View source for SS El Sol

{{Short description|American cargo ship built in 1910}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[Image:SS El Sol.jpg|300px|SS ''El Sol'' before 1917]]
|Ship caption=SS ''El Sol'' before 1917
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship name=SS ''El Sol''
|Ship owner=Morgan Line
|Ship builder=*[[Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.]]
*[[Newport News, Virginia]]
|Ship yard number=130
|Ship launched=11 May 1910
|Ship sponsor=Miss Helen Torney<ref name=WP-southern_pacific />
|Ship completed=20 August 1910
|Ship identification=U.S. official number: 207751<ref name=Miramar>{{cite web | url = http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz/ship/list?search_op=OR&IDNo=2207751 | title = El Sol | work = Miramar Ship Index | publisher = R.B. Haworth | access-date = 2008-08-19 }}</ref>
|Ship fate=Expropriated for U.S. Army service
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States 
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1918}}
|Ship name=USAT ''El Sol''
|Ship acquired=
|Ship fate=Transferred to U.S. Navy, 3 August 1918
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=United States 
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1919}}
|Ship name=USS ''El Sol'' (ID-4505)
|Ship acquired=3 August 1918
|Ship commissioned=3 August 1918
|Ship decommissioned=18 September 1919
|Ship fate=Returned to Morgan Line
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=
|Ship flag=
|Ship name=SS ''El Sol''
|Ship owner=Morgan Line
|Ship fate=Sunk in collision, 11 March 1927
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship type=[[Cargo ship]]
|Ship tonnage=*{{GRT|6,008}}<ref name=Colton />
*{{DWT|6,850}}<ref name=CW-569>Crowell and Wilson, p. 569.</ref>
|Ship length={{convert|430|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|53|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draft={{convert|26|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=DANFS />
|Ship depth=
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed={{convert|16|knots|km/h}}
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=800 horses and mules
|Ship troops=1,823<ref name=CW-569 />
|Ship complement=112 (World War I)
|Ship crew=45
|Ship armament=1 × {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}} guns (World War I)<ref name=DANFS />
|Ship notes=Sister ship of ''El Mundo'', {{SS|El Oriente||2}}, {{SS|El Occidente||2}}
}}
|}
'''SS ''El Sol''''' was a cargo ship built in 1910 for the Morgan Line, a subsidiary of the [[Southern Pacific Company]]. During [[World War I]], she was known as '''USAT ''El Sol''''' in service with the [[United States Army]] and as '''USS ''El Sol'' (ID-4505)''' in service with the [[United States Navy]]. At the war's end, she reverted to her original name of SS ''El Sol''.

SS ''El Sol'' was one of four sister ships that carried cargo and limited passengers for the Morgan Line. The U.S. Army acquired her after the United States entered World War I in April 1917, converting her to carry horses and mules to France. In August 1918, the ship was transferred to the U.S. Navy and continued transporting animals through the war's end.

''El Sol'' returned to the Morgan Line in 1919 and sailed with them until March 1927, when she sank in [[New York Harbor]] after colliding with ''Sac City'' of the [[American Diamond Lines]]. A portion of the ship's cargo was salvaged, but the ship was scrapped later in the year.

== Early career ==
SS ''El Sol'' was a cargo and passenger steamship [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 11 May 1910 by the [[Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.]] of [[Newport News, Virginia]] (yard no. 130), and delivered to the Atlantic division of the Morgan Line on 20 August 1910. She was the first of four sister ships; the other three being ''El Mundo'', {{SS|El Oriente||2}}, and {{SS|El Occidente||2}}.<ref name=WP-southern_pacific>{{cite news | title = Southern Pacific liner launched | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = 12 May 1910 | page = 3 }}</ref><ref name=Colton>{{cite web | last = Colton | first = Tim | url = http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/active/newportnews.htm | title = Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News VA | publisher = Colton Company | access-date = 2008-08-06 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080829134102/http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/active/newportnews.htm | archive-date = 29 August 2008}}</ref> ''El Sol'' was {{GRT|6,008|disp=long}},<ref name=Colton /> was {{convert|430|ft|1|in|m}} long by {{convert|53|ft|1|in|m}} [[beam (nautical)|abeam]], and made {{convert|16|knots|km/h}}.<ref name=DANFS>{{cite DANFS | author = Naval Historical Center | author-link = Naval Historical Center | title = El Sol | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e2/el_sol.htm | short = on }}</ref> The vessel sailed for the [[Morgan Line]], the brand name of the Southern Pacific Steamship Company (a subsidiary of the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]]), which employed her to carry cargo and a limited number of passengers between New York; [[New Orleans]], the eastern terminus of the Southern Pacific line; and [[Galveston, Texas]].<ref name=WP-southern_pacific />

== World War I ==
After the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, ''El Sol'' was requisitioned by the [[United States Shipping Board]] (USSB) on behalf of the [[United States Army]],<ref name=DANFS /> who designated her as an animal transport ship.<ref name=NNVet>Krenzelok</ref> Although there is no information about the specific conversion of ''El Sol'', for other ships, this typically meant that any second- or third-class passenger accommodations had to be ripped out and replaced with ramps and stalls for the horses and mules carried.<ref>Crowell and Wilson, pp. 313–14.</ref>

Sources do not reveal all of ''El Sol''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s movements, but it is known that she departed on her second trip to France from Newport News on 10 February 1918. Carrying 650 animals,<ref name=NNVet /> ''El Sol'' headed to New York to join in a convoy with fellow Army transport {{USAT|Pastores||2}}, and U.S. Navy troop transports {{USS|Covington|ID-1409|2}}, {{USS|DeKalb|ID-3010|2}}, {{SS|Manchuria|1903|2}}, {{USS|George Washington|ID-3018|2}}, {{USS|President Grant|ID-3014|2}}, and {{USS|Susquehanna|ID-3016|2}}. The convoy was escorted by {{USS|Huntington|CA-5|2}} when it departed from New York on 18 February,<ref name=CW-605>Crowell and Wilson, p. 605.</ref> and arrived at [[Saint-Nazaire]] on 4 March.<ref name=NNVet /><ref name=CW-605 /> Ten animals on board ''El Sol'' died or were destroyed during the crossing.<ref name=NNVet />

The next recorded activity of ''El Sol'' was on 3 August, when she was transferred from the Army to the U.S. Navy and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] the same day. ''El Sol'' was assigned to the [[Naval Overseas Transportation Service]] (<small>NOTS</small>) and continued to carry animals and supplies for the U.S. Army.<ref name=DANFS />

By August, each animal transport ship had a transport veterinarian and a permanent veterinary detachment to care for the animals on the ship. ''El Sol'' had also been joined by two of her sister ships, {{USS|El Oriente|ID-4504|2}} and {{USS|El Occidente|ID-3307|2}} in animal transport duty. She next departed Newport News on 23 August 1918 with 520 horses and mules on board. Upon arrival at Saint-Nazaire on 19 September, ''El Sol'' delivered her complete load of animals; none had died during the passage. After returning to the U.S., ''El Sol'' departed again on 30 October with another 620 animals on board. Docking in [[Bordeaux]] on 13 November—two days after the [[Armistice with Germany|Armistice]]—she again delivered her full load of animals.<ref name=NNVet />

[[Image:USS El Sol with boat, 1919.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''El Sol'' waits for a towline from a [[launch (boat)|launch]] from {{USS|Scranton|ID-3511|6}}. Three men in the launch died when it capsized after this photograph was taken.]]
''El Sol'' made two more roundtrips for the <small>NOTS</small> over the next five months. While returning to the United States from her last <small>NOTS</small> sailing in late March 1919, ''El Sol'' responded to distress calls from {{USS|Scranton|ID-3511|2}},<ref name=DANFS /> a Navy troop transport which had a damaged rudder and was disabled. ''El Sol'' came to the aid of the stricken ship {{convert|900|nmi|km}} east of New York to attempt to take her under tow.<ref name=AC-troop_ship>{{cite news | title = Troop ship Scranton reported disabled | work = The Atlanta Constitution | date = 30 March 1919 | page = 2 }}</ref> During the day on 28 March,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h99000/h99449c.htm | title = Photo #: NH 99449 picture data | work = Online Library of Selected Images | publisher = [[United States Department of the Navy|Navy Department]], [[Naval Historical Center]] | date = 5 July 2004 | access-date = 2008-08-07 }}</ref> ''Scranton'' attempted to run a towline to ''El Sol'' by sending a [[launch (boat)|launch]] in the rolling seas, but it capsized, killing three men.<ref name=WP-82_nurses>{{cite news | title = 82 Nurses return; served under fire | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = 4 April 1919 | page = 5 }}</ref> Ultimately, ''El Sol'' stood by ''Scranton'' for over 40 hours until minesweeper {{USS|Penguin|AM-33|2}} arrived and took ''Scranton'' under tow.<ref name=DANFS /><ref name=WP-82_nurses /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/albums/s583/s583.htm | title = USS Scranton (ID # 3511) Photo Album, 1919 | work = Online Library of Selected Images: Photo Albums | publisher = [[United States Department of the Navy|Navy Department]], [[Naval Historical Center]] | date = 11 July 2004 | access-date = 2008-08-07 }}</ref>

After her last <small>NOTS</small> voyage on 3 April, ''El Sol'' was converted to a troop transport and assigned to the Navy's [[Cruiser and Transport Force]] on 15 April. ''El Sol'' returned 2,714 healthy and wounded American servicemen from France in two voyages.<ref>Gleaves, pp. 254–55</ref> Decommissioned on 18 September, ''El Sol'' was returned to the Morgan Line soon after.<ref name=DANFS /><ref group=Note>Gleaves (p. 255) reports that ''El Sol'' was given to the [[Ward Line]] in August 1919, which contradicts the entry in the ''[[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]]''. The ownership information contradicts that recorded in the Miramar Ship Index, a database of historical ship information (See: {{cite web | url = http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz/ship/show/164752 | title = El Sol | work = Miramar Ship Index | publisher = R.B.Haworth | access-date = 2008-08-07 }}.)</ref>

== Postwar civilian service ==
''El Sol'' resumed cargo service with the Morgan Line, where she had eight years of uneventful operation. On 11 March 1927, however, ''El Sol'' was inbound to New York with a $1,000,000 cargo of [[pig iron]], copper, and bales of cotton.<ref name=NYT-a_salvage>{{cite news | title = A salvage job in New York | work = The New York Times | date = 31 July 1927 | page = XX3 }}</ref> When a heavy fog settled over [[New York Harbor]], Captain Charles H. Knowles ordered his ship to anchor until the fog cleared. As ''El Sol'' was being maneuvered into position at about 07:45, the American Diamond Line ship ''Sac City'' hit a glancing blow to ''El Sol'', bounced off, and then struck ''El Sol'' a second time, ripping through ''El Sol''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s plating.<ref name=NYT-rammed_freighter>{{cite news | title = Rammed fighter founders in harbor | work = The New York Times | date = 12 March 1927 | page = 3 }}</ref> ''Sac City''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s bow had some slight damage, but ''El Sol'' sank quickly in about {{convert|60|ft|m}} of water about a half-mile (800 m) south of the [[Statue of Liberty]].<ref name=NYT-a_salvage /><ref name=NYT-rammed_freighter /> Out of ''El Sol''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew of 45 men, 44 were rescued;<ref name=NYT-rammed_freighter /> the ship's carpenter, who could not swim, was last seen clutching the ship's rail as it went below the surface.<ref>{{cite news | agency = [[Associated Press]]| title = Ship sinks, man lost, off Statue of Liberty | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = 12 March 1927 | page = 3 }}</ref>

''El Sol'' settled on the bottom at a 45° angle with only the tops of her masts protruding above the surface;<ref name=NYT-a_salvage /> the Morgan Line house flag—a blue [[house flag]] with a red ''M'' inside a white star<ref>{{cite web | last = McMillan | first = Joe | url = http://flagspot.net/flags/us~hfmo.html#morgan | title = Morgan Steamship Co. | work = House Flags of U.S. Shipping Companies | publisher = FOTW: Flags Of The World website | date = 31 October 2001 | access-date = 2008-08-07 }}</ref>—still fluttered in the breeze.<ref name=NYT-rammed_freighter /> Even though the sunken vessel was not considered a hazard to navigation,<ref name=NYT-rammed_freighter /> in another fog two days later, a [[Staten Island Ferry]]boat nearly hit ''El Sol''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s wreck.<ref>{{cite news | title = Ferryboat in fog nearly hits wreck | work = The New York Times | date = 13 March 1927 | page = 20 }}</ref>

In hearings before the United States [[Steamboat Inspection Service]], Captain Knowles of ''El Sol'' and the captain of ''Sac City'' were cleared of wrongdoing in the collision. The blame was laid on the heavy fog.<ref>{{cite news | title = Collision caused by fog | work = The New York Times | date = 16 March 1927 | page = 30 }}</ref> On 31 July, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported on the cargo salvage operations still underway on the wreck of ''El Sol''. In three months of continuous operations, the salvage company reported that about 35% of the sunken ship's cargo had been recovered.<ref name=NYT-a_salvage /> The hulk of ''El Sol'' was scrapped later in 1927.<ref name=Colton />

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last = Crowell  | first = Benedict  | author-link = Benedict Crowell |author2=Robert Forrest Wilson | title = The Road to France: The Transportation of Troops and Military Supplies, 1917–1918 | url = https://archive.org/details/roadtofrancetra04wilsgoog  | series = How America Went to War: An Account From Official Sources of the Nation's War Activities, 1917–1920 | location = [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]] | publisher = [[Yale University Press]] | year = 1921 | oclc = 18696066 }}
* {{Gleaves}}
* {{cite web | last = Krenzelok | first = Greg | title = Newport News Animal Transport ship List overseas to France during WW1 | url = http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gregkrenzelok/veterinary%20corp%20in%20ww1/newportnewsshiplist.html | access-date = 2008-08-06 }}
* {{cite DANFS | author = Naval Historical Center | author-link = Naval Historical Center | title = El Sol | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e2/el_sol.htm | access-date = 2008-08-06 }}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* {{navsource|12/174505|El Sol}}
{{Coord|40.683111|-74.044075|display=title}}

{{Good article}}
{{1927 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:El Sol}}
[[Category:Ocean liners]]
[[Category:World War I passenger ships of the United States]]
[[Category:World War I auxiliary ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Transport ships of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1927]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the New York (state) coast]]
[[Category:1910 ships]]
[[Category:Cargo ships of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Ships sunk in collisions]]
[[Category:Ships built in Newport News, Virginia]]