Sol Navis, a 10,000-ton (dead weight) freighter, was built at Chester, Pennsylvania, for the Luckenbach Steamship Company. Converted to a troop transport while still under construction, upon completion in July 1919 she was delivered to the Navy and apparently placed in commission as USS Sol Navis (ID # 4031-A). During her brief service she made at least one round-trip voyage to bring World War I veterans home from Europe. In September 1919 it was reported that the ship was to be turned over to the U.S. Army, and this may have happened after the Navy transferred her to the U.S. Shipping Board in October 1919. Sol Navis was later returned to the Luckenbach firm and had extensive commercial service as S.S. Harry Luckenbach. On 17 March 1943, while part of Convoy HX-229, she was torpedoed and sunk in the North Atlantic by the German submarine U-91. Though several lifeboats reportedly left the rapidly sinking ship, no one from the Harry Luckenbach was rescued.
This page features the only views we have concerning USS Sol Navis (ID # 4031-A).
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 44465 Transport Sol Navis (American Steamship, 1919) Probably in the Delaware River when delivered to the Navy in July 1919. This freighter was built for the Luckenbach Steamship Company by the Sun Shipbuilding Company of Chester, Pennsylvania. Requisitioned by the U.S. Shipping Board in 1917, while still on the building ways, she was assigned the Navy registry ID # 4031-A and converted to a troop transport. The ship was operated commercially as S.S. Harry Luckenbach from 1920 until torpedoed in 1943. Photographed by LaTour, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 525 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 105175 YMCA Postal Card for Returning Troops, 1919 Reverse side of a card used by returning troops to report their arrival home from Europe. This example was sent on 27 September 1919, reporting the arrival of Joe Whalen in USS Sol Navis (ID # 4031-A). The front side of this card is identical to that seen in Photo # NH 103458. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 490 pixels |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 28 October 2005
New image added 16 December 2007