USS Bali (ID-2483)

History of USS Bali (ID-2483)

The SS Bali, a robust cargo vessel, was constructed in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1917. It boasted impressive dimensions, measuring 420 feet in length and 54 feet in beam, with a shallow draft of 29 feet. Initially unarmed, it was designed as a standard cargo carrier, equipped with two masts for observation and communication.

During World War I, the SS Bali's journey took a dramatic turn when it was seized in New York Harbor in 1918 under federal customs laws. Subsequently, it was transferred to the U.S. Navy's Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS), which managed a fleet responsible for transporting military supplies to Europe and returning equipment to the United States after the war.

Under its new designation as USS Bali (ID–2483), the ship served the United States Navy from March 1918 to May 1919. It played a crucial role in supplying the American Expeditionary Forces in France and later participated in relief efforts, transporting food and cargo to Europe. After its military service, it resumed civilian duties until it met its demise during World War II, sinking either during a German air raid or subsequent occupation, with its wreck eventually scrapped after the war.

Specification

Basic

Year of Service: 1918

Origins: United States

Carrier: Greece; Netherlands; USA

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 420.5 feet (128.17 m)

Ray: 54.8 feet (16.70 m)

Draft: 29.3 feet (8.93 m)

Shift: 17,300 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power: 1 x Steam Engine Drives 1 x Axle.

Surface Velocity: 12.0 nodes (13.8 km/h)

Weapons

1 x 5" deck gun 1 x 57 mm (6 lb) deck gun