USS Canonicus (ID-1696) - Big Four

Big Four

In the words of British Rear Admiral Lewis Clinton-Baker, the North Sea mine barrage was the "biggest mine planting stunt in the world's history." The United States converted eight civilian steamships as minelayers for the 100,000 mines manufactured for the barrage. The largest of these were four freighters owned by Southern Pacific Steamship Company. Southern Pacific Transportation Company had evolved from the First Transcontinental Railroad to become the dominant transportation provider in California. Owners of the original Central Pacific Railroad were known as the Big Four. Sailors similarly referred to these former Southern Pacific ships as the Big Four.

• El Siglo became No. 1694 USS Canandaigua
• El Dia became No. 1695 USS Roanoke
• El Cid became No. 1696 USS Canonicus
• El Rio became No. 1697 USS Housatonic