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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo #  NH 101997:  SS War Beaver.  This ship was USS Lake Erie in 1918-19


Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

War Beaver (Cargo Ship, 1917).
Later renamed Lake Erie. Served as USS Lake Erie (ID # 2190) in 1918-19

War Beaver, a 2028 gross ton steam cargo ship, was built at Detroit, Michigan, in 1917. She was renamed Lake Erie by the United States Shipping Board soon after completion, and at the end of December 1917 was taken over by the Navy. Commissioned as USS Lake Erie (ID # 2190) in January 1918, she operated for a few months as a collier along the U.S. east coast. Beginning in April 1918, she made four round-trip voyages to Europe, carrying general cargo and mines for use in establishing anti-submarine barriers. Sunk in a collision in Welsh waters on 16 January 1919, Lake Erie was raised in August and sold in November 1919. She was named Gezina, Ragni, Arpeco and Force during her lengthy subsequent merchant service. The old ship was finally scrapped in 1959.

This page features all the views we have related to the cargo ship War Beaver, which served as USS Lake Erie in 1918-19.


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 101997

War Beaver
(U.S. cargo ship, 1917)

Photographed at about the time she was completed. She was soon renamed Lake Erie by the U.S. Shipping Board. Acquired by the Navy on 31 December 1917, she was commissioned on 17 January 1918 as USS Lake Erie (ID# 2190). She was sunk in a collision on 16 January 1919 but was raised in August and sold on 11 November 1919.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 101998

War Beaver
(U.S. cargo ship, 1917)

Photographed in an icy port, circa late 1917. Renamed Lake Erie by the U.S. Shipping Board, she was acquired by the Navy on 31 December 1917 and placed in commission on 17 January 1918 as USS Lake Erie (ID# 2190).

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 450 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 16 October 2001