USS Defiance (ID-3327)

300px S.S. Defiance (American Freighter, 1918) Underway, probably while running trials in San Francisco Bay, California, circa early September 1918. This ship served as USS Defiance (ID # 3327) in 1918-1919. Note her pattern camouflage.
Career (United States)
Name:	USS Defiance
Builder:	Union Iron Works
Acquired:	5 September 1918
Commissioned:	5 September 1918
Decommissioned:	1 March 1919
Fate:	unknown
General characteristics
Tonnage:	16,400
Length:	440 feet 1 inch (134.14 m)
Beam:	56 feet (17 m)
Draft:	29 feet 9 inches (9.07 m)
Speed:	10 kts
Complement:	68

For other ships of the same name, see USS Defiance.

The first USS Defiance (ID-3327) was a cargo ship in the United States Navy during World War I.

Defiance was built in 1918 by Union Iron Works of Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company, Alameda, California. She was acquired by the Navy 5 September 1918; and commissioned the same day, Lieutenant Commander F. A. Vega, USNRF, in command.

Defiance sailed from San Francisco 14 September 1918 with a cargo of flour and naval stores, and arrived at New York 11 October to exchange her cargo for Army supplies. Ten days later she was underway for Norfolk, Virginia to join a convoy bound for Southhampton, England, and Dunkirk, France, where she delivered her cargo to the Army of Occupation. She returned to Immingham and Dublin, Ireland, to load material being returned to the States. She departed 27 January 1919 for Hampton Roads, and arrived 16 February.

Defiance was decommissioned 1 March 1919 and delivered to the Shipping Board the same day for disposal.

References

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.