page_title: USS West Carnifax (ID-3812)
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: USS West Carnifax (ID-3812) / World War II
caption_attribution_description: English: An Atlantic convoy in 1942.
context_page_description: USS West Carnifax (ID-3812) was a cargo ship in the United States Navy shortly after World War I. After she was decommissioned from the Navy, the ship was known as SS West Carnifax, SS Exford, and SS Pan Royal in civilian service under American registry.
  West Carnifax was one of the West boats, a series of steel-hulled cargo ships built for the United States Shipping Board on the West Coast of the United States. The ship was the first ship built at Southwestern Shipbuilding in San Pedro, California, and was launched in October 1918 and delivered to the US Navy upon completion in late December. After commissioning, West Carnifax sailed from California with a load of wheat flour for the East Coast of the United States and, from there, to Europe. When she docked at Hamburg, Germany, in March 1919, she became the first American ship to dock at Hamburg since before the start of World War I. At the conclusion of her trip to Germany she was decommissioned and returned to the USSB.
  West Carnifax sailed to European ports for a time and in South American service for the American Republics Line while under USSB ownership.
context_section_description: In June 1942, seven months after the United States had entered World War II, Pan Royal made two roundtrips in transatlantic convoys between Boston and the United Kingdom via Halifax. While in the UK during her second visit, the ship had called at Belfast Lough, Barry, and Milford Haven before returning to New York in October. In mid November, Pan Royal sailed from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to Casablanca, and returned in mid-January 1943.
  On 7 February 1943, Pan Royal departed Hampton Roads in Convoy UGS-5 for North Africa. Two days out, Pan Royal was accidentally rammed by both the Norwegian cargo ship Evita and the American Liberty ship George Davis. Pan Royal sank at position 36°40′N 67°20′W with the loss of eight men. Her 54 survivors were rescued by US Navy destroyer USS Boyle (DD-600).
caption: SS Pan Royal sailed in 4 transatlantic convoys like this typical one, seen in 1942.
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