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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 64587-A: SS Alaskan, probably photographed in 1902


Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

Alaskan (American Freighter, 1902).
Served as USS Alaskan (ID # 4542) in 1918-1919

The steamship Alaskan, a 8672 gross ton freighter, was built at San Francisco, California, in 1902 and subsequently operated between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. She was chartered by the U.S. Navy in March 1918 and placed in commission later in that month as USS Alaskan (ID # 4542). Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS) as a cargo carrier, she made three voyages to France before the 11 November 1918 Armistice brought the First World War fighting to an end. In December, Alaskan was reassigned, becoming part of the Cruiser and Transport Force, and began conversion to a troop transport. Beginning in late February 1919, she conveyed American service personnel back to the U.S. from the former European war zone. This work was completed in July, and in early August 1919 Alaskan was returned to her owners.

Following her return to commercial employment, Alaskan was operated by the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company. She was sold to an Italian firm in 1927 and renamed Memore. The ship disappeared from the shipping registers in 1933 and was probably scrapped at about that time.

This page features all available views concerning the freighter Alaskan of 1902 and USS Alaskan (ID # 4542) of 1918-1919.


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

Photo #: NH 64587-A

SS Alaskan (American Freighter, 1902)

Probably photographed in 1902, at the time of her completion by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California.
This ship was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 12 March 1918 and commissioned on 23 March as USS Alaskan (ID # 4542). She was transferred from the Naval Overseas Transportation Service to the Troop Transportation Force in December 1918. On 5 August 1919, Alaskan was decommissioned and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 550 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 75277

SS Alaskan (American Freighter, 1902)

Underway in San Francisco Bay, California, probably during builder's trials in 1902. She was constructed by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco.
This ship served as USS Alaskan (ID # 4542) in 1918-19.

Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, 1972. Copied from the Union Iron Works Scrapbook, Vol. II, page 158.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 365 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 75278

SS Alaskan (American Freighter, 1902)

Underway in San Francisco Bay, California, probably during builder's trials in 1902. She was constructed by the Union Iron Works, San Francisco.
This ship served as USS Alaskan (ID # 4542) in 1918-19.

Courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, 1972. Copied from the Union Iron Works Scrapbook, Vol. II, page 158.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 365 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 104597

USS Alaskan (ID # 4542)

Arriving in a U.S. port (probably New York) in 1919, with her decks crowded with troops returning from Europe.
Photographed by J.W. Allison, New York City.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 61KB; 900 x 560 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102967

USS Alaskan (ID # 4542)

At St. Nazaire, France, loaded with homeward bound troops, 3 July 1919.
The original photograph is printed on postal card ("AZO") stock. It is inscribed "Uncle Charles came home on this boat", and also contains a message, dated 15 March 1921, from Fern L. Mason to Frank H. Mason.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 410 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 104734

USS Alaskan (ID # 4542)

2085 Soldiers of the American Expeditionary Force on board the ship for their return voyage to the United States, 3 July 1919. Photographed while Alaskan was departing St. Nazaire, France.
The original photograph was printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 107324

USS Alaskan (ID # 4542)

Troops on board the ship as she departed St. Nazaire, France on 3 July 1919, en route to the United States.
The original photograph was printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 109 KB; 900 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 106038

USS Santa Malta (ID # 3125-A)

Photographed from on board USS Alaskan (ID # 4542) at St. Nazaire, France, 1919.
The view looks aft from Alaskan's midships superstructure, with her after starboard lifeboats in the center foreground. Note the homeward-bound troops on her deck.
The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 485 pixels

 


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


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    Page made 2 August 2002
    New image added 15 December 2008