In September 1917 Munalbro was chartered by the United States Army, and by December 1917 she had been armed. On 12 May 1918 she was in a convoy on a crossing from New York City to Plymouth, England, when the U.S. Navy cargo ship USS Zaanland (ID-2746) suffered a rudder casualty that evening, went off course, and was rammed by the U.S. Navy tankerUSS Hisko (ID-1953). While the convoy continued on its way, Munalbro stood by the mortally damaged Zaanland—which sank the next morning—and took off her crew. Munalbro then set off to catch up with the convoy. Along the way she encountered the westward-bound merchant ship SS Minnesota and transferred the crew of Zaanland to Minnesota for transportation back to the United States.
The U.S. Navy acquired Munalbro from Munson Steamship Line for World War I service as a cargo ship on 17 September 1918 and commissioned her as USS Munalbro at Newport News the same day. Unlike many of the former merchant ships the Navy acquired in 1917 and 1918 for use in the war, Munalbro did not receive a Navy identification number (Id. No.).
Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS), Munalbro joined a convoy at New York City bound for Europe on 26 September 1918. She arrived at La Pallice, France, on 13 October 1918 to discharge part of her U.S. Army general cargo and continued on to St. Nazaire, Nantes, and Quiberon. She departed Quiberon 1 November 1918 for the United States East Coast and arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on 22 November 1918. On 12 December 1918 Munalbro made a second crossing to Quiberon, where she arrived in January 1919, again carrying general U.S. Army supplies. In February 1919 she departed Nantes with another U.S. Army cargo, returning to New York on 1 March 1919.
On 21 March 1919 Munalbrodecommissioned and was delivered to the United States Shipping Board for simultaneous return to Munson Steamship Line. She returned to mercantile service as SS Munalbro. Boston enterprise Eastern Gas And Fuel purchased the steamship, and in 1936 her name was changed to SS James L. Richards on behalf of longtime EG&F director James Lorin Richards. Her subsequent commercial service extended for three and a half decades and she was scrapped in 1954.
Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center: Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: S.S. Munalbro (American Collier, 1916). Served as USS Munalbro (no ID #) in 1918-1919. Later S.S. James L. Richards
munalbro, cargo, ship, that, served, united, states, navy, from, 1918, 1919, collier, munalbro, shortly, after, completion, 1916, historyunited, statesnamenamesakeprevious, name, retainedbuildernewport, news, shipbuilding, drydock, company, newport, news, virg. USS Munalbro was a cargo ship that served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1919 Collier SS Munalbro shortly after completion in 1916 HistoryUnited StatesNameUSS MunalbroNamesakePrevious name retainedBuilderNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Newport News VirginiaLaunched6 May 1916Completed1916Acquired17 September 1918Commissioned17 September 1918Decommissioned21 March 1919FateReturned to owners 1919 scrapped 1954NotesIn commercial service as SS Munalbro 1916 1918 and 1919 1936 and as SS James L Richards 1936 1954General characteristicsTypeCargo shipTonnage4 293 Gross register tonsDisplacement9 220 tonsLength375 ft 114 m Beam49 ft 0 in 14 94 m Draft25 ft 0 in 7 62 m Depth26 ft 11 in 8 20 m PropulsionSteam engineSpeed10 knotsComplement53Armament2 3 inch 76 2 millimeter gunsMunalbro was built as a collier by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Newport News Virginia in 1916 and went into commercial service with Munson Steamship Line as SS Munalbro In September 1917 Munalbro was chartered by the United States Army and by December 1917 she had been armed On 12 May 1918 she was in a convoy on a crossing from New York City to Plymouth England when the U S Navy cargo ship USS Zaanland ID 2746 suffered a rudder casualty that evening went off course and was rammed by the U S Navy tanker USS Hisko ID 1953 While the convoy continued on its way Munalbro stood by the mortally damaged Zaanland which sank the next morning and took off her crew Munalbro then set off to catch up with the convoy Along the way she encountered the westward bound merchant ship SS Minnesota and transferred the crew of Zaanland to Minnesota for transportation back to the United States The U S Navy acquired Munalbro from Munson Steamship Line for World War I service as a cargo ship on 17 September 1918 and commissioned her as USS Munalbro at Newport News the same day Unlike many of the former merchant ships the Navy acquired in 1917 and 1918 for use in the war Munalbro did not receive a Navy identification number Id No Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service NOTS Munalbro joined a convoy at New York City bound for Europe on 26 September 1918 She arrived at La Pallice France on 13 October 1918 to discharge part of her U S Army general cargo and continued on to St Nazaire Nantes and Quiberon She departed Quiberon 1 November 1918 for the United States East Coast and arrived at Norfolk Virginia on 22 November 1918 On 12 December 1918 Munalbro made a second crossing to Quiberon where she arrived in January 1919 again carrying general U S Army supplies In February 1919 she departed Nantes with another U S Army cargo returning to New York on 1 March 1919 On 21 March 1919 Munalbro decommissioned and was delivered to the United States Shipping Board for simultaneous return to Munson Steamship Line She returned to mercantile service as SS Munalbro Boston enterprise Eastern Gas And Fuel purchased the steamship and in 1936 her name was changed to SS James L Richards on behalf of longtime EG amp F director James Lorin Richards Her subsequent commercial service extended for three and a half decades and she was scrapped in 1954 References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here Department of the Navy Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images Civilian Ships S S Munalbro American Collier 1916 Served as USS Munalbro no ID in 1918 1919 Later S S James L Richards NavSource Online NavSource Online Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive USS Munalbro ex USAT Munalbro Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Munalbro amp oldid 1151504769, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
