USS Artemis, a 8414 gross ton transport, was built at Belfast, Ireland, in 1902 as the commercial passenger steamer Iowa. After sale to German interests in 1912, she was renamed Bohemia. When World War I began in August 1914, the ship remained in a U.S. port and was seized when the United States entered the conflict in April 1917. She served as the U.S. Army Transport Artemis for the rest of the war and for over three months after its end. Subsequently transferred to the Navy, in April 1919 she was placed in commission as USS Artemis (ID # 2187). During April-September 1919 she made four round-trip voyages between the East Coast and France, bringing home nearly 12,000 troops. USS Artemis was decommissioned in mid-October 1919 and turned over the the U.S. Shipping Board. Though she may have had some commercial service in the early 1920s, Artemis was generally inactive during the inter-war decades. Acquired by the British in 1941 and renamed Empire Bittern, she was expended as a blockship as part of the Normandy operation in June 1944.
This page features all the views we have concerning USS Artemis (ID # 2187) and the U.S. Army Transport Artemis (1917-1919).
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 102872 U.S. Army Transport Artemis Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing the ship underway, circa 1917-1919. She also served as USS Artemis (ID # 2187) in 1919. Courtesy of Boatswain's Mate First Class Robert G. Tippins, USN (Retired), 2005. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 365 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 99270 USAT Artemis (U.S. Army Transport, 1917-1919) In port during or immediately after World War I. This ship served as USS Artemis (ID # 2187) in April-September 1919. The barge Pennsylvania Railroad # 241 is alongside Artemis' forward hold, with two other barges further aft. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 515 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 57697-A USS Artemis (ID # 2187) Underway in harbor, 1919. Photo received from the Caraway Company, Rutherford, New Jersey, 10 August 1936. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 515 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 105717 USS Artemis (ID # 2187) Crowded with homeward-bound troops, 1919. The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock. A note on the reverse of this card states: "Left Brest France July 21st 1919. Arrived Newport News Aug. 3 1919.". Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 470 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 106383 USS Artemis (ID # 2187) In port, probably at Newport News, Virginia, 1919. The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock. Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 465 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 105773-A USS Artemis (ID # 2187) At Newport News, Virginia, after arriving from Europe with troops of the U.S. Army's 54th Pioneer Infantry Regiment on 26 June 1919. Men of that regiment are in the foreground and on the pier beside the ship. Cropped from Photo # NH 105773. Photographed by Holladay, Newport News, Virginia. Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image size: 174KB; 1200 x 655 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 105773 U.S. Army 54th Pioneer Infantry Regiment Troops in formation at Newport News, Virginia, after arriving from Europe on USS Artemis (ID # 2187) on 26 June 1919. Photographed by Holladay Studio, Newport News, Virginia. Note the military band at the far left, USS Artemis in the left center background, U.S. Army barge No. 856 in the center with a coal barge astern, and USS SC-413 and USS SC-414 alongside the pier in right center. Cropped versions of this photo, emphasizing these vessels are Photo #s NH 105773-A and NH 105773-B. Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image size: 141KB; 2000 x 325 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 104154 USS Artemis (ID # 2187) Arriving in U.S. waters, while transporting troops home from Europe, 3 August 1919. Panoramic photograph by Clements, 619 F. St. N.W., Washington, D.C. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 80KB; 1200 x 390 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 107359 USS Artemis (ID # 2187) Arriving at Newport News, Virginia on 3 August 1919, bringing home from Europe troops of the American Expeditionary Force and the Army of Occupation. Panoramic photograph by Moore. The tug in the foreground has a name board on her pilot house, but the name is illegible. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2011. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 121 KB; 2000 x 505 pixels |
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NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 31 August 2003
New image added 15 February 2011