Return to Naval Historical
Center home page.  Return to Online
Library listing
Return to Online
Library listing
 
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 President Lincoln (1917-1918).
Originally S.S. President Lincoln (German Passenger Liner,
1907)
S.S. President Lincoln, a 18,168 gross ton passenger
liner, was built in 1907 at Belfast, Ireland, for commercial operation
by the Hamburg-American Line. A rather distinctive ship, with
six masts, a split superstructure and relatively large cargo capacity,
she was mainly intended for the westbound immigrant trade. Trapped
in American waters when World War I began early in August 1914,
she was laid up in New York Harbor until seized when the United
States entered the conflict in April 1917. She was subsequently
turned over to the Navy for conversion to a transport and was
placed in commission in July 1917 as USS President Lincoln
(with no registry ID # assigned).
Repairs and outfitting kept her in port for some time before
President Lincoln took her first troops across the Atlantic
in October 1917. Four more eastbound voyages to France followed
during the next six months. In all, she transported about 23,000
American military personnel to the European war zone. On 29 May
1918 President Lincoln left Brest, France, homeward bound
on the return leg of her fifth voyage, accompanied by three other
troopships. On the morning of the 31st, while about 600 miles
into the trip, she was intercepted and torpedoed by the German
submarine U-90. USS President Lincoln sank soon
afterwards, with the loss of 26 of the more than 700 persons on
board.
This page features, and provides links to, all the views
we have concerning USS President Lincoln and the German
passenger liner President Lincoln.
For other images related to this ship, see:
USS President Lincoln --
On Board Views and Ship's Crew;
USS President Lincoln --
Troops On Board the Ship; and
USS President Lincoln --
Sinking, 31 May 1918.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
  
    | Photo #: NH 41893 
 S.S. President Lincoln
 (German Passenger Liner, 1907)
 
 Underway, prior to World War I.
 This ship was USS President Lincoln in 1917-1918.
 
 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 
 Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 570 pixels
 |  | 
  
    | Photo #: NH 103352 
 S.S. President Lincoln
 (German Passenger Liner, 1907)
 
 Underway in a harbor, prior to World War I. She was USS President
    Lincoln in 1917-1918.
 The original print of this photograph was found on board the
    ship by W.C. Lang in 1917. He donated it to the President
    Lincoln Club on 17 November 1931.
 
 Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
    - USS President Lincoln Collection.
 
 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 
 Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 565 pixels
 |  | 
  
    | Photo #: NH 41887 
 S.S. President Lincoln
 (German Passenger Liner, 1907)
 
 Underway in harbor, prior to World War I.
 Retouched photograph, probably printed on a contemporary postal
    card.
 This ship served as USS President Lincoln in 1917-1918.
 
 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 
 Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 455 pixels
 |  | 
  
    | Photo #: NH 103353 
 USS President Lincoln (1917-1918)
 
 Underway at sea during World War I.
 Photographed from USS Susquehanna (ID # 3016), which was
    in convoy with President Lincoln when the latter was torpedoed
    and sunk on 31 May 1918.
 
 Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
    - USS President Lincoln Collection.
 
 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 
 Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 475 pixels
 |  | 
  
    | Photo #: NH 103270 
 USS President Lincoln (1917-1918)
 
 In port, circa 1917.
 
 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 
 Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 565 pixels
 |  | 
USS President Lincoln is reportedly one of the ships
visible in the following photograph:
  
    | Photo #: NH 82755 
 World War I Troopship Convoy
 
 Photographed from the stern of an escorting destroyer, while
    at sea in 1918.
 The donor claims that one of these ships is USS President
    Lincoln.
 
 Collection of Chief Warrant Officer Keith L. Anderson, USN (Retired),
    1974.
 
 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 
 Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 540 pixels
 |  | 
The following photographs were taken from USS President
Lincoln, but nothing of her is visible in the views:
  
    | Photo #: NH 103375 
 Ferryboat Washington
 
 Alongside USS President Lincoln, at Hoboken, New Jersey,
    to transfer troops for transportation to France, December 1917.
 
 Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
    - USS President Lincoln Collection.
 
 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 
 Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 445 pixels
 |  | 
  
    | Photo #: NH 41888 
 USS President Lincoln (1917-1918)
 
 Single-engine flying boat (possibly a French Lévy-Lepen
    HB-2) passes near the ship, as she steams in convoy during World
    War I.
 Note the freighter in the center distance, with thick smoke streaming
    from her smokestack.
 Photographed from on board President Lincoln.
 
 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 
 Online Image: 44KB; 740 x 450 pixels
 |  | 
  
    | Photo #: NH 103374 
 St. Nazaire, France
 
 Lock at St. Nazaire, photographed from on board USS President
    Lincoln, circa 1917-1918.
 Note the truck in the lower left.
 
 Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
    - USS President Lincoln Collection.
 
 U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
 
 Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 455 pixels
 |  | 
For other images related to this ship, see:
USS President Lincoln --
On Board Views and Ship's Crew;
USS President Lincoln --
Troops On Board the Ship; and
USS President Lincoln --
Sinking, 31 May 1918.
 Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 30 November 2005
Link added 20 April 2007