West Maximus (Id. No. 3924)
1919
West Maximus, a single-screw, steel-hulled cargo ship built at Seattle, Wash., by Skinner & Eddy Corp. in 1919 for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), was inspected by the Navy for duty with the Naval Overseas Transportation Service and was designated Id. No. 3924; but she was never taken over.
Serving under the USSB and its successor, the United States Maritime Commission, West Maximus operated in the mercantile trade and eventually flew the flag of the Moore-McCormack shipping lines of Baltimore, Md. While in the service of this line, she operated into World War II as part of the vital lifeline of ships to Britain.
While filling this role, West Maximus (Earl E. Brooks, Master) cleared Milford Haven, Wales, in ballast, on 23 April 1943 bound for New York with Convoy ONS-5. On the night of 4 and 5 May, the convoy ran into a trap set by an exceptionally large group of U-boats. German submarine U-264 (Kapitanleutnant Hartwig Looks, commanding) drew a bead on the lumbering merchantman and launched a torpedo which struck the ship on the port side, aft, at 2308, blowing away much of the stern, demolishing the living quarters, aft, and disabling the after guns.
U-264 struck again at 0110 and at 0130 on the 5th. The latter attack gave West Maximus the coup de grace which sent her under, bow-first, at 0140. Of the 62 men on board, 56 were rescued by the trawler HMS Northern Spray (FY.129) (Lt. Francis A. J. Downer, RN). One officer, four crewmen, and one member of the Navy Armed Guard, perished with the ship.
Updated, Robert J. Cressman
13 February 2024
