Civilian Ships--SS Katrina Luckenbach (Freighter, 1918)

Katrina Luckenbach, a steam turbine powered freighter of 8074 gross tons, was built in 1917-18 at Quincy, Massachusetts. The Navy chartered her for World War I service soon after construction was completed, placing her in commission in May 1918 as USS Katrina Luckenbach. Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, she carried supplies to Europe beginning in June 1918. In December 1918, after the end of the fighting, she was transferred to the Cruiser and Transport Force and converted to a troop transport for use bringing American military personnel home from the former war zone. USS Katrina Luckenbach was decommissioned and returned to her owners in November 1919.

This page features all available views concerning the freighter Katrina Luckenbach and USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020).

Photo #: NH 43022

Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts

Ships fitting out at the Fore River shipyard, 19 March 1918. The six destroyers are Little (DD-79), Kimberly (DD-80), Sigourney (DD-81), Gregory (DD-82), Colhoun (DD-85) and Stevens (DD-86), which had builder's hull numbers 274-277 and 280-281 respectively.
The freighter at right is Katrina Luckenbach, yard hull # 267, which served as USS Katrina Luckenbach in 1918-19. Most of the equipment on the pier is for her.
Note the large submarine being built in the background, under the revolving crane.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 146KB; 740 x 585 pixels

Photo #: NH 101797

S.S. Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. freighter, 1918)

Photographed upon completion, circa spring 1918, still wearing her builder's hull number (# 265). Constructed by Bethlehem Steel Company's Fore River shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, she was chartered by the Navy and commissioned on 18 May 1918 as USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020).

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 455 pixels

Photo #: None

S.S. Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. freighter, 1918)

Photographed on 30 April 1918 by her builder, probably on builder's trials.

Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-S.

Photo #: None

S.S. Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. freighter, 1918)

Photographed on 1 May 1918, probably on builder's trials.

Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-M-B-3-14, with a dated print in RG-32-S.

Photo #: None

S.S. Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. freighter, 1918)

Photographed circa 1 May 1918, probably on builder's trials.

Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-M-B-3-14.

Photo #: NH 102950

Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia

Ships at the Navy Yard, circa October 1918. They are (from left to right):
USS Paul Jones (Destroyer # 10);
USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020); and
USS Rondo (ID # 2488).
All are painted in pattern camouflage.

Collection of Arthur J. Rozett.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 460 pixels

Photo #: NH 102951

Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia

Ships at the Navy Yard, circa October 1918. They are (from left to right center):
USS Paul Jones (Destroyer # 10);
USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020); and
USS Rondo (ID # 2488).
All three are wearing pattern camouflage.
A steam launch from USS Indiana (Battleship # 1) is in the center foreground. U.S. Navy Divers Float # 2 is in the left foreground.

Collection of Arthur J. Rozett.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 460 pixels

Photo #: NH 104494

Troops embarking on a U.S. Navy transport

At American Bassens, France, for passage home to the United States, 1919.
This ship is a former Luckenbach Lines freighter, either USS Edward Luckenbach (ID # 1662), USS Julia Luckenbach (ID # 2407), USS F.J. Luckenbach (ID # 2169), USS K.I. Luckenbach (ID # 2291) or USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID #3020).
The original photograph is printed on postcard ("AZO" stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 475 pixels

UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

SS Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. Freighter, 1918);
Later USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020), 1918-1919

Photo #: NH 43022 Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts Ships fitting out at the Fore River shipyard, 19 March 1918. The six destroyers are Little (DD-79), Kimberly (DD-80), Sigourney (DD-81), Gregory (DD-82), Colhoun (DD-85) and Stevens (DD-86), which had builder's hull numbers 274-277 and 280-281 respectively. The freighter at right is Katrina Luckenbach, yard hull # 267, which served as USS Katrina Luckenbach in 1918-19. Most of the equipment on the pier is for her. Note the large submarine being built in the background, under the revolving crane. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 146KB; 740 x 585 pixels
Photo #: NH 101797 S.S. Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. freighter, 1918) Photographed upon completion, circa spring 1918, still wearing her builder's hull number (# 265). Constructed by Bethlehem Steel Company's Fore River shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, she was chartered by the Navy and commissioned on 18 May 1918 as USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020). The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 455 pixels
Photo #: None S.S. Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. freighter, 1918) Photographed on 30 April 1918 by her builder, probably on builder's trials. Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-S.
Photo #: None S.S. Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. freighter, 1918) Photographed on 1 May 1918, probably on builder's trials. Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-M-B-3-14, with a dated print in RG-32-S.
Photo #: None S.S. Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. freighter, 1918) Photographed circa 1 May 1918, probably on builder's trials. Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-32-M-B-3-14.
Photo #: NH 102950 Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia Ships at the Navy Yard, circa October 1918. They are (from left to right): USS Paul Jones (Destroyer # 10); USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020); and USS Rondo (ID # 2488). All are painted in pattern camouflage. Collection of Arthur J. Rozett. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 460 pixels
Photo #: NH 102951 Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia Ships at the Navy Yard, circa October 1918. They are (from left to right center): USS Paul Jones (Destroyer # 10); USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020); and USS Rondo (ID # 2488). All three are wearing pattern camouflage. A steam launch from USS Indiana (Battleship # 1) is in the center foreground. U.S. Navy Divers Float # 2 is in the left foreground. Collection of Arthur J. Rozett. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 460 pixels

UNITED STATES NAVY TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS WORLD WAR I

Online Library of Selected Images: -- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

SS Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. Freighter, 1918); Later USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020), 1918-1919

UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

SS Katrina Luckenbach (U.S. Freighter, 1918);
Later USS Katrina Luckenbach (ID # 3020), 1918-1919