Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online:
Civilian Identification Numbered Ships Photo Archive

Los Angeles (ID 1470)



Civilian call sign (1919):
Love - Fox - Tare - Sail
Tanker:

  • Built in 1916 by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA
  • Acquired by the Navy in 1917
  • Commissioned USS Los Angeles (ID 1470), 9 August 1917
  • Decommissioned 17 January 1919 at New York, struck from the Navy Register and returned to her owners the same day
  • Sold in 1941 to the Mexico Shipping Co. of New York, NY and renamed Toteco
  • Scrapped in 1966 in Mexico.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 11,000 t.
  • Length 435'
  • Beam 56' 2"
  • Draft 27'
  • Speed 10 kts.
  • Complement 72
  • Armament: One 5"/40 mount and one 3"/50 mount
  • Propulsion: Three single ended boilers, one 2,600hp vertical triple expansion steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    SS Los Angeles
    Los Angeles 66k Photographed circa 1916-1917
    Naval Historical Center photos NH 86324 and NH 86378    		 Robert Hurst
    Los Angeles 94k
    Los Angeles 81k A view on deck looking aft possibly taken during a 1917 inspection by the Fifth Naval District
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 105268
    USS Los Angeles (ID 1470)
    Los Angeles 164k Jay Milewski
    Photo added 2 May 2020
    Los Angeles 202k At anchor, circa 1918, with her deck loaded with cargo crates. She is painted in pattern camouflage
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 107309    		 Robert Hurst
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships History: The first Los Angeles, a single screw tanker, was built by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, Calif., in 1916; acquired by the Navy under bareboat charter from her owner, Union Oil Co. of California, in 1917, and commissioned at New Orleans, LA, 9 August 1917, Lt. Comdr. Alexander Mackenzie, USNRF, in command.

    During the remainder of 1917, Los Angeles operated along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and made two cruises with the Atlantic Train Force. She was assigned duty with NOTS on 9 January 1918; and, after loading cargo at New York, she sailed 16 January for the British Isles.

    She reached Scapa Flow 4 February, discharged her cargo, and returned to the east coast from 7 to 27 February. Between 4 and 10 March, she sailed from New York to Port Arthur, Tex., where she loaded fuel oil before departing for Hampton Roads, Va, the 14th. She arrived 20 March, thence sailed the next day to join a convoy bound for Europe.

    Between 21 February and 10 November Los Angeles made four transatlantic runs out of east coast ports, carrying fuel oil to Brest, France, and Portsmouth and Devonport, England. During the latter part of November she transported a similar cargo from Philadelphia to Cristobal, Canal Zone, and, after loading crude oil at Tuxpan, Mexico, she returned to New York 16 December. Los Angeles decommissioned there 17 January 1919 and was returned to her owner the same day.

    Back to the Main Photo Index Back to the Civilian Identification Numbered Ships (ID) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster
    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by David Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History