USS Manchuria, a 13,638 gross ton troop transport, was built at Camden, New Jersey, in 1904 as the commercial passenger steamer of the same name. She was taken over by the Navy in April 1918 and placed in commission later in that month. During the rest of World War I she made five voyages to France, carrying American service personnel to the European war zone. After the November 1918 Armistice ended the fighting, Manchuria began bringing veterans home, making nine trips from France to the United States for this purpose. The last of these ended at New York in late August 1919. The ship was decommissioned there in September and returned to her owner.
Manchuria then resumed commercial operation, working in trans-Atlantic trade until 1923, when she began making trips between the U.S. East and West coasts. She was renamed President Johnson in November 1928 and thereafter was employed on round-the-World service. Late in 1941 the ship became a transport again, this time as a War Shipping Administration vessel under the control of the U.S. Army. During World War II she carried men and materiel throughout the Pacific Ocean, and made one post-war voyage to and from the Philippines during late 1945 and early 1946. Returned to civilian control after that trip, she was transferred to Panamanian registry in January 1947, renamed Santa Cruz, and spent the next several years carrying Italian emigrants to South America. The old ship was scrapped in Italy in 1952.
This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) and the civilian passenger liner Manchuria and President Johnson.
For more images related to this ship, see:
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 103655 S.S. Manchuria (American Passenger Liner, 1905) Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken prior to World War I, probably off New York City. This ship served as USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) in 1918-1919. This image was published circa 1918-1919 as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views of and on board USS Manchuria. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 500 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 46624 USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) Tied up at New York City, 8 July 1918, after having been painted in pattern camouflage. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 570 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 103144 USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) Underway in 1919, probably arriving at New York after a voyage from Europe. Her decks are crowded with troops. Photographed by E. Muller, Jr., New York. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 515 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 102990 USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) Underway in 1919. The original photograph is printed on postal card ("AZO") stock. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 495 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 100731 USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) In port, probably in 1919 while she was engaged in returning troops from Europe to the United States. Courtesy of Carter Rila, 1986. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 455 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 105828 USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) In the locks at St. Nazaire, France, 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: 95KB; 740 x 460 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 102989 S.S. Manchuria (American Passenger Steamship, 1904) Photograph taken circa the 1920s and printed on a postal card at that time. This ship was USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) in 1918-1919. See Photo # NH 102989-A for a view of the reverse side of the original card. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 480 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 46623 SS Manchuria (American Passenger Steamship, 1904) In port, probably after World War I. She was USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) in 1918-1919. Courtesy of Lieutenant Herbert Campbell, USN (Retired), 1932. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 63220 SS Manchuria (American Passenger Steamship, 1904) In harbor, probably after World War I. This steamer served as USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) in 1918-1919. Courtesy of Lieutenant Herbert Campbell, USN (Retired), 1932. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 99147 SS President Johnson (American Passenger Steamship, 1904) Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken in port during the World War II era. Originally named Manchuria, this ship served as USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) in 1918-1919 and was employed as a civilian-manned troopship during World War II. Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 435 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 82951 "The Original U.S. Troop Transports" Chart compiled 16 August 1919, showing the number of trans-Atlantic "turn arounds" and their average duration for thirty seven U.S. Navy troop transports employed during and immediately after World War I. Collection of the USS Pocahontas Reunion Association, 1974. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 157KB; 690 x 655 pixels Click here to rotate chart 90 degrees clockwise |
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For more images related to this ship, see:
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 13 March 2004
Image updated 11 June 2010