USS Roanoke, a 7620-ton minelayer, was built in 1901 as the merchant passenger-cargo ship El Dia. Taken over by the Navy in November 1917, she was converted to a minelayer at Hoboken, New Jersey. The ship was commissioned as USS Roanoke in January 1918 and spent the next few months in shakedown and training. In April 1918, she loaded passengers and a cargo of mines at Norfolk, Virginia, for transportation across the Atlantic.
Roanoke arrived at Base 17, Invergordon, Scotland, in May 1918. She was soon at work helping to plant the vast North Sea Mine Barrage, intended to hamper the operations of German submarines, and remained on that duty until World War I ended in November 1918. After return to the United States in early 1919, Roanoke was modified for transport purposes. She subsequently made four voyages between the U.S. and France as part of the effort to bring home troops from the former war zone. USS Roanoke decommissioned in August 1919 and was returned to her owners.
This page features all available views concerning USS Roanoke (ID # 1695).
For pictorial coverage of Roanoke as a civilian ship,
see:
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 61101 U.S. Navy Mine Layers Steaming in line abreast during the laying of the North Sea mine barrage, September 1918. Analysis of camouflage patterns indicates that these ships are (from front to rear): USS Roanoke (ID # 1695); USS Housatonic (ID # 1697); USS Shawmut (ID # 1255); USS Canandaigua (ID # 1694); USS Canonicus (ID # 1696); with USS Quinnebaug (ID # 1687) and USS Saranac (ID # 1702) in the left and right center distance. A four-stack British cruiser is in the left distance. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 105703 USS Roanoke (ID # 1695) Off New York City in 1919, upon her arrival from Europe with troops on board. Panoramic photograph by E. Muller, Jr., New York. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 174KB; 1200 x 725 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 103584 USS Roanoke (ID # 1695) In port, probably at Norfolk, Virginia, while serving as a troop transport in 1919. Unlike most of the post-World War I "Ship that brought us home" photographs, the original print of this view was not printed on postal card stock, but was of large format (approximately 12" x 7" image size), . Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 450 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 2805 Laying the North Sea Mine Barrage, 1918 U.S. Navy minelayers steaming in column in the North Sea, September 1918. At left, British destroyers are covering the formation's flank with a smoke screen. Ships in the minelayer column are (from front to rear): Roanoke, Housatonic, Quinnebaug and Baltimore. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 560 pixels |
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Photo #: 111-SC-43563 Laying the North Sea Mine Barrage, 1918 U.S. Navy minelayers proceeding to sea in two columns, in Area Number 2 of the North Sea, September 1918. Ships in the column at left are (from front to rear): Roanoke, Housatonic, Quinnebaug and Baltimore. Ships in column at right are (from front to rear): Canonicus (out of picture, to right), Canandaigua, Aroostook and Saranac. Note disruptive "dazzle" camouflage worn by these ships. Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 460 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 99394 USS Mexican (ID # 1655) Panoramic photograph of the ship at St. Nazaire, France, in 1919, while serving as a troop transport. USS Roanoke (ID # 1695), a former minelayer also employed as a troop transport, is at right. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Lieutenant Charles Dutreaux. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 126KB; 1200 x 400 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 52819 Mine Squadron One, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Senior officers of the squadron, photographed on board ship in the North Sea area, September 1918. Those present are identified in Photo # NH 52819 (complete caption). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 430 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 52995 Mine Squadron One, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Senior officers of the squadron, photographed on board ship in the North Sea area, September 1918. Those present are identified in Photo # NH 52995 (complete caption). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 495 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 53575 USS Canandaigua (ID# 1694); USS Roanoke (ID # 1695); USS Canonicus (ID # 1696); and USS Housatonic (ID # 1697) Sketch of "Rearrangement of Steering Gear" on ships' bridges, made at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, 23 April 1918. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 81KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
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The ships seen in the following photograph MAY include USS Roanoke:
For pictorial coverage of Roanoke as a civilian ship,
see:
NOTES:
Page made 15 January 2001
New image added 18 October 2010