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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 43137: USS Santa Clara arrives in New York Harbor, circa April-August 1919

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

USS Santa Clara (ID # 4523), 1918-1919.
Originally, and later, S.S. Santa Clara (1913)

USS Santa Clara, a 13,320-ton (displacement) cargo ship and troop transport, was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1913 as the 6300 gross ton freighter of the same name. S.S. Santa Clara was chartered by the U.S. Army in late October 1917 and, during the next eleven months, carried military cargo to Europe. Taken over by the Navy in September 1918, she was placed in commission in October and assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. She completed one round-trip voyage between the U.S. East Coast and France by the end of the year. In January 1919 Santa Clara was transferred to the Cruiser and Transport Force and converted to a troop transport. Between March and August she made four trips to France to bring home American service personnel. USS Santa Clara was decommissioned in mid-August 1919 and returned to her owners, the Atlantic & Pacific Steamship Company of New York City.

This page features all available views concerning USS Santa Clara (ID # 4523) and the civilian freighter Santa Clara (1913).


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

Photo #: NH 65064

S.S. Santa Clara (American Freighter, 1913)

Probably photographed when first completed.
This steamer was acquired by the Navy on in September 1918 and placed in commission a few weeks later as USS Santa Clara (ID # 4523). She was decommissioned and returned to her owner, W.R. Grace & Company, on 19 August 1919.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 510 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 106035

USS Santa Clara (ID # 4523)

In port, 1919.
The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO") stock, bearing the inscription (on its reverse): "USS Santa Clara. Left Brest, France July 23rd 1919."

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 440 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43137

USS Santa Clara (ID # 4323)

With her upper deck crowded with troops, as she arrives in New York Harbor after a voyage from France, circa April-August 1919.
A U.S. Army tug is alongside Santa Clara.

Photograph received from the Caraway Company, Rutterford, New Jersey, 10 August 1936.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 530 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 106037

USS Tudno (Ferry Lighter, 1918-1919)

Alongside USS Santa Clara (ID # 4523) in Brest harbor, France, 23 July 1919, transferring troops for passage home to the United States.
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: 109KB; 740 x 460 pixels

 


The following photograph was taken from USS Santa Clara, but none of her structure is visible in it:

Photo #: NH 106036

USS Tudno (Ferry Lighter, 1918-1919)

Coming alongside USS Santa Clara (ID # 4523) in Brest harbor, France, 23 July 1919, to transfer troops for passage home to the United States.
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 455 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 19 March 2005
    New images added 11 January 2009