From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, Vol. VI, pp. 499.

Sierra

A mountain range in eastern California, parallel to the Coast Ranges.

I

(ID. No. 1634: dp. 9,680 (n.); l. 416'0"; b. 50'2"; dph. 25'11"; dr. 24'0" (mean); s. 16.0 k.; cpl. 284; a. 4 6", 2 1-pdrs., 2 mg.)

The first Sierra-a passenger steamer built in 1900 by William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia, Pa.-was acquired by the Navy on 27 May 1918 from the John D. Spreckel Bros. Co. of San Francisco, Calif., and was commissioned on 1 July 1918.

Sierra was assigned to the transatlantic station upon commissioning, and she transported troops to France until the end of World War I. After the war, she remained with the Navy for 11 more months, bringing the American veterans back home. On 1 Oct ober 1919, Sierra decommissioned, her name was struck from the Navy list and she was returned to her owners. Sierra subsequently returned to mercantile service.