WWI Ship Name Index   Return to WWI Auxiliaries.

UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 105492: USS Lancaster loading homeward bound troops in 1919

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Lancaster (ID # 2953), 1918-1919

USS Lancaster, a 7699 gross ton cargo ship originally to have been named War Trojan, was launched on 5 May 1918 by the Sun Shipbuilding Co., Chester, Pa.; acquired by the Navy on 19 June 1918; and commissioned at Philadelphia the same day.

Assigned to NOTS, Lancaster departed New York on 13 July with cargo for South American ports. Arriving Buenos Aires 10 days later, she discharged her cargo and proceeded to Marseilles, France, where she arrived on 28 October. After the Armistice was signed on 11 November, Lancaster returned to New York and joined the Cruiser Transport Force on 17 December.

Lancaster together with other units of the Cruiser Transport Force was assigned the task of returning World War I veterans from Europe to the United States. The force returned over 85 percent of the veterans during the period from November 1918 to July 1919. Completing her service, Lancaster decommissioned on 4 October 1919 and was returned to the USSB the same day.

After interwar service with five different American firms, Lancaster was wrecked off Casablanca on 30 December 1942.

This page features, and provides links to, all available views of USS Lancaster (ID # 2953).

For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Lancaster (ID # 2953) -- On Board and Close-Up Views.


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

    Photo #: NH 105492

    USS Lancaster     (ID # 2953)

    Embarking troops for passage home to the United States, 1919.
    Probably photographed at American Bassens, France.
    Another photograph in this set bears the inscription "Photo taken May 16, '19. American Docks. Troups (sic) embarking on U.S.S. Lancaster. Owner L. G. Moore". The name "Lancaster" is visible on the name board mounted on the starboard side of the ship's upper bridge.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: NH 105492 (detail)

    USS Lancaster     (ID # 2953)

    An enlargement of the portion of NH 105492 showing USS Lancaster.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: NH 105492

    S.S. Lancaster     (American Freighter, 1918)

    With neutrality markings circa 1939-1940.
    The print is backstamped "Palmer Pictures, 90 West Street, New York City."

    Source: Shipscribe.

     


    For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Lancaster (ID # 2953) -- On Board and Close-Up Views.


    Return to WWI Auxiliaries.

    Page made 8 August 2015