176HULL NUMBER

Lake Elizabeth at Boston 03/19/1920 [HCGL] Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard in 1918. Hull 176 was launched December 12, 1917 as MASCOTTE (other sources cite MASCOT) for Norwegian interests (B. Peterson, Christiania) but was requisitioned by the US Shipping Board on August 8, 1918 who changed the name to a) LAKE ELIZABETH (US.216050). Dimensions: 261’6”loa, 253’kl-43’6”-22’6”: 2308 GRT, 1378 NRT. Powered by a 1,400 ihp triple expansion steam engine and two Scotch marine boilers. Entered service April, 1918. Operated by the US Shipping Board as an Army cargo transport ship equipped with one 3” gun. Requisitioned by the US Navy and commissioned September 26, 1918 at Brest, France as b) USS LAKE ELIZABETH (SP.2957). Operating out of Cardiff, Wales, USS LAKE ELIZABETH was assigned the coal run between British and French ports. After the Armistice, she carried Red Cross supplies to Mediterranean ports in France, , Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Rumania. She operated out of until June 24, 1919 when she returned to the United States and arrived at Norfolk, VA on July 12th. The vessel was decommissioned on July 25th and returned to the USSB the same day as c) LAKE ELIZABETH. Sold to Ford Motor Corp., in 1925 and was spotted in Lake Ontario on June 1, 1926 under tow of the Ford Shipping Board tug BUTTERCUP upbound for Detroit. She was scrapped by the Ford Motor Co. at River Rouge, MI which was completed late in 1926. This vessel could have been included with the following class of “Wars” but wasn’t because of its different intended contractor and nationality, though the circumstances and building design were the same. 177-193HULL NUMBER The next seventeen vessels built by the Great Lakes Engineering Works were laid down as the “War” class Ocean Freighters, which were basically similar to Frederikstad or three island types. These ships were ordered by the British Shipping Controller through Cunard Steamship Co. of , England to be used in Britain’s effort to survive WWI. The “War” class ship names were chosen by the British Government. When the United States entered the war, all undelivered vessels were requisitioned by the USSB under the Urgent Deficiencies Act of June 15, 1917 to support the United States’ involvement in WWI. The War class ships that were requisitioned were renamed after lakes found in the United States, such as LAKE ST. CLAIR. Some flexibility was given to the British under this act, initially, but when losses to U-Boats dramatically increased the act was strictly enforced. They were designed to carry general cargoes. These ships were 261’6”loa, 253’kl- 43’6”-22’6”; 2308 GRT, 1378 NRT, 3700 dwt. These vessels were powered by a 1,400 ihp triple expansion steam engine and two coal-fired Scotch marine boilers.

Lake St. Clair in “Dazzle” war paint [DC] HULL 177 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Keel laid down on September 10, 1917 as WAR GOBLIN. Launched December 12, 1917 as a) LAKE ST. CLAIR (US.216052). Entered service May 6, 1918. She operated as an Army cargo transport until acquired by the US Navy, who commissioned her on October 31, 1918 at Cardiff, Wales as b) USS LAKE ST. CLAIR (SP.2904). She was assigned to coal transport duty between British and French ports. USS LAKE ST. CLAIR was transferred to the US Food Administration on February 19, 1919 to transport food supplies from French ports to Rotterdam, Netherlands and Danzig, Poland until early August of that year. Returned to the US late August, 1919 and was decommissioned September 11, 1919 at Philadelphia, PA. c) LAKE ST. CLAIR was returned to her former name under USSB ownership the same day and laid idle at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Rouge Plant of the Ford Motor Company in 1925. Towed past Port Dalhousie on September 27, 1926 on her way to the Ford Plant where LAKE ST. CLAIR was scrapped in 1927. Lake St. Clair at the Ford Plant waiting to be scrapped 1926 [DC] HULL 178 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard. Laid down as WAR ELFIN. Launched December 20, 1917 as a) LAKE ST. REGIS (US.216185). Operated as an Army cargo transport until acquired by the US Navy and was commissioned on October 17, 1918 at Cardiff, Wales as b) USS LAKE ST. REGIS (ID-4261). The USS LAKE ST. REGIS was assigned to coal transport duty between British and French ports. She was transferred to the US Food Administration on February 13, 1919 to transport food supplies from French ports to Rotterdam, Netherlands and Danzig, Poland until May 31, 1919. Departed Cardiff July 5th and arrived at New York, NY on July 20th. Decommissioned July 26, 1919 at Williamsburg, NY and was returned to the USSB the same day under her old name c) LAKE ST. REGIS. This WWI Laker laid idle at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Ford Motor Company at Fordson (Ford’s Rouge Plant), MI in 1925. LAKE ST. REGIS was reported passing Port Dalhousie on September 1, 1925 bound for Ford’s Rouge Plant, where scrapping was completed in 1927. HULL 179 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Laid down as the WAR IMP. Launched January 10, 1918 as a) LAKE HOUGHTON (US.216051). Her career was brief for shortly after entering service in May, 1918 she was wrecked on Cranberry Island Ledges in the Cranberry Islands about three miles east of Canso, Lake St. Regis at Ashtabula awaiting completion 03/20/1918 [DC] NS on June 11, 1918 during Lake St. Regis at the Ford Plant scrap yard 1926 [DC] a voyage from Sydney, NS to Boston, MA loaded with coal from Sydney’s numerous coal mines. Salvage attempts were thwarted by a late June gale, forcing her to be abandoned as a total loss in July where she broke up due to wave action. Even her cargo of coal was lost as lightering was deemed impossible. There was no loss of life. HULL 180 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard. Laid down as WAR BUGLE. Launched February 2, 1918 as a) LAKE MAUREPAS (US.216184) and entered service in May, 1918. LAKE MAUREPAS, after only a few cargo trips, laid idle at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased on August 25, 1925 by the Ford Motor Co., Fordson, MI. Ford brought the vessel back to the Great Lakes passing Port Colborne on August 21, 1927 on her way to being scrapped at Ford’s Rouge Plant in 1928.

Lake Houghton moored next to Lake St. Clair in 1918 [DC] HULL 181 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard. Laid down as WAR DRUM. Launched March 9, 1918 as a) LAKE LOUISE (US.216406) and entered service in June, 1918. LAKE LOUISE was laid up at the end of the war until sold in 1925 to the Ford Motor Co., Fordson, MI who brought the vessel back to the Great Lakes and converted her to a barge as LAKE LOUISE. New tonnage: 2023 GRT, 1890

Lake Maurepas [DC] NRT. Ford operated her as such until requisitioned by the US War Shipping Administration, Washington, DC on October 2, 1942 and operated on the East coast. Purchased by the Seaways Transportation Corp., New York, NY in 1946 and renamed b) GORDON C. COOKE. Foundered April 22, 1947 (another source says April 12th) 20 miles off the coast of Maryland when she collided with another barge she was being towed with. The COOKE, loaded with gypsum rock, sank in 100 feet of water at 38°05’N x 74°49’W. HULL 182 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Laid down as WAR MUSIC. Launched February 16, 1918 as a) LAKE OWENS (US.216169). Her days were short lived after entering service in May, 1918. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel three miles off Trevose Head, the North coast of Cornwall, England on September 3, 1918 by Lake Louise [DC] the German submarine UB-125. Five lives were lost. Lake Louise as a barge [DC] HULL 183 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Laid down as WAR SATYR. Launched February 16, 1918 as a) LAKE WINONA (US.216170) and entered service in May, 1918. After only limited service, LAKE WINONA laid idle at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Rouge Plant in 1925. The surplus WWI Laker was towed past Port Colborne on June 27, 1927 bound for Ford’s Rouge Plant where she was dismantled later that year.

Lake Owens in “Dazzle” war paint [DC] HULL 184 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Laid down as WAR SPHINX. Launched March 21, 1918 as a) LAKE CRYSTAL (US.216168) and entered service in May, 1918. After seeing limited service, LAKE Lake Winona [DC] CRYSTAL laid up at Norfolk, VA until sold in 1925 to the Ford Motor Co., Fordson, MI who brought the vessel back to the Great Lakes and converted her to a barge as LAKE CRYSTAL in 1927. Ford operated her as such until requisitioned by the US Maritime Commission on October 23, 1942 when she again departed the Lakes operated by Cullen Transportation on the East coast. Owned, or managed by, Cullen Transportation Co. (Barge Lake Crystal Corp.), New York, NY in 1945. LAKE CRYSTAL foundered while under tow from New York to Boston MA with coal on February 14, 1946, three miles off Watch Hill, RI in 130 feet of water. HULL 185 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Laid down as WAR TRUMPET. Launched April 4, 1918 as a) LAKE ALLEN (US.216194) and entered service in May, 1918. After limited service that included trips to Colon, Panama on February 7th and Santa Cruz, CA on July 23rd, LAKE ALLEN laid up at New York in 1919 until sold on August 25, 1925 to the Ford Motor Co., Fordson, MI. Ford brought the vessel back

Lake Crystal as a barge [PW] Lake Allen [RR] to the Great Lakes in 1927 and converted her to a barge as LAKE ALLEN. Ford operated her as such until requisitioned by the US War Shipping Administration in October, 1942 and departed the Lakes. Reported lost by stranding after having broken her tow in a winter storm on December 3, 1942 twenty miles off the Nova Scotia coast, position 45° 19’N x 60° 21’W. (The 1946 US Merchant Vessels lists her as “lost by enemy action; location unknown.”) HULL 186 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard. Originally contracted as WAR CYMBAL. Launched April 20, 1918 as a) LAKE CHARLOTTE (US.216424) and entered service in June, 1918. LAKE CHARLOTTE arrived at Cardiff, Wales on August 27, 1918 with a load of Army equipment. Assigned to the US Navy at Cardiff on October 17, 1918 and commissioned the same day asb) USS LAKE CHARLOTTE (SP-4394). She was

Lake Allen as a Ford barge [HCGL] Lake Charlotte at Ashtabula 05/20/1918 [RR] manned by the Navy on a time charter under an Army account. LAKE CHARLOTTE sailed between British and French ports carrying coal and general cargo. She operated in European waters until August 8, 1919, when she departed Boulogne sur Mer, France for the United States and arrived at Philadelphia, PA on September 1st. Transferred to the US Shipping Board when decommissioned on September 25, 1919 returning to her original name c) LAKE CHARLOTTE. Laid idle at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until being purchased by the Ford Motor Company in 1925. She passed Port Dalhousie on July 5, 1927 in tow bound for Ford’s Rouge Plant where she was scrapped in 1927. HULL 187 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Laid down as WAR NAIAD. Launched April 20, 1918 as a) LAKE HEMLOCK (US.216261). LAKE HEMLOCK entered service in May, 1918. She laid idle at Norfolk, VA until sold in 1925 to the Ford Motor Company, Fordson, MI who brought the vessel back to the Great Lakes and converted her to a barge in 1928. Ford operated her with her given name until 1942. Like many of these WWI Lakers that survived until the 1940s, LAKE HEMLOCK was requisitioned in October, 1942 by the US War Shipping Administration with Cullen Transportation Co. as operators. LAKE CHARLOTTE was sold to Cullen Transportation Co. (Lake Hemlock Corp.), New York, NY in 1945 and again to the Tug New York Company, Philadelphia, PA in 1953. LAKE CHARLOTTE foundered six miles off Falkner’s Light in Long Island Sound on December 13, 1957 while in tow of the tug PEGGY SHERIDAN. HULL 188 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard. Originally contracted as WAR FAIRY. Launched May 27, 1918 as a) LAKE HARRIS (US.216646). Acquired by the US Navy and commissioned on August 7, 1918 at

Lake Hemlock at Port Weller on the Welland Canal 11/1945 [PW] Lake Harris at Ashtabula 05/27/1918 [HCGL] Montreal QC as b) USS LAKE HARRIS (ID-4429A). Operating as a coal transporter out of Cardiff, Wales, she made cross channel runs between British and French ports. On July 10, 1919 she departed European waters for Philadelphia, PA. Shortly there after she was decommissioned on September 5, 1919 and returned to the US Shipping Board as c) LAKE HARRIS. LAKE HARRIS laid idle at Norfolk in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased in 1925 by the Ford Motor Company’s River Rouge plant at Fordson, MI for dismantling. She was towed past Port Colborne on June 8, 1927 bound for Ford’s Rouge Plant where she was scrapped later that year.

Lake Harris in war camouflage paint scheme [DC] HULL 189 NO PHOTO Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Originally contracted as WAR CORNET. Launched May 9, 1918 as a) LAKEHURST (US.216262) and entered service in June, 1918. After seeing limited service, LAKEHURST laid idle at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet after the War until purchased by the Rouge Plant of the Ford Motor Company on August 25, 1925 where she was scrapped in 1927. HULL 190 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Originally contracted as WAR FLUTE. Launched May 22, 1918 as a) LAKE MARY (US.216481). LAKE MARY entered service in June, 1918. Acquired by the US Navy and commissioned as b) USS LAKE MARY (SP-4269) at Cardiff, Wales on November 29, 1918. Though Lake Mary at Boston 07/04/1920 [HCGL] the USS LAKE MARY saw no war action, she did transport coal out of Cardiff between British and French ports for three months. She was then assigned to the US Food Administration on February 6, 1919 to carry relief food to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Danzig, Poland and Newcastle, England. On July 3, 1919 she departed Wales for New York, NY and arrived there July 19th. The Laker was decommissioned on July 28, 1919 and was returned to the US Shipping Board as c) LAKE MARY. Having laid idle at Norfolk, VA in the vast lay-up fleet she was purchased by the Ford Motor Company in 1925. The vessel was towed through the Straits of Canso on August 4, 1927 bound for Ford’s Rouge Plant where LAKE MARY was scrapped later in 1927. HULL 191 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard. Originally contracted as WAR SPRITE for the British. Launched July 4, 1918 as a) LAKE PLEASANT (US.216738) for the USSB. LAKE PLEASANT entered service in August, 1918. Acquired by the US Navy on September 8, 1918 and was commissioned the same day at Montreal, QC as b) USS LAKE PLEASANT (SP-4429). USS LAKE PLEASANT departed Montreal on September 14th bound for Sydney, NS where she joined a convoy on the 22nd, scheduled for Brest, France, that arrived there on October 5, 1918. For the next seven months she operated as a coal transporter out of Cardiff, Wales on cross-channel runs between British and French ports. LAKE

PLEASANT departed Lake Pleasant launch Ashtabula 07/04/1918 [SMMC] Lake Pleasant [RR] Cardiff on June 14, 1919 with 1,092 tons on Army air service cargo bound for Norfolk, VA and arrived there on July 2nd. She was decommissioned on July 8, 1919 and was returned to the US Shipping Board under her previous name c) LAKE PLEASANT and laid up in the vast postwar reserve lay-up fleet. Purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI in 1925, brought back to the Great Lakes and laid up. Over the winter of 1929-30, she was converted to a barge and lengthened 63 feet. New dimensions: 324’6”loa, 316’kl-43’6”-22’6”: 2858 GRT, 1551 NRT. In 1943 LAKE PLESANT was requisitioned by the US War Shipping Administration in September, 1942 and departed the Great Lakes by tow down the Mississippi River. She was towed to the Alabama Dry Dock & Ship Building Co., Mobile, AL where she was repowered with a 1250 ihp triple expansion steam engine, originally from the car MAITLAND NO.1, and two 1929-built Scotch marine boilers. The conversion back to a powered steamer was completed in August, 1943 and returned to service under Lykes Bros. Steamship Co. for the duration of WWII until laid up in October, 1945. Sold Panamanian on September 19, 1946 to A.P. Anastassatos and renamed b) STAMO. Transferred to Cia. Punta Alta, S.A., Panama in 1947. Returned to A.P. Anastassatos of Cephalonia, Greece in 1950 and renamed c) ADRIATICA. On November 5, 1956, while sailing from Umba, USSR for Hull, England with timber, she became stranded south of Bodø off the coast of . In seriously damaged condition, she was refloated on November 30, 1956 and towed to shipyard at Harstad, Norway. ADRIATICA was found to be beyond economical repair and was towed to Bo’ness, Scotland on April 19, 1957 where she was broken up by P.&W. MacLellan, Ltd. HULL 192

Lake Pleasant as a barge towed by ex-Shipping Board tug Buttercup [PW] Lake Conesus [DC] Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Originally contracted as WAR GNOME. Launched June 13, 1918 as a) LAKE CONESUS (US.216501) for the USSB. LAKE CONESUS entered service in June, 1918. Acquired by the US Navy at Cardiff, Wales on November 14, 1918 and commissioned the same day asb) USS LAKE CONESUS (SP-4331). Operated on the coal runs out of Cardiff to French ports. After serving American forces in post-war Europe for ten months, she departed Penarth, Wales on September 13, 1919 bound for New York arriving there on September 29th. LAKE CONESUS was decommissioned on October 11, 1919 and was returned to the USSB as c) LAKE CONESUS. She laid idle at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until 1925 when she was purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Fordson, MI. LAKE CONESUS passed Grondines, QC on May 18, 1926 bound for the Ford Rouge Plant where she was scrapped late in 1926. HULL 193

Lake Conesus in the Ford slip being scrapped [WG] Lake Silver at Boston 04/25/1920 [DC] Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard. Originally contracted as WAR HARP by the British. Launched July 4, 1918 as a) LAKE SILVER (US.216570). LAKE SILVER entered service in August, 1918. Acquired by the US Navy at Montreal, QC on August 15, 1918 and commissioned the same day as b) USS LAKE SILVER (1918). The commissioned Laker departed Montreal on August 20, 1918 for Sydney, NS where she joined the September 5th convoy bound for Brest, France, that arrived there on the 19th of September. Assigned to the coal run out of Cardiff, Wales, she serviced French ports from Britain. On June 27, 1919 she departed Cardiff with 1,000 tons of Army cargo and arrived at New York on the 14th of July. She was decommissioned on July 21, 1919 and was returned to the US Shipping Board the same day. Returning to her original name c) LAKE SILVER, she laid idle at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Fordson, MI on August 25, 1925. LAKE SILVER passed Port Colborne August 6, 1927 in tow bound for Detroit. She was scrapped at the Ford Rouge Plant in late in 1927. 194-199HULL NUMBER The next six requisitioned vessels probably were intended to be “WAR” names, but were laid down as “LAKE” named vessels. These vessels were built on the GLEW 1042 design, a modified canal-sized Fredrickstad- like three island class design for hauling general cargo (sometimes referred to as a standard “Laker” B type). Clinchfield Navigation Co. (New York) ordered them initially for a contract price of $875,000, but well into the war, the United States was fully committed to supply ships under the USSB’s EFC for the US war effort. Dimensions: 261’6”loa, 253’kl-43’6”-22’6”; 2292 GRT, 1367 NRT, 3500 dwt; some with slight variations in tonnage. They were powered by a 1,250 ihp triple expansion steam engine and two coal-fired Scotch marine boilers. During the war, they were owned and managed by the USSB, Washington, DC.

Lake Janet in her war paint 08/09/1918 [DC]

HULL 194 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard in 1918. Launched July 4, 1918 as a) LAKE JANET (US.216569) and was delivered in August, 1918. After seeing limited service, LAKE JANET laid idle after the war at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Fordson, MI in 1925 for demolition. LAKE JANET stopped over at Halifax on her scrap tow and departed there on June 18, 1926 bound for dismantling at Ford’s Rouge Plant later that year. HULL 195 NO PHOTO Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard in 1918. Launched July 30, 1918 as a) LAKE MARION (US.216912) and was delivered in September, 1918. After seeing limited service, LAKE MARION laid idle after the war at New Orleans, LA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Fordson, MI in 1925 and scrapped at the Rouge Plant in 1927. LAKE MARION passed Long Point, Lake Erie in tow on June 18, 1926 bound for River Rouge (Fordson). HULL 196 NO PHOTO Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard in 1918. Launched July 4, 1918 as a) LAKE PEARL (US.216609) and was delivered in September, 1918. After seeing limited service, LAKE PEARL laid idle after the war at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Fordson, MI in 1925. After a brief layover, LAKE PEARL departed Halifax on August 20, 1926 under tow bound for the Ford’s River Rouge Plant where she was scrapped in 1927. Lake Gardner in her war paint [DC]

HULL 197 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard in 1918. Launched August 3, 1918 as a) LAKE GARDNER (US.216811) and was delivered in August, 1918. After seeing limited service, LAKE GARDNER laid idle after the war at Norfolk, VA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Fordson, MI in 1925. LAKE GARDNER passed upbound past Port Colborne on June 8, 1927 in tow to Ford’s River Rouge Plant where she was scrapped in 1927. HULL 198 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard in 1918. Launched August 24, 1918 as a) LAKE SANFORD (US.217086) and was delivered in October, 1918. After seeing limited service, LAKE SANFORD laid idle after the war at New Orleans, LA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Fordson, MI in 1925. Reported upbound in the St. Lawrence Seaway Lake Sanford at the Ford Plant scrap yard 1926 [DC] on July 1, 1926 bound for Ford’s Rouge Plant under tow where she was scrapped in 1927. HULL 199 NO PHOTO Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard in 1918. Launched August 24, 1918 as a) LAKEVILLE (US.216890) and was delivered in September, 1918. After seeing limited service, LAKEVILLE laid idle after the war at Philadelphia, PA in the vast postwar reserve fleet until purchased by the Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI in 1925. LAKEVILLE passed upbound in the Strait of Canso, between Cape Breton Island and mainland Nova Scotia on September 13, 1927 in tow for Ford’s River Rouge Plant where she was scrapped in 1927. The US Shipping Board let contracts for 346 ocean freighters of various designs to Great Lakes shipyards in total, of which 331 were actually built. The GLEW launched four of the next USSB/EFC contracted ships at the Ecorse yard and two at the Ashtabula yard. These GLEW design 1042, WWI Lakers were canal size of the three island type based on a modified and improved Frederikstad design to haul general cargo. The dimensions were: 261’6”loa, 253’6”kl-43’6”-22’6”: approximately 2270 GRT, 1363 NRT, 3350 dwt. Powered by a 1,250 ihp triple expansion steam engine built by GLEW and two Scotch marine boilers. These were the first vessels contracted directly between GLEW and the USSB without the intermediary step of requisition under USSB contract #SC 200 on March 5, 1918 resulting in them being assigned EFC hull numbers (1280-1285) in addition to the yard hull number. 200-205HULL NUMBER

Connersville at Ashtabula after launch 09/20/1918 [DC] HULL 200 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard. Keel laid July 8, 1918. Launched September 4, 1918 as a) CONNERSVILLE (US.217071) and was delivered in November, 1918. In 1927 the CONNERSVILLE was listed as “apparently under charter” by Madrigal Company and the same apparent charter in 1929 to G.C. Dodge. Sold Norwegian to A/S Skibsfart circa 1930 and renamed b) SPEC. Departed Glasgow, Scotland on February 14, 1935 bound for Boston, MA with coal. A last wireless radio message to Sable Island wireless station reported the ship to be in thick ice and a severe storm off the coast of Newfoundland. Nothing more was ever heard of her. Listed as missing at sea. Connersville in war paint at Ashtabula 11/1918 [DC] Connersville at Boston early 1920s [DC]

HULL 201 NO PHOTO Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard in 1918. Launched September 10, 1918 as a) CRAINCREEK (US.216948) and delivered in late September, 1918. Sold to Madrigal & Company, Manila, Philippines in 1927. Purchased by Skibs-A/S Lundegaard, Farsund, Norway in 1929 and renamed b) SPURT. The SPURT rescued the entire crew of the British vessel ALMA DAWSON which had struck an allied mine and sank off the west coast of Scotland in the Firth of Clyde on November 24, 1940. The SPURT took part in convoys in November 1940, September 1942, May, July and November in 1943. Sold Swedish to Rederi A/B Horn (J. P. von Horn), Stockholm and renamed c) JAGUAR (SW.8827) in 1946. Sold to Angf.-A/B/ Halfdan, Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden and renamed d) TABERG in 1947. TABERG stranded three miles west of Calais on December 15, 1952, in a snowstorm bound from Söderhamn to Calais with pulpwood. The stranded vessel was refloated on January 1, 1953, taken to Grays, England and arrived February, 20, 1953 for scrapping by T. W. Ward, Ltd., which was completed later that year. HULL 202 NO PHOTO Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard in 1918. Keel laid July 8, 1918. Launched September 21, 1918 as a) CRANENEST (US.217024) and delivered in October, 1918. As with most of these WWI Lakers, it is likely CRANENEST laid up in the postwar reserve fleet. Transferred to Madrigal & Company, Manila, Philippines in 1927, but remained in US registry. This vessel was sold to Joseph F. O’Boyle, New York in 1930, but returned to the US Shipping Board at New York in 1935. Title was transferred to the US Maritime Commission in 1937. CRANENEST was sold in 1938 to G.E. Marden (Wheelock& Co. Ltd), Malta under British registry (BR. 159773) operating out of Shanghai. Either sold to or confiscated by Japan being assigned to Kokoku Kisen KK, Kobe and renamed b) JUZAN MARU (J.44833) in 1938 (Also known as ZYUZAN MARU). Later assigned to the Japanese Navy as JUZAN MARU (I-GO). Torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine USS FINBACK on December 16, 1944 (another source lists the date as December 26) 75 miles northwest of Chichi Jima Islands about 280 miles southeast of Tokyo (27.35°N-141.35°E). JUZAN MARU had been bound from Tateyama, Japan (on Tokyo Bay) for Chichi Jima Island, where an important Japanese radio installation was located Crathorne at Ashtabula 10/21/1918 [RR] HULL 203 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ashtabula yard in 1918. Launched October 7, 1918 as a) CRATHORNE (US.217189) and delivered in November, 1918. Sold to the Peterson Steamship Company, Frankfort, MI in 1926 and renamed b) FRANK J. PETERSON returning to the Great Lakes for operation. The PETERSON was sold to the Saginaw Dock & Terminal Company, Detroit, MI (an Oglebay Norton Company) in 1936. The PETERSON became stranded on St. Helena Island in Lake Michigan during the “Armistice Day Storm” of November 11, 1940. The PETERSON was released the following spring. Renamed c) ATLANTIC TRADER in 1941 and chartered for ocean service during WWII from late1941 to 1946 by the States Marine Corporation, New York, NY. Sold Chinese late in 1945 to Foo Shing (or Foo Shin) Steamship Company, Ltd., Shanghai, China and renamed d) HSIN FOO SHIN. Renamed e) TAI YUN in 1949. Sold Panamanian later in 1949 to Far Eastern & Panama Transport Company and renamed f) MINA. Transferred to the Northwind Navigation Company, Panama in 1958 and renamed g) NORTHWIND. Arrived at Hong Kong, China on January 18, 1961 to be scrapped there.

Frank J. Peterson [DC] Atlantic Trader at Port Huron in 1941 [DC]

HULL 204 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard in 1918. Launched July 27, 1918 as a) CRAWL KEYS (US.216727) and delivered on August 25, 1918. By this time the shipyards around the Lakes were in a high state of production and were launching ships at a very fast pace. This was true at GLEW, as well. The CRAWL KEYS was launched at a record breaking fourteen working days after laying her keel on July 11th and was delivered to the US Shipping Board in the record time of twenty-nine working days. A sign was hung from her bridge wing saying; “I AM 29 DAYS OLD, LOOK ME OVER.” She saw limited service due to her late entry into the war. Laid up for the USSB in reserve, she was sold to Joseph Boyle of New York, NY late in 1929 for use in the East Coast coastal trade. The depression years took their toll so the CRAWL KEYS was sold back to the USSB at the US Marshall’s sale in 1934. Records show that the CRAWL KEYS was sold to G.E. Marden, Shanghai, China in 1937 and brought into British registry. In 1938 she was confiscated by the Japanese during the China-Japan war operated by Kokoku Kisen K.K., Kobe, Japan and renamed b) KEIZAN MARU (J.44610). The KEIZAN MARU was torpedoed and sunk by the American submarine US KETE SS-369 on March 10, 1945 in the East China Sea at position 29°31N” x 127°55”E. The KETE went missing shortly after with all 87 hands on March 19 or 20, 1945, probably a victim of an enemy submarine, en route to Midway Island and home to Pearl Harbor.

Crawl Keys launch 07/27/1918 [SMMC] Crawl Keys 08/15/1918 Note sign below bridge wing, “I AM 29 DAYS OLD LOOK ME OVER” [KK]

HULL 205 Lake-built Ocean Freighter built at the Ecorse yard in 1918. Keel laid July 8, 1918. Launched September 26, 1918 as a) CRAYCROFT (US.217055) and was delivered to the East coast in October, 1918. Sold out of the postwar Norfolk, VA reserve fleet for $42,000 to Captain John J. Roen who returned the CRAYCROFT to the Lakes in 1927 when the vessel was fitted with two 30 ton cranes and renamed b) FRED W. GREEN. The GREEN was transferred at this time to Northwestern Sand & Gravel Co (a John Roen Partnership Company) at his home town of Charlevoix, MI. Fitted with a conveyor and 100 foot long port side mounted, self-unloading boom over the 1928-29 winter at Charlevoix. Now the GREEN was engaged in clamming gravel from lake bottoms or hauling such from gravel quarries near Sturgeon Bay and discharging with her boom for breakwaters or for highway projects around the Great Lakes. Roen moved their company to Sturgeon Bay, WI in 1932, where it was incorporated as the Northwestern Co. on July 7th. The vessel was requisitioned by the US Maritime Commission, Washington, DC in 1941 for a price of $220,000 and departed Sturgeon Bay on November 12, 1941 for off- Lakes service. Transferred to the Ministry of War Transport, London, England (Furness, Withy & Company, Liverpool, managers) under British registry (BR.168262) in 1941 and had her boom removed over the 1941-42 winter at New York. On a voyage from New York Craycroft being given war paint Ecorse 10/1918 [DC] and Bermuda to Freetown, West Africa (Sierra Leon) on May 31, 1942 the GREEN, loaded with ammonia, trucks, and military construction equipment, was shelled and sunk by the German sub U-506 at a position 30.20°N x 62.00°W about 200 miles east of Bermuda. Nine crew members including her captain were lost. Thirty-six crew members were rescued by the US destroyer USS Ludlow. Fred W. Green upbound in the Weitzel Lock at the Soo [PW]

Fred W. Green [RR]

Fred W. Green after hitting breakwall at Muskegon 11/24/1936 [RR]