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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 93755: USAT U.S. Grant steaming in the Sibuyan Sea, P.I., 23 October 1938

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the UNITED STATES ARMY --

USAT U.S. Grant (Transport, 1919-1941).
Named Madawaska until 1922

The U.S. Army Transport U.S. Grant (of 9410 gross tons) was originally the German commercial steamer König Wilhelm II, built at Stettin, Germany in 1907. She served as USS Madawaska during and after World War I and was transferred to the War Department in early September 1919. Initially retaining that name as a U.S. Army Transport, she carried Czechoslovak troops from Siberia to Europe in 1920. Modified at New York for regular Army trooping service in 1921-1922, she was renamed U.S. Grant in June 1922.

The ship thereafter operated on trans-Pacific service to the Philippines and China, with return voyages via the Panama Canal to New York. Breaks in this schedule took place when she was laid up for a year in the mid-1920s, and later in the decade when she was extensively refitted at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. She ran aground at Guam on 19 May 1939, but was safely gotten afloat two days later after a considerable effort. In June 1941 USAT U.S. Grant was turned over to the Navy. Placed in commission as USS U.S. Grant (AP-29), she served through World War II, completing her final voyage in November 1945. Returned to the War Department soon afterwards, she was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Commission and laid up in 1946. U.S. Grant was sold for scrapping in February 1948.

This page features all available views of the U.S. Army Transport U.S. Grant and Madawaska.

For additional views of this ship, taken during her U.S. Navy service, see:

  • USS Madawaska (ID # 3011), 1917-1919. Later USS U.S. Grant (AP-29), 1941-1945.


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

    Photo #: NH 76072

    USAT Madawaska     (U.S. Army Transport, 1919-1941)

    In harbor, circa 1920-1921.
    This ship, which was renamed U.S. Grant in 1922, served as USS Madawaska (ID # 3011) in 1917-1919.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 67486

    USAT U.S. Grant     (U.S. Army Transport, 1919-1941)

    Photographed circa the 1920s and 1930s.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 445 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105104

    USAT U.S. Grant     (U.S. Army Transport)

    In port, circa the 1930s.
    The original image is printed on postcard ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2007.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image size: 73KB; 740 x 475 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93756

    USAT U.S. Grant     (U.S. Army Transport, 1919-1941)

    Underway in Manila Bay, 11 May 1938.
    Photographed by the U.S. Army Air Corps Second Observation Squadron.
    Note the U.S. flag painted on her side.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93755

    USAT U.S. Grant     (U.S. Army Transport, 1919-1941)

    Steaming in the Sibuyan Sea, Philippine Islands, 23 October 1938.
    Photographed by the U.S. Army Air Corps Second Observation Squadron.
    Note the U.S. flag painted on her side.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     


    For additional views of this ship, taken during her U.S. Navy service, see:

  • USS Madawaska (ID # 3011), 1917-1919. Later USS U.S. Grant (AP-29), 1941-1945.


    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 18 June 2003
    Coding updated 17 October 2010