In the late afternoon of 15 August 1918 USS West Bridge was steaming in convoy toward France when she suffered a casualty in her steam turbine. The problem forced her to drop out of formation and call for a tow. A few minutes later the German submarine U-90 torpedoed S.S. Montanan, another member of the convoy, inflicting damage that ultimately proved fatal. Realizing the peril, West Bridge's commanding officer sent his crew to general quarters and evacuated most men from the machinery spaces.
Though USS Noma, one of the convoy escorts, was standing by, another enemy submarine (probably U-107, though an older source cites U-90) reached a firing position and launched a pair of torpedoes. One hit West Bridge amidships, opening her engine room to the sea. The second struck further forward, in number three hold. With two large holes in her starboard side, the ship seemed doomed. Her crew took to their boats. West Bridge, however, remained afloat, though with almost no bouyancy remaining. After the destroyer Burrows had rescued the stricken ship's crew and left the scene, a salvage party from USS Smith went aboard. Tugs arrived later and towed West Bridge some 400 miles to Brest, France. One of her officers and three crewmen lost their lives in this incident.
This page features all the views we have related to the torpedoing of USS West Bridge (ID # 2888) by a German submarine on 15 August 1918.
For other views of this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
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Related (if only slightly) image:
For other views of this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 3 December 2003
Links added 9 March 2008