WWI Ship Name Index   Return to WWI Auxiliaries.


Photo # NH 43287: USS Santa Ana off New York City, 1919

U.S. NAVY TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS, 1917-1919

WORLD WAR I ERA TRANSPORTS --
with One Smokestack and Two Masts

Twenty-seven of the U.S. Navy's "plumb"-bow WWI era transports had one smokestack and two masts. In origin, size and configuration they were a very diverse bunch. One was an elderly vessel long employed by the Army. Eleven were ex-German steamers, some commissioned by the Navy during the war and others entered service in 1919 after U.S. merchant marine service. Another eleven were American-built former merchantmen, and three had been Dutch.

The largest of the twenty-seven measured more than 12,000 gross tons, while others were of less than 5000 gross tons. Many of them, originally designed to carry both passengers and a significant amount of cargo, had relatively more length devoted to holds than was typical of specialized passenger liners.

To facilitate identification, these vessels have been placed in eleven sub-groupings, some containing ships of essentially identical design ("sister ships"), while others consist of quite different designs. To distinguish among them, additional features are introduced, including deck profiles, superstructure height and length, and kingposts.

This page features a table (with links to individual ships) of World War I era U.S. Navy passenger liner type transports with one smokestack and two masts, plus a photograph of each ship in this group.


Ships in this group:

TWENTY-SEVEN SHIPS with ONE SMOKESTACK and TWO MASTS, subdivided as shown below:

Note: Some of these ships also had KINGPOSTS, as noted below in entries for individual ships.

Appearance Coding: Passenger liner type transports with one funnel and two masts, and freighters converted to transports (all of which had one smokestack), have their arrangement of masts, kingposts and funnels coded similarly to other widely-used merchant ship identification schemes. Since a "M-F-M" arrangment is typical of the great majority of ships on this page, coding is not given for those vessels. It is, however, provided for all transports fitted with kingposts.


Click the small photographs to prompt a larger view of the same image with a descriptive header.


TWO SHIPS -- Flush Main Deck and Three Superstructure Levels (plus pilothouse):

  • Henry R. Mallory, USN 1918-1919 (ex-American S.S. Henry R. Mallory, 1916).
    • 6200 Gross Tons, Length 424.3', Beam 54.5', Comm. 17 Apr 18, Decom. 23 Oct 19, ID # 1280
  • Philippines, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Bulgaria, 1898).
    • 11,440 Gross Tons, Length 501.4', Beam 62.2', Comm. 1 May 19, Decom. 23 Oct 19, ID # 1677
    One kingpost pair close to superstructure face. Arrangement: M-K-F-M.
    More booms stepped in three locations without masts: B-M-B-K-F-M-B.

    .

     USS Henry R. Mallory, 1919:

     USS Philippines, 1919:

    		 .


    FIVE SHIPS -- Flush Main Deck and Two Superstructure Levels (plus pilothouse):

  • Rijndam, USN 1918-1919 (ex-Dutch S.S. Rijndam, 1901).
    • 12,527 Gross Tons, Length 550.3', Beam 62.3', Comm. 1 May 18, Decom. 22 Oct 19, ID # 2505
    Three kingpost pairs. Arrangement: K-M-K-F-M-K
  • Ancon, USN 1919-1919 (ex-American S.S. Ancon, 1902).
    • 9332 Gross Tons, Length 489.5', Beam 58.0', Comm. 28 Mar 19, Decom. 25 Jul 19, ID # 1467
    Three kingpost pairs. Arrangement: K-M-KF-K-M
  • Buford, USN 1919-1919 (ex-U.S. Army Transport Buford, 1890).
    • 5050 Gross Tons, Length 371', Beam 44.1', Comm. 15 Jan 19, Decom. 2 Sep 19, ID # 3818
    Midships superstructure sides notably high.
  • Sierra, USN 1918-1919 (ex-American S.S. Sierra, 1900).
    • 5989 Gross Tons, Length 400.0', Beam 50.2', Comm. 1 Jul 18, Decom. 1 Oct 19, ID # 1634
    Very long superstructure.
  • Amphion, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Köln, 1899).
    • 7409 Gross Tons, Length 428.9', Beam 54.3', Comm. 12 Apr 19, Decom. 27 Sep 19, ID # 1888
    Very short original superstructure.
    One kingpost pair. Arrangement: M-K-F-M

     USS Rijndam, circa 1919:

     USS Ancon, 1919:

     USS Buford, 1919:

    .

     USS Sierra, July 1918:

     USS Amphion, circa 1919:

    		 .


    TWO SHIPS -- Wells in Main Deck fore and aft of a two or three level Midships Superstructure:

  • Madawaska, USN 1917-1919 (ex-German S.S. König Wilhelm II, 1907).
    • 9410 Gross Tons, Length 490.4', Beam 55.3', Comm. 27 Aug 17, Decom. 2 Sep 19, ID # 3011
    Long superstructure, three levels high (including pilothouse).
    Two kingpost pairs. Arrangement: M-K-F-M-K.
  • Zeelandia, USN 1918-1919 (ex-Dutch S.S. Zeelandia, 1910).
    • 7995 Gross Tons, Length 440.0', Beam 55.7', Comm. 3 Apr 18, Decom. 6 Oct 19, ID # 2507
    Superstructure two levels high, plus a long pilothouse forward of funnel).
    Two short wells aft of superstructure.

    .

     USS Madawaska, circa late 1918 or early 1919:

     USS Zeelandia, circa late 1918 or early 1919:

    		 .


    THREE nearly identical SHIPS -- Wells in Main Deck fore and aft of a quite long one-level Midships Superstructure (plus pilothouse forward of stack, and upper deckhouse aft of it). Rather thick Smokestack:

  • Calamares, USN 1918-1919 (ex-American S.S. Calamares, 1913).
    • 7782 Gross Tons, Length 470.4', Beam 55.3', Comm. 10 Apr 18, Decom. 18 Sep 19, ID # 3662
  • Pastores, USN 1918-1919 (ex-American S.S. Pastores, 1913).
    • 7781 Gross Tons, Length 470.4', Beam 55.3', Comm. 6 May 18, Decom. 8 Oct 19, ID # 4540
  • Tenadores, USN 1918-1918 (ex-American S.S. Tenadores, 1913).
    • 7782 Gross Tons, Length 470.4', Beam 55.3', Comm. 17 Apr 18, Lost 28 Dec 18, No ID #

     USS Calamares, June 1918:

     USS Pastores, 1919:

     USS Tenadores, 1918:


    ONE SHIP -- Raised Forecastle and Poop, with Midships Superstructure inset from hull side:

  • Koningin der Nederlanden, USN 1918-1919 (ex-Dutch S.S. Koningin der Nederlanden, 1911).
    • 8225 Gross Tons, Length 455.2', Beam 55.2', Comm. 4 Apr 18, Decom. 7 Nov 19, ID # 2708
    Long midships superstructure, two levels high (plus a long pilothouse).
    Paired kingposts close to superstructure face. Arrangement: M-K-F-M.

     USS Koningin der Nederlanden, 1919:


    TWO SHIPS -- Well in Main Deck forward of a two-level (plus pilothouse) Midships Superstructure:

  • Black Arrow, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Rhaetia, 1904).
    • 6600 Gross Tons, Length 409.5', Beam 52.7', Comm. 27 Jan 19, Decom. 9 Aug 19, ID # 1534
    Two kingpost pairs. Arrangement: K-M-F-M-K.
  • Eten, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Eten, 1907).
    • 6982 Gross Tons, Length 435.7', Beam 53.2', Comm. 1 May 19, Decom. 19 Aug 19, ID # 4041
    Relatively short midships superstructure.
    One kingpost pair. Arrangement: M-K-F-M.

    .

     USS Black Arrow, 1919:

     S.S. Eten, 1919:

    		 .


    ONE SHIP -- Short well in Main Deck forward of a three-level superstructure. Separate deck houses extending to hull sides below masts. Very tall smokestack. Arrangement: M-F-M

  • General G.W. Goethals, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Grunewald, 1911).
    • 4707 Gross Tons, Length 353.1', Beam 48.7', Comm. 10 Mar 19, Decom. 13 Sep 19, ID # 1443

    .

     S.S. General G.W. Goethals, circa 1917-19:

    		 .


    FIVE SHIPS -- Well in Main Deck forward of a one-level (plus pilothouse) Midships Superstructure:

  • Paysandu, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Bahia, 1898).
    • 4817 Gross Tons, Length 375.7', Beam 46.6', Comm. 29 Jan 19, Decom. 29 Jul 19, ID # 3880
  • General W.C. Gorgas, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Prinz Sigismund, 1902).
    • 4689 Gross Tons, Length 370.2', Beam 45.3', Comm. 8 Mar 19, Decom. 28 Jul 19, ID # 1365
  • Otsego, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Prinz Eitel Friedrich, 1901).
    • 4650 Gross Tons, Length 371.0', Beam 45.3', Comm. 8 Feb 19, Decom. 19 Sep 19, ID # 1628
  • Freedom, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Wittekind, 1894).
    • 5640 Gross Tons, Length 383.4', Beam 46.0', Comm. 24 Jan 19, Decom. 23 Sep 19, ID # 3024
    Long superstructure. Funnel aft of amidships.
  • Arcadia, USN 1919-1919 (ex-German S.S. Arcadia, 1896).
    • 5454 Gross Tons, Length 399.2', Beam 49.2', Comm. 20 Jan 19, Decom. 29 Sep 19, ID # 1605

     USS Paysandu, 1919:

     USAT General W.C. Gorgas during World War II:

     USAT Otsego, circa 1942-1944:

    .

     USS Freedom, 1919:

     USS Arcadia, 1919:

    		 .


    TWO SHIPS -- Well in Main Deck forward of the Midships Superstructure, and the After Deck one level lower than Main Deck:

  • Lenape, USN 1918-1918 (ex-American S.S. Lenape, 1912).
    • 5179 Gross Tons, Length 376.7', Beam 50.1', Comm. 24 Apr 18, Decom. 29 Oct 18, ID # 2700
    Very long superstructure.
  • Callao, USN 1919-1919 (ex-S.S. Sierra Cordoba, 1912).
    • 8226 Gross Tons, Length 439.1', Beam 56.0', Comm. 26 Apr 19, Decom. 20 Sep 19, ID # 4036

    .

     USS Lenape, 1918:

     S.S. Callao, circa 1919:

    		 .


    FOUR essentially identical SHIPS (plus one used as a cargo ship) -- Raised Forecastle and High (four levels) Superstructure:

  • Santa Teresa, USN 1918-1919 (ex-American S.S. Santa Teresa, 1918).
    • 5103 Gross Tons, Length 360.2', Beam 51.6', Comm. 18 Nov 18, Decom. 7 Oct 19, ID # 3804
  • Santa Leonora, USN 1919-1919 (ex-American S.S. Santa Leonora, 1918).
    • 5102 Gross Tons, Length 360.5', Beam 51.5', Comm. 7 Jul 19, Decom. 9 Sep 19, ID # 4352-A. Later: USS Canopus (AS-9)
  • Santa Ana, USN 1919-1919 (ex-American S.S. Santa Ana, 1918).
    • 4942 Gross Tons, Length 360.2', Beam 51.6', Comm. 11 Feb 19, Decom. 21 Jul 19, ID # 2869
  • Santa Elisa, USN 1919-1919 (ex-American S.S. Santa Elisa, 1919).
    • 4942 Gross Tons, Length 360.5', Beam 51.5', Comm. 17 Jun 19, Decom. 15 Oct 19, ID # 4352
  • Note: USS Santa Luisa, USN 1918-1918 (ex-American S.S. Santa Luisa, 1918). 4944 Gross Tons, Length 360.2', Beam 51.6'), whose appearance was essentially identical to the four ships listed immediately above, served in the U.S. Navy as a cargo ship, and was not employed as a personnel transport.

     USS Santa Teresa, 1919:

     USS Santa Ana, 1919:

     USS Santa Elisa, 1919:

    .

     S.S. Santa Leonora, 1919:

     S.S. Santa Luisa, circa 1919:

    Was USN cargo ship, not transport.
    		 .

    Return to WWI Auxiliaries.