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UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Otsego (ID # 1628), 1919-1919.
Formerly S.S. Prinz Eitel Friedrich (German Passenger-Cargo
Ship, 1901) and S.S. Otsego. Later USAT Otsego (U.S.
Army Transport, 1941-1944)
S.S. Prinz Eitel Friedrich, at 4650 gross ton passenger-cargo steamship, was built at Hamburg, Germany, in 1901 for commercial operation under the German flag. She was taken over by the U.S. Government during World War I, renamed Otsego and assigned the Navy registry ID # 1628. In February 1919 the U.S. Shipping Board turned the ship over to the Navy, which placed her in commission as USS Otsego. After conversion to a troop transport, the ship made four round-trip voyages between the U.S. and France, carrying military cargo eastbound and returning home with American veterans of the First World War. This work was completed in late August and, in mid-September 1919, Otsego was returned to the Shipping Board.
Though quite elderly, the former German liner also saw service during World War II, as a U.S. Army Transport. Chartered to the War Department in early December 1941, she entered Army service as USAT Otsego, subsequently making 31 voyages between Seattle and Alaskan ports. In December 1944 she was returned to the War Shipping Administration and, a month later, transferred to the Soviet Union, which renamed her Ural.
This page features all available views concerning USS Osego (ID # 1628), the U.S. Army Transport Osego and the German passenger ship Prinz Eitel Friedrich of 1901 (later S.S. Otsego).
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
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Photo #: NH 103635 S.S. Prinz Eitel Friedrich (German-American Passenger Cargo Ship, 1901) In port, possibly when inspected by the Third Naval District circa 1917-1918. She may have been renamed Otsego by this time, though the name Prinz Eitel Friedrich is visible on her bow. This former German steamer served as USS Otsego (ID # 1628) during February-September 1919. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 565 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 105763 U.S. Army Transport Otsego Off Seattle, Washington, 30 August 1943. Originally the German commercial steamer Prinz Eitel Friedrich (1901), the ship served as USS Otsego (ID # 1628) in 1919. Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008. Official U.S. Army Transport Service Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image size: 122KB; 900 x 755 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 103620 U.S. Army Transport Otsego Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken circa 1942-1944. Built in 1902 as the German passenger-cargo steamer Prinz Eitel Friedrich, this ship served as USS Otsego (ID # 1628) in 1919. Operated by the U.S. Army during 1941-1944, she was then transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed Ural. Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 430 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 105483-KN (color) Knights of Columbus Post Card for Returning Troops, 1919 Front side of a post card, published by the Knights of Columbus Committee on War Activities, featuring a cartoon by Briggs. This example was sent on 25 May 1919 by a Soldier from the 311th Regiment, 78th Division, who had returned to the U.S. on USS Otsego (ID # 1628). It was mailed to Mr. Harry Foulkes of Elizabeth, New Jersey. See Photo # NH 105483-A-KN for a view of the reverse of this card. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 108KB; 465 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 105483-A-KN (color) Knights of Columbus Post Card for Returning Troops, 1919 Reverse side of a post card, published by the Knights of Columbus Committee on War Activities. This example was sent on 25 May 1919 by a Soldier from the 311th Regiment, 78th Division, who had returned to the U.S. on USS Otsego (ID # 1628). It was mailed to Mr. Harry Foulkes of Elizabeth, New Jersey. See Photo # NH 105483-KN for a view of the front of this card, featuring a cartoon by Briggs of a Soldier celebrating his homecoming. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 485 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 82951 "The Original U.S. Troop Transports" Chart compiled 16 August 1919, showing the number of trans-Atlantic "turn arounds" and their average duration for thirty seven U.S. Navy troop transports employed during and immediately after World War I. Collection of the USS Pocahontas Reunion Association, 1974. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 157KB; 690 x 655 pixels Click here to rotate chart 90 degrees clockwise |
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New image added 11 May 2008