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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 68722-A: USS Pocahontas underway in 1919

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

USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044), 1917-1919.
Originally commissioned as USS Prinzess Irene

USS Pocahontas, a 18,000 ton (displacement) transport, was built at Stettin, Germany, in 1900 as the 10,881 gross ton passenger liner Prinzess Irene. As part of the North German Lloyd shipping line, she made commercial voyages from Germany and the Mediterranean to America and the Far East. Prinzess Irene had recently arrived at New York when World War I began in early August 1914, and British dominance of the sea routes kept her there, laid up, for the next three years.

With other interned German ships, she was seized when the United States entered the conflict in April 1917 and turned over the the Navy. In late July, while refitting at the New York Navy Yard, the ship was placed in commission as USS Prinzess Irene (sometimes spelled Princess Irene). Renamed Pocahontas at the beginning of September, and later assigned Navy registry ID # 3044, she made her initial voyage as a Navy troop transport during September and October 1917, steaming from New York to St. Nazaire, France, and back. Eight more round-trips trips between the U.S. and France followed before the fighting ended in November 1918. In all, Pocahontas carried more than 24,000 service personnel to the combat zone. During her wartime service, she had one notable encounter with the enemy, a running gun battle with a German submarine on 2 May 1918 that produced no damage to either side.

With the return of peace, Pocahontas reversed her passenger flow from eastbound to westbound, making nine more voyages to bring over 23,000 American war veterans home from France. She finished the last of these trips in late October 1919. Decommissioned in early November and transferred to U.S. Shipping Board custody, she returned to commercial employment early in 1921 as S.S. Pocahontas, steaming between the U.S. and Italy. However, she was laid up at Gibraltar in May of that year, with machinery problems, and remained inactive until 1922, when North German Lloyd purchased their old ship. She reentered German flag service in April 1923 as S.S. Bremen, was renamed Karlsruhe in 1928 and continued to operate until mid-1932. The old ship was then scrapped at Bremerhaven.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views that are available concerning USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044), which was originally commissioned as USS Prinzess Irene.

For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044) -- Activities and Miscellaneous On Board Views;
  • USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044) -- Crew Members, in Groups;
  • USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044) -- Crew Members, as Individuals; and
  • USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044) -- Miscellaneous Images.


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

    Photo #: NH 94205

    USS Prinzess Irene     (with two relatively short funnels)

    Fitting out for transport service, at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, circa August 1917. This ship became USS Pocahontas (later receiving ID # 3044) on 1 September 1917.
    The ship with four taller smokestacks, immediately beyond Prinzess Irene, is USS Kaiser Wilhelm II, which became USS Agamemnon (later receiving ID # 3004) on 1 September 1917.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 42KB; 740 x 400 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106034

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Underway at sea during her first U.S. Navy trans-Atlantic voyage, September 1917.
    The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO") stock, bearing the inscription (on its reverse): "Princess Irene with four thousand troops.". Originally commissioned as USS Prinzess Irene (or Princess Irene) in July 1917, the ship was renamed Pocahontas at the beginning of September, shortly before the beginning of this voyage. However, the earlier name is still visible on her bow.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93102

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Steaming in an Atlantic convoy, circa later 1917 or early 1918.
    Photographed from USS Maumee (Fuel Ship # 14).

    Collection of Hubert C. Rickert, courtesy of Daniel Rickert, 1981.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43032

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Entering harbor at St. Nazaire, France, 31 May 1918.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 475 pixels

     
    Photo #: Unknown

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Photographed at a coal pier circa mid-1918.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph (S-077-A page 32)

     
    Photo #: Unknown

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    In port circa mid-1918 wearing pattern camouflage.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph (S-077-A page 67)

     
    Photo #: NH 68721-A

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Photographed in pattern camouflage, 1918.
    Note that this image has been retouched, especially in the after part of the ship.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 445 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82958

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Wearing pattern camouflage, during World War I.

    Collection of the USS Pocahontas Reunion Association, 1974.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 440 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82955

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Leaving Bordeaux, France, 23 December 1918.

    Collection of the USS Pocahontas Reunion Association, 1974.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 68722-A

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Underway in 1919, while transporting U.S. service personnel home from Europe.
    Photographed by Allison.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 50KB; 740 x 430 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82959

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Anchored in the outer harbor of Brest, France, in 1919.

    Collection of the USS Pocahontas Reunion Association, 1974.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 440 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82954

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Underway at sea, circa 1919.

    Collection of the USS Pocahontas Reunion Association, 1974.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph..

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 385 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 102879

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    In port, 1919.

    Courtesy of Boatswain's Mate First Class Robert G. Tippins, USN (Retired), 2005.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82964

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    In a French port, 1919.

    Collection of the USS Pocahontas Reunion Association, 1974.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103115

    USS Pocahontas     (ID # 3044)

    Panoramic photograph by F.G. Head, 488 7th Avenue, New York City, entitled "Arrival of U.S.S. Pocahontas .. Final Trip .. New York .. October 31, 1919". She was bringing Companies E, F. L and M of the 2nd Pioneer Infantry, U.S. Army, home from France.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 110KB; 1200 x 385 pixels

     


    For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044) -- Activities and Miscellaneous On Board Views;
  • USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044) -- Crew Members, in Groups;
  • USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044) -- Crew Members, as Individuals; and
  • USS Pocahontas (ID # 3044) -- Miscellaneous Images.


    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 28 October 2005
    New image added 7 January 2009