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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # 19-N-10480: S.S. Choctaw, probably prior to her World War I era Naval service


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S.S. Choctaw (American Freighter, 1917).
Served as USS Choctaw (ID # 1648) in 1918-1919

Choctaw, a 2081 gross ton freighter, was built at Chicago, Illinois, in 1917. In February 1918, when she was owned by the Clyde Steamship Company of New York City, the ship was turned over to the Navy. Commissioned in early March as USS Choctaw (ID # 1648), she was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service and, during the rest of the year, made four voyages across the Atlantic to European waters. In addition to general cargo, she transported mines for the great anti-submarine mine barrage that was laid across the North Sea during the last months of World War I.

USS Choctaw was decommissioned in mid-January 1919 and returned to her owners. Reportedly renamed Othander, Tung Lung and Syoka Maru a long subsequent commercial career, she was lost in July 1945 while employed as a Japanese merchant ship.

This page features all available views concerning the freighter Choctaw, which served as USS Choctaw (ID # 1648) in 1918-1919.


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

Photo #: 19-N-10480

S.S. Choctaw (American Freighter, 1917)

Probably photographed prior to her World War I era Naval service.
This commercial steamship was taken over by the Navy, under charter, on 19 February 1918 and placed in commission as USS Choctaw (ID # 1648) on 4 March 1918. She was decommissioned on 16 January 1919 and returned to her owners.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 570 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system..

 
Photo #: NH 105643

S.S. Choctaw (American Freighter, 1917)

Probably photographed prior to her World War I era Naval service.
This commercial steamship was taken over by the Navy, under charter, on 19 February 1918 and placed in commission as USS Choctaw (ID # 1648) on 4 March 1918. She was decommissioned on 16 January 1919 and returned to her owners.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 555 pixels

 


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Page made 20 March 2005
New image added 10 April 2008