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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 73248: USS Freedom in port, 1919

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

USS Freedom (ID # 3024), 1919-1919.
Previously the S.S. Freedom (1918), Iroquois (1917) and Wittekind (built 1894)

USS Freedom, a 5640 gross ton troop transport, was built in 1894 at Hamburg, Germany, as the German passenger-cargo steamer Wittekind. Seized by the United States Government in 1917, she was renamed Iroquois and operated under charter to the U.S. Army during the rest of World War I. The ship was renamed Freedom in mid-1918 and, in January 1919, was turned over to the Navy and assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force. During the next seven months she was engaged in returning American servicemen from France, making three round-trip voyages during that time. USS Freedom was decommissioned in September 1919 and given back to the U.S. Shipping Board.

This page features all available views concerning USS Freedom (ID # 3024) and the civilian steamship Freedom (ex-Iroquois, ex-Wittekind).


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

Photo #: NH 99348

S.S. Freedom (American Passenger-Cargo Steamer, 1894)

In port, probably in mid or late 1918. Originally the German steamer Wittekind, she was seized by the U.S. Government in 1917 and renamed Iroquois. Her name was changed to Freedom circa August 1918.
This ship was taken over by the Navy in January 1919 and placed in commission as USS Freedom (ID # 3024). She was decommissioned on 23 September 1919 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 51KB; 580 x 675 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 73248

USS Freedom (ID # 3024)

In port in 1919, while engaged in transporting U.S. troops home from France.
Note inscription at the bottom of the image: "U.S.S. Freedom, the ship that brought me home".

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1970.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 450 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 107092

Brest Harbor, France (ID # 1677)

Shipping in Brest Harbor, 1919.
USS Freedom (ID# 3024) is in the center foreground, marked with an "X".
Copied from the USS Philippines album (Lot S-589), page 24.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 110 KB; 900 x 655 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 may 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 21 December 2003
    New image added 26 November 2010