The USS Mexican (ID-1655) was a versatile cargo and animal transport vessel serving in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1919. Originally built in 1907 by the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California, she was constructed as a commercial steamship for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company of New York City. As SS Mexican, she operated as a commercial cargo ship from 1907 until her acquisition by the U.S. Department of War in December 1917, during World War I. Upon transfer to the Navy, she was assigned the Identification Number 1655 and commissioned as USS Mexican on December 23, 1917. Manned by Navy personnel and operating under the U.S. Army, she served in the Naval Overseas Transportation Service primarily as an animal transport, carrying horses, mules, and other livestock to support Allied forces. During her service, she experienced a notable incident on May 13, 1918, while in port at St. Nazaire, France, when a fire broke out aboard her. Quick action by lookout personnel aboard the USS Alaskan helped contain the blaze before it caused serious damage. In December 1918, Mexican was reassigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force, refitted for troop transport duties, and made several round-trip voyages from the U.S. East Coast to Europe in 1919, repatriating American troops. The Navy returned her to her original owners on August 4, 1919, and she resumed her commercial career as SS Mexican. During World War II, the U.S. War Shipping Administration converted her into an animal transport ship, and in October 1944, she transported 648 mules and six horses from New Orleans to Calcutta, India, supporting wartime logistics. Post-war, Mexican participated in relief efforts as part of the "seagoing cowboys," delivering livestock—including horses, heifers, chicks, and bales of hay—to war-torn countries like Poland. Her service in this capacity was part of broader post-war relief initiatives, making numerous trips across the Atlantic. The vessel was finally scrapped in 1948, ending a notable career that spanned both world wars and significant humanitarian efforts.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.