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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017), 1917-1919
USS Von Steuben, a 23,500-ton troop
transport, was built in Stettin, Germany, in 1901 as the passenger
liner Kronprinz
Wilhelm. She served as a German Navy commerce raider during
the first eight months of World War I, then was interned in the
United States from April 1915 until April 1917. Kronprinz Wilhelm
was seized when the U.S. entered the conflict, turned over to
the Navy and commissioned as USS Von Steuben in June 1917.
Initially intended to serve as an auxiliary cruiser, her mission
was changed to troop carrying in September, while she was still
in the shipyard for repairs and alterations.
Von Steuben began her active service in late September
1917. She operated along the U.S. east coast until the end of
October, when she left New York to take U.S. troops and other
personnel to Europe. This voyage was marred by a collision with
USS Agamemnon on 9
November, but the ship successfully delivered her passengers to
Brest, France. In December, on the return leg of the trip, Von
Steuben rendered assistance at Halifax, Nova Scotia, after
the explosion there of the ammunition ship Mont Blanc.
After a few months of operations between the U.S. and Panama,
the tranport returned to trans-Atlantic troop transport duty in
February 1918. Up to the Armistice in November of that year, Von
Steuben completed eight more round-trips to France. This essential
work was marked by several notable incidents, including the explosion
of one of her guns in March, an unsuccessful attack by the German
submarine U-151 in June and the rescue of some two-thousand
passengers from the burning transport USS Henderson in
July. During September and October, she weathered a severe storm
and suffered an outbreak
of influenza on board that took nearly three-dozen lives.
Under repair from November 1918, Von Steuben resumed
transport service in early March 1919 and brought thousands of
Americans home from Europe over the next several months. The ship
was decommissioned in October 1919 and turned over to the U.S.
Shipping Board. Under the names Baron Von Steuben and Von
Steuben, she operated in commercial service until 1923, when
she was scrapped.
This page features, or provides links to, all the views
we have concerning the World War I era troop transport USS Von
Steuben (ID # 3017).
For other images related to this ship while she was in U.S.
Navy service, see:
USS Von Steuben -- Part
II, USS Von Steuben
-- On Board, Close-Up and Crew, and
USS Von Steuben -- On Board
Views (Part II).
For views of this ship when she was under German ownership,
see:
Kronprinz
Wilhelm (German Passenger Liner, 1901).
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 97998
USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017)
In port, 31 October 1917.
USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) is behind her.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 105069
USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017)
At anchor, circa late 1917 or early 1918.
The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO")
stock.
The original card bears a hand-written inscription "3-14-19",
which may be the date that the original owner was on Von Steuben.
It is not the date of the photograph, as the configuration of
the ship's masts, and the presence of guns, strongly indicates
that it was taken about a year earlier.
Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2007.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image size: 53KB; 740 x 445
pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 101626
USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017)
Photographed during World War I. Note her odd camouflage scheme:
a destroyer silhouette painted on her side.
Courtesy of Jack Howland, 1987.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 410 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 42418
USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017)
Alongside a pier at New York City, 28 June 1918.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 560 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 42419
USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017)
At New York City, circa 1918-19, decorated with signal flags
for a parade of New York's 27th Division.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 97668
USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017)
In New York Harbor in 1919, probably upon arrival, while returning
troops from France.
Photographed by Enrique Muller.
Donation of Larry Speaks, 2001.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 430 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 105322
USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017)
Underway in New York Harbor, 1919.
Panoramic photograph by the National Photo Service, Inc., New
York.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral
Frederick J. Horne.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 100KB; 2000 x 510
pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 105396
USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017)
Arriving at New York on 1 September 1919, bringing home from
France Soldiers of the First Division Headquarters; Seventh Field
Artillery; First Machine Gun Battalion; First Ammunition Train;
Ambulance Companies Two, Three and Twelve; and Field Hospital
Number Twelve.
Panoramic photograph by Head-Mayberry, 488 Seventh Avenue, New
York City.
Assisting Von Steuben are a U.S. Army tug (far right)
and the tug Jennie S. Wade (right center foreground).
Donation of Ione J. Musall Ladd, 2007, from the collection of
her Father, William Edward Musall, who served in USS Von Steuben
during the World War I era.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image size: 125KB; 1200 x
490 pixels |
 |
For other images related to this ship while she was in U.S.
Navy service, see:
USS Von Steuben -- Part
II, USS Von Steuben
-- On Board, Close-Up and Crew, and
USS Von Steuben -- On Board
Views (Part II).
For views of this ship when she was under German ownership,
see:
Kronprinz
Wilhelm (German Passenger Liner, 1901).
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 29 September 2001
New images added and page divided 8 February 2008