USS Challenger was a U.S. freighter. It was commissioned by the U.S. Navy between 1918 and 1919 for service during World War I.[1] It was built in 1918 by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, Calif., under a United States Shipping Board contract. The US Navy accepted delivery on 4 October 1918 and it was commissioned the same day. He then reported to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service.

History
United States
NameUSS Challenger
BuilderUnion Iron Works
Launched4 July 1918
Commissioned4 October 1918
Decommissioned2 May 1919
Fate
General characteristics
Displacement16,000 t.
Length410 ft (120 m)
Beam56 ft (17 m)
Draft30 ft (9.1 m)
PropulsionOne 2,600 ihp (1,900 kW) steam engine, one shaft
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement70

Challenger cleared San Francisco 9 October 1918 for Mejillones and Antofagasta, Chile, where it loaded nitrates. Sailing on to deliver its cargo at Pensacola, Fla., 11 December, Challenger was next ordered to New Orleans to load cotton and steel for the French government. He was transferred to J. H. W. Steele Co. for operation. After a voyage in January and February 1919 carrying cargo to France to supply the Army of Occupation, Challenger returned to Baltimore, Md. It was decommissioned there 2 May 1919, and returned to the United States Shipping Board the same day.

On 17 May 1942 while serving with American-South African Line during World War II, it was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-155.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Challenger (ID 3630)". NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive. Retrieved 18 May 2011.