USS West Carnifax (ID-3812) - Military Career

Military Career

USS West Carnifax (ID-3812) was commissioned into the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS) at San Pedro, California, on 31 December 1918 with Lieutenant Commander Robert H. Cowan, USNRF, in command. West Carnifax sailed from San Pedro on 4 January 1919 for San Francisco, where she took on an initial load of flour. She sailed for Norfolk, Virginia, on 31 January, and arrived at Hampton Roads on 15 March.

Setting out four days later, West Carnifax was slated to sail to Danzig via Falmouth and the Hook of Holland, but was diverted en route. When she arrived at her new destination of Hamburg on 25 March, she became the first American ship to dock in that city since before World War I had begun over 4 1⁄₂ years before. When she had completed unloading her cargo of flour, noted as the "choicest California flour" by onlookers, she sailed for New Orleans by way of Plymouth on 2 April. On 9 May, four days after her arrival at New Orleans, West Carnifax was decommissioned and returned to the .