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Letters
Researching USS Colorado / USS Pueblo in WW1 Dear Mac I often visit your web site and lately more, as I am researching to write an article on US Destroyer Operations in World War 1. The email was undated, but I am deep inside these web sites lately on account of the article. Appologies if my comments come too late or are redundant. The relevance is U.S. Destroyers were sent on intensive patrols off Mexico and certain Latin American ports during the WW1 era, and one of their missions was to stop German ships entering (during the United States's nuetral period, 1914-April 1917, and to stop German ships leaving, after the U.S. declared war on Germany on 6 April, 1917). I can only find, on the web, only one referenced to an alleged incident between the USS Pueblo (ex USS Colorado), and that is from the "Koktavy Diaries" pages from the USS Stewart web site. This is the diary entry of the late Mr. Koktavy, a sailor on board the USS Stewart, for May, 1917: http://users3.ev1.net/~de238/stewart/kok_may17.html#Top The event is quoted thus:
But the entry repeats almost word for word the other entry you both are referring to, except here there is mention that the Pueblo has three stacks shot off. The web-based Dictionary of American Naval Fighting ships, which is to be found in on the US Naval Historical Center web site, has an entry for the USS Colorado, and USS Pueblo, but no mention of this ident. Unfortunately, although there is no mention of this incident, as USS Puebo, performing blockade missions off Mexico in 1917. See the followng link: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c11/colorado-ii.htm This is probably the same link that Joe has already researched. I did try to search the web in Spanish, especially sites dealing with the history of Magdalena, Baya de Magdalena, Magdalena & Pueblo & 1917 etc etc, with spellling variations. I even tried www.google.com.mx, and tried to search in Spanish there for you. No luck amigos. I will, one day, be visiting the Washington D.C. Naval History Center to look up selected log books of U.S. Destroyers in this period, I will remember to also look up the log of the USS Pueblo of this era as well, if it still exists there, and will report back. In the meantime, it's politics, our hobbies and taxes to entertain us. Anatole Sykley P.S. I don't know why an Aussie ex-pat like me is doing this, but I have been living here in New England since 1984, and enjoy the history here very much. Another project of mine is to develop a thesis on the role of New England states in World War 1. By the way I enjoy your Ahoy Mac web site in general, especially material on German Raiders in WW1, and I was glad to also see the email from Joe Hartwell here. Joe and I have corresponded on the subject of Boston's coast artillery units and what they did in World War 1. May our projects cross paths again some day. I have promised an article on Naval War in the Pacific in WW1, for Mr. Duffy who maintains a WW1 encyclopedia on the web. I will be browsing Ahoy Mac to check more facts then as well. Good job.
The alleged incident with USS Pueblo is an absolute mystery. I have turned up this page, scroll down to find two paras, one you already have, the second states that the cruiser, after the action with the Raider went into dry dock at Balbao on the 17th. of May in 1917 for repairs caused in that action, and came out on the 21st. of May. I can find no reference to this action in any account of the German Raiders of WW1 from the German end. Strange that the US Naval History site makes no mention of this fight. The log of USS Pueblo may well be the definitive way to sort it all out. When you do visit Washington DC, and can look at the ship's log, would you please tell me what you are able to uncover? Nice to hear and talk with an expat Aussie, even if you have deserted to the New England area!! Regards, and thanks for your kind remarks about AHOY. Mac.
Thanks for your email. I will definitely look up the log of the USS Pueblo/Colorado once I get the visit oraginized. Once again, thanks for the good web site. Anatole |
