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: Army Ship Photo Archive

USAT David W. Branch

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Transport:
  • Laid down in 1915 as SS Ecuador at DeSchelde Koninklijke, Maalschappij, Flushing, Netherlands, for the Royal West Indian Mail Service, Amsterdam
  • Launched in 1915
  • Delivered in September 1915, to the Royal West Indian Mail Service
  • Sold in, January 1916 the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. of New York, reflagged United States
  • Sold in 1931 to Grace Line, renamed SS Santa Olivia
  • Sold in 1936 to Libby, McNeill & Libby, renamed SS David W. Branch
  • Acquired, 13 April 1942, by the War Shipping Administration, at Seattle from Libby, McNeill & Libby
  • Allocated to the War Department, 14 July 1942, as a sub bare bottom charter
  • Grounded and damaged in Alaskan waters, 1 January 1944
  • Transferred, 8 March 1946, to Alaska Packers Association, Seattle under a General Agency Agreement
  • Redelivered, 23 April 1946, to Libby, McNeill & Libby
  • Sold in August 1947 to Cia Victoria de Vapores of Panama, reflagged Panama, renamed SS Luxor
  • Sold in 1948 to the Zim Line, officially reflagged, Israel, and renamed SS Negbah 26 October 1948
  • Scrapped in December 1956
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,544 gross tons
    Length 395'
    Beam 49'
    Draft 24'9"
    Speed 14 kts.
    Complement
    Officers unknown
    Enlisted, unknown
    Passenger Capacity, 1,350
    Cargo Capacity 96,594 cf
    Cruise Radius 9,660 nm
    Propulsion
    one reciprocating steam engine
    single shaft 3,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service
    David W. Branch 54k The Royal West Indian Mail Service passenger liner SS Ecuador under way in 1915, location unknown. ssmaritime.com/ZIM.htm
    David W. Branch 50k The Grace Line passenger liner SS Santa Olivia under way in New York, Harbor, circa 1931-35. ssmaritime.com/ZIM.htm
    David W. Branch
    301303404    		 100k Libby, McNeill & Libby Passenger Steamer, SS David W. Branch, underway, circa 1936-1042, location unknown.
    University of Washington Libraries Special Collections    		 John Spivey
    David W. Branch 62k The Zim line passenger liner SS Negbah under way, circa 1948-56, location unknown. ssmaritime.com/ZIM.htm
    There is no history available for USAT David W. Branch at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    www.ssmaritime.com - Zim Line Navigation Company
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The US Army Ship Index Back To The US Army Transport Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 28 April 2023