Five U.S. Navy WWI era transports were converted from freighters with almost identical dimensions built in 1916-1918 for operation by the W.R. Grace Steamship Company. All were constructed by William Cramp and Sons at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Three performed their initial Naval service as cargo ships, beginning in 1918, and were converted for transport duties after fighting ended. The other two, all commissioned in 1919, only served as transports.
All ships in this group had names beginning with the word "Santa", which was typical of the Grace Line. However, several ships with similar names, but very different designs, also served as U.S. Navy transports during the World War I era. These are listed on other pages.
This page features a table (with links to individual ships) of World War I era U.S. Navy transports converted from freighters built in 1916-1918 for operation by the W.R. Grace Steamship Company, plus one photograph of each ship in this group.
Click the small photographs to prompt a larger view of the same image with a descriptive header.
FIVE SHIPS, built by the Cramp Shipyard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1916-1918.
All had single smokestacks, prominent forecastles and counter sterns.
With one minor exception, their dimensions are identical.
Arrangement of kingposts, masts and smokestacks: M-K-F-K-M:
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