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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 65063: S.S. Santa Luisa, probably off Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1919


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

S.S. Santa Luisa (Passenger Steamship, 1918).
Later named El Salvador, Santa Ana and Mount McKinley.
Served as USS Santa Luisa (ID # 2873) in 1918.

S.S. Santa Luisa, a 4944 gross ton passenger steamer, was built by William Cramp and Sons at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When completed in August 1918, she was turned over to the Navy and placed in commission as USS Santa Luisa (ID # 2873). For the rest of World War I she was employed by the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, making two round-trip voyages across the Atlantic with cargo for U.S. forces in France. Decommissioned in December 1918, she was returned to the U.S. Shipping Board and ultimately to her original owner, the W.R. Grace shipping line. She had commercial service during the next twenty-four years under the names Santa Luisa, El Salvador, Santa Ana and Mount McKinley. The ship was accidently lost in the Aleutians on 11 March 1942.

This page features all available views concerning the steamship Santa Luisa, which served as USS Santa Luisa (ID # 2873) in 1918.


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

Photo #: NH 65063

S.S. Santa Luisa (American Passenger Ship, 1918)

Probably off Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1919, following reconversion for commercial employment. She was owned by W.R. Grace & Company and is flying that firm's house flag from her mainmast peak.
Note that Santa Luisa still has her World War I gun platform forward.
Photographed by the William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Building Company, Philadelphia.
This ship was USS Santa Luisa in 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 
Photo #: None

S.S. Mount McKinley (American Passenger Ship, 1918)

Photographed in Alaskan waters circa the late 1930s by Schallerer's of Ketchikan.

Source: Shipscribe.

 
Photo #: 80-G-79578

S.S. Mount McKinley (American Passenger Ship, 1918)

At Kodiak, Alaska, in 1942 shortly before her loss. She is painted in wartime grey but carries no armament.

Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-80-G

 


The following photograph shows Santa Luisa or her sister, S.S. Santa Ana:

Photo #: NH 93942

S.S. Santa Ana (American Passenger-Cargo Steamship, 1918)

Fitting out at the William Cramp and Sons shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa late 1918.
This ship served as USS Santa Ana (ID # 2869) between 11 February and 21 July 1919. She was renamed Guatamala, Santa Cecilia and Irwin while in commercial operation between the World Wars and was the Army transport and hospital ship John L. Clem during and shortly after World War II.
Note: This same photograph was also used on the official data card for USS Santa Luisa (ID # 2873), and may well show that ship refitting for commercial service in 1919, rather than Santa Ana.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 480 pixels

 


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Page made 31 January 2005