Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online:
Civilian Identification Numbered Ships Photo Archive

Easterner (ID 3331)



Civilian call sign (1919):
Love - Mike - Pup - Quack
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
World War I Victory Medal
Acquired Freighter:
  • Built by Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Kobe, Japan (YN 408)
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Completed for builder's account as freighter Seifuku Maru No. 20, March 1918
  • To US Shipping Board at San Francisco, as Easterner (ON 216793), 1918
  • Tranferred from US Shipping Board to the Navy, 12 November 1918
  • Commissioned USS Easterner (ID 3331) the same day
  • Decommissioned, struck from the Navy Register 14 May 1919
  • Returned to the United States Shipping Board
  • Sold by US Maritime Commission to J.D. Chandris, Piraeus, Grrece, renamed Mari Chandris, 1937
  • Damaged by German aircraft at Falmouth, England, 10 July 1940
  • Towed to bay near St. Mawes and scuttled by gunfire
  • Final disposition, later raised, beached and broken up by T.W. Ward
    Specifications:
    Hull Steel
    Displacement 5840 gross tons, 4497 net tons
    Length 385'
    Beam 51' 8"
    Draft 27' 1"
    Speed 10.5 knots
    Complement 70
    Armament
    unknown
    Propulsion
    one vertical triple expansion engine (26" - 43.5" - 72" x 48")
    two single ended boilers
    two shafts, 3000hp
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Easterner
    1217333101    		 56k In port, possibly on 29 August 1918, when she was inspected by the Twelfth Naval District. She is wearing pattern camouflage.
    Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 103542    		 NHHC
    Easterner
    1217333102    		 78k US Shipping Board cargo ship SS Eastener in port, late 1918. She is in First World War camouflage.
    National Archives photo 19-N-14832 via shipscribe.com    		 Robert Hurst
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Joseph Fuchs, USNRF12 November 1918 - ????
    Courtesy Dave Wright
    View the Easterner (ID 3331)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
    Back to the Main Photo Index Back to the Civilian Identification Numbered Ships (ID) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster
    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by David Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 28 February 2025