WWI Ship Name Index   Return to WWI Auxiliaries.

UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # 80-G-301393: U.S. Army Transport Edmund B. Alexander underway, 6 January 1945

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the UNITED STATES ARMY --

Edmund B. Alexander (U.S. Army Transport, 1940-1957).
Originally Amerika (German Passenger Liner, 1905).
Served as USS America (ID # 3006) in 1917-1919 and USAT America in 1919-1921

In late 1940, as part of the National defense expansion undertaken in response to the Second World War, the thirty-five year old passenger liner America (formerly USS America (ID 3006) and USAT America) was reactivated for U.S. Army service. Renamed Edmund B. Alexander, she initially served as a barracks ship at St. John's, Newfoundland. After mid-1941 the ship was used as a transport in the Gulf of Mexico area and in May 1942 entered a Baltimore, Maryland, shipyard to begin a major modernization. This work, completed in April 1943, gave her new, oil-fired boilers, greater speed, and a much-changed appearance. Edmund B. Alexander spent the rest of the World War II era making transport runs between the United States, North Africa and Europe. She continued her work with the Army into the post-war era, primarily carrying military dependents. Placed in reserve in May 1949, USAT Edmund B. Alexander was sold for scrapping in January 1957.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views that are available concerning the U.S. Army Transport Edmund B. Alexander.

For views of this ship taken prior to late 1940, see:

  • USS America (ID # 3006), 1917-1919. Originally Amerika (German passenger liner, 1905). Later U.S. Army Transport America (1919-1920) and U.S. passenger liner America (1921-1940).


    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-301393

    USAT Edmund B. Alexander     (U.S. Army Transport)

    Underway near Boston Light, Massachusetts, 6 January 1945.
    Photographed from a Squadron ZP-11 blimp.
    Completed in 1905 as the German passenger liner Amerika, this ship served as USS America during World War I. She was extensively modernized in 1942-1943.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 104968

    USAT Edmund B. Alexander     (U.S. Army Transport)

    In port, circa 1945-1946.
    Completed in 1905 as the German passenger liner Amerika, this ship served as USS America during 1917-1919 and as USAT America in 1919-1920. She was extensively modernized, as seen here, in 1942-1943.

    Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104966

    USAT Edmund B. Alexander     (U.S. Army Transport)

    In port, following World War II.
    This ship was completed in 1905 as the German passenger liner Amerika. She was USS America (ID # 3006) in 1917-1919 and USAT America in 1919-1920.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     



    Notes concerning another photograph of this ship:

    There is a halftone photograph of the U.S. Army Transport Edmund B. Alexander on page 20 of the book "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles (published 1947). This view was taken from off the ship's starboard bow, while she was alongside a pier after her 1942-43 modernization.


    For views of this ship taken prior to late 1940, see:

  • USS America (ID # 3006), 1917-1919. Originally Amerika (German passenger liner, 1905). Later U.S. Army Transport America (1919-1920) and U.S. passenger liner America (1921-1940).


    Return to WWI Auxiliaries.

    Page made 1 October 2007