of beef, arriving at St. Nazaire on the 29th. After 10 more days, she sailed for home, which she reached on 14 November.

    Following a period in dry dock, Sagua again loaded beef; and, on 4 December, stood out from New York for Quiberon and St. Nazaire. Reaching the French coast, she discharged her cargo, loaded Army cargo and sailed New Year's Day 1919 for the United States, arriving at New York on the 15th. A fortnight later, she was off again with a cargo of beef for le Verdon where she unloaded on 13 February. After 10 days, she set course for New York, which she reached on 10 March.

    On 31 March, Sagua began her fifth and last voyage to Europe. With a cargo of beef, she reached The Hook of Holland on 5 April, then shifted to Plymouth, England, whence she departed on the 16th, and arrived at New York on the 28th.

    Sagua was placed out of commission on 19 May 1919 and simultaneously was returned to the Shipping Board and her original owner.

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