San Juan

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The first San Juan (Id. No. 1352) retained the name she carried at the time of her acquisition by the U.S. Navy. The second San Juan (CL-54) was named for the capital city of Puerto Rico.

(Steamship: tonnage 284 (gross); length 128'0" (overall); beam 24'6"; draft 13'6" (mean); speed 11 knots; complement 27; armament 2 3-pounders)

The single-screw steam fishing vessel San Juan – completed in 1904 at Seattle, Wash., by J. F. Duthie – was inspected in the 13th Naval District and earmarked for potential service as a minesweeper in the wake of American entry into World War I. Enrolled on 10 December 1917 and ordered delivered, San Juan, given the identification number (Id.No.) 1352, was turned over to the Navy five days before Christmas of 1917 by her owners, the San Juan Packing and Canning Co., of Seattle. Converted for service as a patrol vessel and minesweeper, San Juan was commissioned on 8 March 1918, Ens. Robert W. Jackson, USNRF, in command.

Undated view of San Juan in civilian livery. (Naval History and Heritage Command, History and Archives Division, Ships History Files, SP Cards)

Following her service in the 13th Naval District, principally in the waters of Puget Sound and Juan de Fuca Strait, San Juan was decommissioned on 29 January 1919 and returned to her owner at Puget Sound on 12 February 1919. A change of ownership ensued soon thereafter, as she was acquired by Libby, McNeill, and Libby, and homeported at San Francisco, Calif., in the towing trade. She remained thus employed until ultimately abandoned, due to age and deterioration, by 30 June 1939.