SS California was an ocean liner

Ocean liner

An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...

 which was built in Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. in 1928. It was operated by Panama Pacific Line

Panama Pacific Line

The Panama Pacific Line was a subsidiary line of International Mercantile Marine established to carry passengers and freight between the U.S. East and West Coasts via the Panama Canal....

 between New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 & San Francisco until 1938.

Event

• In 1936, the liner was the site of the (SS California strike), of the National Maritime Union.

10/01/27, the California was launched at Newport News Shipyard, VA (Sponsor was Mrs. Roland Palmedo). The California was Hull 315, Off Number 227115, and was 20614 GR Tons. 01/13/28 she was delivered to International Mercantile Marine, owner, for operation by Panama Pacific Lines, New York-Panama-California carrying passengers and cargo.
In 1937 she was no longer able to operate and was sold to the U. S. Maritime Commission and laid up. In 1938 she was extensively rebuilt and refurbished at Newport News Shipyard as Hull 377, SS "Uruguay" for the South American trade, implementing the "Good Neighbor" Policy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 10/04/38, the SS "Uruguay" was assigned to Moore-McCormack lines for operation on their American Republics Line, and operated until outbreak of World War 2.
01/02/42 to 03/01/42, upon being returned to the Maritime Commission, she was converted by the War Shipping Administration to an Army Transport Ship (USAT)and retained her civilian name. U.S. Army Transport Service

United States Army Transportation Corps

The Transportation Corps was established 31 July 1942 by Executive Order 9082. The Transportation Corps is a combat service support branch of the U.S. Army, and was headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia, but has now moved to Fort Lee, Virginia. The Transportation Corps is responsible for the...

06/25/46 she reverted to the Maritime Commission and entered Federal Ship and Drydock, Kearney, NJ for reconversion for liner service. 01/24/48 Moore-McCormack Lines resumed operating the "Uruguay" in the South American service.
03/29/54 the "Uruguay" was no longer deemed necessary for operating and was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Ft Eustis, VA.
1964 she was sold by the Maritime Administration to North American Smelting Co, Wilmington, De for scrapping.

See also

• For additional information on the three sister ships :-
  • California, Pennsylvania
    SS Argentina (1929)
    One of a trio of American-built passenger liners on the US-South America route, the Argentina was owned and operated by Moore-McCormack Steamship Lines and sailed this route until she was laid up in 1958.-The Pennsylvania:...
    
    , & Virginia
• SS Argentina (1929)
  SS Argentina (1929)
  One of a trio of American-built passenger liners on the US-South America route, the Argentina was owned and operated by Moore-McCormack Steamship Lines and sailed this route until she was laid up in 1958.-The Pennsylvania:...
  
  

External links

• http://cruiselinehistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/cm978a.jpg
• http://www.greatsouthbay.com/FCPPG.htm