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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 102566: S.S. William A. McKenney, 1916


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

S.S. William A. McKenney (Freighter, 1916).
Served as USS William A. McKenney (ID # 2102) in 1918-1919

William A. McKenney, a 6256 gross ton freighter, was launched at Newport News, Virginia, in late October 1916 for employment by the Crowell & Thurlow Steamship Company of Boston, Massachusetts. She was taken over by the Navy in June 1918 and placed in commission as USS William A. McKenney (ID # 2102). For the remainder of World War I, and for a few months after the November 1918 Armistice, she was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, making three round-trip voyages between the United States and France. The ship was decommissioned at the end of January 1919 and transferred to the U.S. Shipping Board for return to her owner. William A. McKenney's subsequent commercial career lasted until 4 October 1942, when she was sunk off British Guiana by the German submarine U-175.

This page features all available views concerning the freighter William A. McKenney, which was USS William A. McKenney (ID # 2102) in 1918-1919.


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

Photo #: NH 102566

S.S. William A. McKenney (American Freighter, 1916)

Photographed by E.P. Griffith, of Newport News, Virginia, probably when she was first completed by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in 1916.
This steamship was acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 5 June 1918 as USS William A. McKenney (ID # 2102). She was decommissioned on 31 January 1919 and turned over the the U.S. Shipping Board for return to her owners.

The original photograph is in Record Group 19-LCM in the National Archives.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99541

S.S. William A. McKenney (American Freighter, 1916)

In port, possibly when she was inspected by the Fifth Naval District on 12 December 1917.
This ship served as USS William A. McKenney (ID # 2102) from June 1918 until the end of January 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 


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Page made 19 September 2004