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USS ''William P. Biddle'' (APA-8) was a that served with the US Navy during World War II. Initially laid-down for the British government as ''War Surf'', the ship that ultimately became known as ''William P. Biddle'' was completed in 1919 as the single-screw, steel-hulled freighter ''Eclipse''. Built by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, of Alameda, California, under a United States Shipping Board contract, the former ''War Surf'' was requisitioned by the United States government before she was delivered to the United Kingdom and thus never actually carried her British name. ==Commercial career== After a period of about 10 years under the ownership of the Shipping Board, ''Eclipse'' was acquired by the Baltimore Mail Steamship Company, of Baltimore, Maryland, in about 1930. Reconstructed at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, to the lines drawn up by the noted naval architect firm of Gibbs & Cox, ''Eclipse'' was lengthened by 46'6"; accommodations were installed for 81 tourist-class passengers; and the ship was re-engined to give her a substantial boost in power and speed. Renamed ''City of Hamburg'', the steamship performed passenger, fast freight, and mail service between the terminal ports of Baltimore, Hampton Roads, Le Havre and Hamburg with the Baltimore Mail Steamship Company from 1938 to 1939, when the United States government refused further subsidies for the firm's international operations. ''City of Hamburg'' was acquired by the Panama-Pacific Line and renamed ''City of San Francisco'' in 1939, and she operated between New York and San Francisco until acquired by the Navy on 13 November 1940. 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「USS William P. Biddle (APA-8)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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