USS J. M. Guffey (ID-1279)

USS J. M. Guffey (ID 1279) was a commercial tanker chartered by the U.S. Navy during World War I. However, because her master declined to remain with the ship during wartime, the ship was taken over by the U.S. Navy. She operated out of Scotland until war’s end, and then was returned to the United States, decommissioned, and was returned to her owner.

Built in Camden, New Jersey
J. M. Guffey, a 2,520 gross ton (5500 tons displacement) freighter converted to a tanker during construction, was built at Camden, New Jersey, in 1902 by the New York Shipbuilding Company. She was the first ship built by that shipyard.

World War I service
In 1918 the tanker was operating on bareboat charter on behalf of the British Ministry of War Transport, and a request was made that she be manned by the U.S. Navy as her present master did not desire to remain with the ship and the remaining crew members were willing to enroll in the U. S. Naval Reserve Force.

The ship was therefore commissioned at Invergorden, Scotland, on 14 October 1918 as USS J. M. Guffey (ID # 1279). J. M. Guffey operated out of Invergorden replenishing the oil supplies until 24 January 1919 when—after delaying her departure until she received new boiler tubes—she sailed for the United States. She remained in St. Johns, Newfoundland, for 6 weeks before arriving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 14 April.

The ship had to put in to St. Johns, Newfoundland, because her boilers were leaking badly, and she remained there until leaving on 4 April for Philadelphia accompanied by the tug USS Iroquois (later designated AT-46).

Post-war decommissioning
After extensive repairs USS J. M. Guffey was decommissioned on 17 June 1919 and delivered to the U.S. Shipping Board for return to her owners, the Gulf Refining Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. S.S. J. M. Guffey was renamed Meloria in 1926 and was scrapped at Venice, Italy, in 1935.