USN Ships--USS Evansville (ID # 2996), 1918-1919

USS Evansville , a 8040-ton (displacement) cargo ship, was built in 1917 at Detroit, Michigan, as the 3819.7 gross ton civilian freighter S.N.A. 4. Too long for intact transit out of the Great Lakes, she was temporarily cut in two and passed through the Welland Canal in that condition on her way to salt water. Reassembled and renamed Lake Tahoe, the ship was acquired by the Navy at New York late in December 1917 and placed in commission in mid-February 1918 as USS Lake Tahoe (ID # 2996). During the rest of World War I she was employed carrying cargo to France and Great Britain, work that continued after the November 1918 Armistice. She was renamed Evansville late in that month. Her last, of a total of four, trans-Atlantic round-trip voyages ended early in January 1919, after which she made two trips from the East Coast to San Francisco, California. Decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia, in August 1919, Evansville was returned to the U.S. Shipping Board. Renamed Soriano during her subsequent commercial career, she was scrapped in 1939.

This page features all available views concerning USS Evansville (ID # 2996), USS Lake Tahoe, and the civilian steamship S.N.A. 4 and Lake Tahoe.

Photo #: NH 70461

Steamship S.N.A. 4 (American Freighter, 1917)

Possibly photographed upon completion of her construction by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Detroit, Michigan, in 1917.
Renamed Lake Tahoe soon after completion, this ship was placed in commission as USS Lake Tahoe (ID # 2996) on 16 February 1918. Her name was changed to Evansville on 25 November 1918. She was decommissioned on 23 August 1919 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 480 pixels

Photo #: NH 99405

Steamship S.N.A. 4 (American Freighter, 1917)

Possibly photographed when she was inspected by the Third Naval District on 28 December 1917.
This ship was acquired by the Navy and placed in commission at New York on 16 February 1918 as USS Lake Tahoe (ID # 2996). Renamed Evansville on 25 November 1918, she was decommissioned and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board on 23 August 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 485 x 765 pixels

Photo #: NH 102921

USS Evansville (ID # 2996)

Ship's Officers and Crew posed on the ship's main deck, just forward of her bridge, and on her first superstructure deck, 1919.
Panoramic photograph by Hughes & Estabrook, 251 W. 42nd St., New York City.
The reverse of the original print bears a hand-written date of 30 August 1919, a week after Evansville was decommissioned.
Note the use of portable platforms to support the crewmen standing on either side of the hatch.

Donation of First Sergeant Gregory D. Casler, USMC (Retired), 2004.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 113KB; 1200 x 390 pixels

UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

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

USS Evansville (ID # 2996), 1918-1919.
Named Lake Tahoe until November 1918.
Was also the civilian freighter S.N.A. 4 and Lake Tahoe (1917)

Photo #: NH 70461 Steamship S.N.A. 4 (American Freighter, 1917) Possibly photographed upon completion of her construction by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Detroit, Michigan, in 1917. Renamed Lake Tahoe soon after completion, this ship was placed in commission as USS Lake Tahoe (ID # 2996) on 16 February 1918. Her name was changed to Evansville on 25 November 1918. She was decommissioned on 23 August 1919 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 480 pixels
Photo #: NH 99405 Steamship S.N.A. 4 (American Freighter, 1917) Possibly photographed when she was inspected by the Third Naval District on 28 December 1917. This ship was acquired by the Navy and placed in commission at New York on 16 February 1918 as USS Lake Tahoe (ID # 2996). Renamed Evansville on 25 November 1918, she was decommissioned and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board on 23 August 1919. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 84KB; 485 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 102921 USS Evansville (ID # 2996) Ship's Officers and Crew posed on the ship's main deck, just forward of her bridge, and on her first superstructure deck, 1919. Panoramic photograph by Hughes & Estabrook, 251 W. 42nd St., New York City. The reverse of the original print bears a hand-written date of 30 August 1919, a week after Evansville was decommissioned. Note the use of portable platforms to support the crewmen standing on either side of the hatch. Donation of First Sergeant Gregory D. Casler, USMC (Retired), 2004. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 113KB; 1200 x 390 pixels

UNITED STATES NAVY TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS WORLD WAR I

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

USS Evansville (ID # 2996), 1918-1919. Named Lake Tahoe until November 1918. Was also the civilian freighter S.N.A. 4 and Lake Tahoe (1917)

UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

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

USS Evansville (ID # 2996), 1918-1919.
Named Lake Tahoe until November 1918.
Was also the civilian freighter S.N.A. 4 and Lake Tahoe (1917)