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SS ''West Humhaw'' was a steel–hulled cargo ship built in 1918 as part of the United States Shipping Boards emergency World War I shipbuilding program. The ship was delivered just weeks before the end of the war and immediately commissioned into the U.S. Navy as USS ''West Humhaw'' (ID-3718), but completed only one relief mission on the Navy's behalf before decommissioning in January 1919. ''West Humhaw'' subsequently operated as a merchant ship, firstly in transatlantic service and later on the trade routes between the U.S. and Africa. With the outbreak of World War II, ''West Humhaw'' participated in a small number of Allied convoys before being sunk by off Takoradi, Ghana on 8 November 1942. ==Construction and design== ''West Humhaw'' was built in Seattle, Washington in 1918 at the No. 1 Plant of the Skinner & Eddy Corporation—the 15th in a series of 24 steel–hulled Design 1013 cargo ships built by Skinner & Eddy for the USSBs emergency wartime shipbuilding program.〔("General Cargo Ships Built in Pacific Coast Shipyards" ), ''shipbuildinghistory.com''.〕 The ship was laid down on 27 June, launched just 51 working (62 calendar) days later on 28 August, and completed on 14 September—a total time under construction of 64 working (79 calendar) days,〔''Pacific Ports Annual'', pp. 64-65.〕 making ''West Humhaw'' one of the fastest-built ships of the war.〔Hurley, p. 93. Note that Hurley does not specifically mention ''West Humhaw'' in his list of fastest-built ships, but at 79 calendar days the vessel would, according to Hurley's list, have been the equal fourth fastest-built ship of the war.〕 ''West Humhaw'' had a design deadweight tonnage of 8,800 tons and gross register tonnage of 5,600. The ship had an overall length of 423 feet 9 inches, a beam of 54 feet and a draft of 24 feet 2 inches.〔(West Humhaw ), ''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships'', Naval History and Heritage Command website.〕 She was powered by a Curtis geared turbine〔Silverstone, p. 169.〕 driving a single screw propeller, delivering a service speed of 11.5 knots.〔 For wartime service, ''West Humhaw'' was armed with one 5"/51 caliber and one 3"/50 caliber gun.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「SS West Humhaw」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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