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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

SS El Sol, prior to World War I


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

El Sol (American Freighter, 1910).
Served as USS El Sol (ID # 4505) in 1918-1919

El Sol, a 6008 gross ton freighter built at Newport News, Virginia, in 1910, was transferred to the Navy by the U.S. Army in early August 1918. Placed in commission at that time as USS El Sol, she was employed by the Naval Overseas Transportation Service carrying Army cargo to France. After completing four round-trip voyages to France, in April 1919 the ship began conversion to a troop transport. In that role, El Sol made two trips from France to the U.S., bringing home veterans of World War I. She was decommissioned in September 1919 and returned to her owner. Her Navy registry ID #, 4505, was probably assigned during the early 1920s.

This page features all available views concerning the freighter El Sol and USS El Sol (ID # 4505).


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

Photo #: None

S.S. El Sol (American Freighter, 1910)

Photographed by E. P. Griffith of Newport News, Virginia, possibly upon completion in 1910.
This ship served as USS El Sol (ID # 4505) in 1918-1919.
NH 70474 is an inferior copy of this image.

Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM.

 
Photo #: NH 102941

USS El Sol (ID # 4505)

In a U.S. East Coast port, 1919.
The original photograph is printed on postal card ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 460 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99449

USS Scranton (ID # 3511)

"Boat that capsized", 28 March 1919.
USS El Sol (ID # 4505) is in the background.

Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99455

USS El Sol (ID # 4505)

Standing by USS Scranton (ID # 3511), probably circa 28 March 1919.

Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99465

USS El Sol (ID # 4505)

Standing by USS Scranton (ID # 3511), 28 March 1919.

Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 43KB; 400 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99451

USS El Sol (ID # 4505)

"shoving off", circa 28 March 1919, after standing by USS Scranton (ID # 3511).

Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 425 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103099

USS El Sol (ID # 4505)

Ship's Officers and Crew posed on board, 7 February 1919, with their mascot dog in the center of the view.
Photographed by Faber & Son, Norfolk, Virginia.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 106365

USS El Sol (ID # 4505)

Ship's Officers and Crew, 1919.
Photograph by J.F.A. LaTour, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 153KB; 900 x 550 pixels

 


The following photograph is of a ship that may be USS El Sol, though it could also be one of her sisters, USS El Occidente (ID # 3307) or USS El Oriente (ID # 4504):

Photo #: NH 106039

U.S. Navy Cargo Ship

Photographed circa early 1919, possibly in the Gironde River, France, off the American Bassens port facility.
This ship is either USS El Oriente (ID # 4504), USS El Occidente (ID # 3307), or USS El Sol (ID # 4505). The name on her bridge face is long enough to be El Occidente. The ship is carrying a bow gun on a platform and is in freighter configuration. El Oriente and El Sol were converted to transports in the Spring of 1919, while El Occidente was decommissioned in March of that year.
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: 80KB; 740 x 470 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 30 November 2003
    New image added 17 February 2009