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Photo # NH 105771:  USS Mexican arriving at New York with homeward bound troops on board, 1919

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Mexican (ID # 1655), 1917-1919.
Previously, and later, the civilian freighter Mexican (1907)

USS Mexican, a 19,550-ton (displacement) cargo ship and transport, was built at San Francisco, California, in 1907 as the American Hawaiian Steamship Company's 8673 gross ton freighter of the same name. She was chartered by the War Department in December 1917 and later in that month placed in commission as a Navy ship. Operated as an animal transport during the rest of World War I, in December 1918, as with many other large cargo ships, Mexican was converted for troop carrying duties. She was then employed bringing U.S. service personnel home from the former war zone. In early August 1919, with this work largely completed, she was returned to her owner and resumed her commercial career. Following nearly three more decades of operation, S.S. Mexican was scrapped in 1948.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Mexican (ID # 1655) and the civilian freighter Mexican.

For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Mexican (ID # 1655) -- On Board and Close Up Views.


    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 65104

    S.S. Mexican
    (American Freighter, 1907)

    In port, possibly when she was inspected by the 12th Naval District on 10 June 1917.
    This steamer was commissioned as USS Mexican (ID # 1655) on 23 December 1917. She was returned to her owner, the American Hawaiian Steamship Company, on 4 August 1919.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103457

    USS Mexican
    (ID # 1655)

    Photographed circa late 1918, possibly while undergoing conversion from an animal transport to a troopship.
    She appears to in the process of having her World War I "dazzle" camouflage replaced by an overall gray color scheme.
    The original image was printed on postal card ("AZO") stock, the reverse of which bears the following pencilled inscription: "Left St. Nazair (sic) France Apr. 3 1918 in U.S. Ship Mexican".

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105771

    USS Mexican
    (ID # 1655)

    Arriving at New York with homeward-bound troops on board, 1919.
    Photographed by E. Muller, Jr., New York.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image size: 95KB; 900 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99394

    USS Mexican
    (ID # 1655)

    Panoramic photograph of the ship at St. Nazaire, France, in 1919, while serving as a troop transport.
    USS Roanoke (ID # 1695), a former minelayer also employed as a troop transport, is at right.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Lieutenant Charles Dutreaux.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 126KB; 1200 x 400 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105718

    USS Mexican
    (ID # 1655)

    Probably at St. Nazaire, France, with two local children in the foreground and homeward-bound troops on the ship's decks, circa 11 June 1919.
    The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock. See Photo # NH 105718-A-KN for a reproduction of the reverse of this card, which is dated 22 June 1919.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 460 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105718-A-KN (color)

    USS Mexican (ID # 1655)

    Reverse of a post card, dated 22 June 1919, mailed by a homeward-bound Soldier upon his arrival in New York Harbor on board the ship. The message reports that Mexican sailed from St. Nazaire, France, on 11 June 1919.
    See Photo # NH 105718 for the photo of USS Mexican seen on the front of this postcard.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     


    The freighter Mexican is visible in the right background of the following view of another ship:

    Photo #: NH 94849

    USS Saratoga
    (CV-3)

    In drydock at Hunter's Point, San Francisco, California, circa the early 1930s.
    The S.S. Mexican is in the right distance. She was USS Mexican (ID # 1655) in 1917-1919.

    Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 90KB; 575 x 765 pixels

     

    For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Mexican (ID # 1655) -- On Board and Close Up Views.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    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 June 2004
    Coding updated 26 December 2010