USS Powhatan (ID-3013)
Encyclopedia
USS Powhatan (ID–3013) was a transport ship for the United States Navy
during World War I
. She was originally the SS Hamburg, a built in 1899 by Aktiengesellschaft Vulkan of Stettin, Germany
, for the Hamburg America Line
. At the outset of World War I the ship was interned by the United States.
She was soon chartered by the American Red Cross
to take medical personnel and supplies to Europe. Renamed Red Cross, she left New York in mid-September, 1914.
When the U.S. entered World War I in April,1917, she was seized and converted to a troop transport. Originally commissioned as USS Hamburg (ID-3013), the ship was renamed Powhatan on 5 September 1917, During World War I
, she carried 15,274 troops to France and after the war she returned 11,803 servicemen to the United States.
After decommissioning by the U.S. Navy, the ship was turned over to the United States Shipping Board
, and chartered for mercantile service until broken up in 1928.
control of the seas she was caught in New York at the outbreak of World War I
.
Chartered by the American Red Cross
to take medical personnel and supplies to Europe and renamed Red Cross, she left New York in mid-September, 1914 and called at Falmouth, England; Paulliac, France; and Rotterdam, The Netherlands, before recrossing the Atlantic in October with American refugees on board. She remained at New York for the next two and a half years.
on 16 August 1917, with Commander
Gatewood Lincoln
in command. She was renamed Powhatan on 5 September 1917 and began the first of 12 consecutive Atlantic crossings on 12 November 1917. Powhatan was twice attacked by a submarine in the Bay of Biscay
on 4 April 1918 but survived unscathed due to prompt location and depth charging by escorting destroyer
s. From 12 November 1917 to 9 December 1918, she carried 15,274 troops to France and after the war she returned 11,803 servicemen to the United States.
Powhatan was decommissioned on 2 September 1919 and was turned over to the Army Transport Service at New York, and finally to the United States Shipping Board
.
and under charter to the Baltic Steamship Corp of America, sailed from New York
to Danzig. On February 11, 1921 she sailed under charter to the United States Mail Steamship Company
on the same run, and in May she was again renamed Hudson
On charter to the United States Lines
in August 1921, she sailed from New York to Bremen, before again being renamed President Fillmore in 1922. After round the world service with the Dollar Line of San Francisco, she was sold for breaking up in 1928
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. She was originally the SS Hamburg, a built in 1899 by Aktiengesellschaft Vulkan of Stettin, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, for the Hamburg America Line
Hamburg America Line
The Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft was a transatlantic shipping enterprise established in Hamburg, Germany during...
. At the outset of World War I the ship was interned by the United States.
She was soon chartered by the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
to take medical personnel and supplies to Europe. Renamed Red Cross, she left New York in mid-September, 1914.
When the U.S. entered World War I in April,1917, she was seized and converted to a troop transport. Originally commissioned as USS Hamburg (ID-3013), the ship was renamed Powhatan on 5 September 1917, During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, she carried 15,274 troops to France and after the war she returned 11,803 servicemen to the United States.
After decommissioning by the U.S. Navy, the ship was turned over to the United States Shipping Board
United States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
, and chartered for mercantile service until broken up in 1928.
SS Hamburg
The SS Hamburg was originally intended to be named Bavaria, being renamed only a month prior to launching. On completion, SS Hamburg served the Hamburg-Far East (until 1904 when Hapag and NDL no longer combined on the mail route), Hamburg-New York and Genoa-New York runs for the Hamburg America Line. The ship was also twice used by Kaiser Wilhelm II as his state yacht for foreign visits, during which time the ship was painted white overall..SS Red Cross
Due to British Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
control of the seas she was caught in New York at the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Chartered by the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
to take medical personnel and supplies to Europe and renamed Red Cross, she left New York in mid-September, 1914 and called at Falmouth, England; Paulliac, France; and Rotterdam, The Netherlands, before recrossing the Atlantic in October with American refugees on board. She remained at New York for the next two and a half years.
USS Hamburg and USS Powhatan
The ship was commissioned as the troop transport USS Hamburg by the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
on 16 August 1917, with Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
Gatewood Lincoln
Gatewood Lincoln
Gatewood Sanders Lincoln was a United States Navy officer who served as the 19th and 22nd Governor of American Samoa. With Nathan Woodworth Post, Lincoln was one of only two American Samoan governors to serve non-consecutive terms...
in command. She was renamed Powhatan on 5 September 1917 and began the first of 12 consecutive Atlantic crossings on 12 November 1917. Powhatan was twice attacked by a submarine in the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
on 4 April 1918 but survived unscathed due to prompt location and depth charging by escorting destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s. From 12 November 1917 to 9 December 1918, she carried 15,274 troops to France and after the war she returned 11,803 servicemen to the United States.
Powhatan was decommissioned on 2 September 1919 and was turned over to the Army Transport Service at New York, and finally to the United States Shipping Board
United States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
.
Postwar
In August, 1920, the ship was renamed New RochelleNew Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
and under charter to the Baltic Steamship Corp of America, sailed from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Danzig. On February 11, 1921 she sailed under charter to the United States Mail Steamship Company
United States Mail Steamship Company
The United States Mail Steamship Company – also called the United States Mail Line, or the U.S. Mail Line – was a passenger steamship line formed in 1920 by the United States Shipping Board to run the USSB's fleet of ex-German ocean liners that had been seized by the United States during World War...
on the same run, and in May she was again renamed Hudson
On charter to the United States Lines
United States Lines
United States Lines was a transatlantic shipping company that operated cargo services from 1921 to 1989, and ocean liners until 1969—most famously the SS United States.-1920s:...
in August 1921, she sailed from New York to Bremen, before again being renamed President Fillmore in 1922. After round the world service with the Dollar Line of San Francisco, she was sold for breaking up in 1928