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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 101819:  USS Powhatan docked at New York City, September 1918

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

USS Powhatan (ID # 3013), 1917-1919.
Originally S.S. Hamburg (German Passenger Liner, 1899).
Later named Red Cross, Hudson and President Fillmore

USS Powhatan, a 18,026-ton troop transport, was originally the German passenger steamer Hamburg, which had been built in 1899 at Stettin, Germany. Caught at New York when World War I began in August 1914, she was soon chartered by the American Red Cross to take medical personnel and supplies to Europe. Renamed Red Cross, she left New York in mid-September and called at Falmouth, England; Paulliac, France; and Rotterdam, The Netherlands, before recrossing the Atlantic in October with American refugees on board. She remained at New York for the next two and a half years.

Seized when the United States joined the conflict in April 1917, she was turned over to the Navy for conversion to a transport. Placed in commission as USS Hamburg in August 1917, her name was changed to Powhatan in September. The ship's active troop transport service began in November, when she made the first of twelve trans-Atlantic troop-carrying voyages. Up to December 1918, she conveyed more than fifteen-thousand service personnel to the war zone. Powhatan then reversed the process, and brought home nearly twelve-thousand. She was decommissioned in September 1919 and turned over to the Army Transportation Service. She later had merchant service under the names Hudson and President Fillmore.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) and the civilian S.S. Hamburg, Red Cross, Hudson and President Fillmore.

For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) -- On Board and Close Up Views;
  • USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) -- Ship's Activities and Crew;
  • USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) -- Miscellaneous Views; and
  • Robert H. Helm's USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) Photo Collection.


    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 74740

    S.S. Red Cross
    (American Hospital Ship, 1899)

    At Falmouth, England, September 1914.
    Originally the German passenger liner Hamburg, this ship was USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) in 1917-1919.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 510 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103488

    USS Powhatan
    (ID # 3013)

    Steaming in a trans-Atlantic convoy, November 1917.

    Collection of Chief Warrant Officer J.B. Dofflemeyer, 1972

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 40KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 101819

    USS Powhatan (ID # 3013)


    Docked at New York City, 6 September 1918.
    She is painted in a "dazzle" camouflage scheme.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 475 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106331

    USS Powhatan
    (ID # 3013)

    In World War I "dazzle" camouflage, 1918.
    U.S. Navy Coal Barge # 255 is in the left foreground.
    Photograph was probably taken at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania.

    Photograph from the collection of Robert H. Helm, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Helm, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 475 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103460

    USS Powhatan
    (ID # 3013)

    Halftone reproduction of a panoramic photograph taken in late 1918 or early 1919.
    This image was published in 1918-1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd St., New York City, as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views concerning USS Powhatan.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106333

    USS Powhatan
    (ID # 3013)

    Post card published in 1919, featuring a halftone reproduction of a photograph showing the ship underway in that year.
    The reverse side of this post card is seen in Photo # NH 106333-A.

    Photograph from the collection of Robert H. Helm, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Helm, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106334

    USS Powhatan
    (ID # 3013)

    At Pauillac, France in 1919, while employed bringing U.S. troops home from Europe.

    Photograph from the collection of Robert H. Helm, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Helm, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106332

    USS Powhatan
    (ID # 3013)

    Arriving at Charleston, South Carolina, on 10 April 1919, bringing troops of the 120th Infantry, 30th Division home from France.

    Photograph from the collection of Robert H. Helm, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Helm, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 50KB; 740 x 475 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106335

    USS Powhatan
    (ID # 3013)

    At St. Nazaire, France in May 1919, with a steam lighter alongside.

    Photograph from the collection of Robert H. Helm, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Helm, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 475 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106345

    USS Powhatan
    (ID # 3013)

    At St. Nazaire, France, 16-17 June 1919.

    Photograph from the collection of Robert H. Helm, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Helm, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 520 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105394

    USS Powhatan
    (ID # 3013)

    At Antwerp, Belgium, 24 July 1919.
    Note the tug in the center foreground, pulling Powhatan's bow to port.
    The original image is printed on post card stock.

    Donation of Mike Hoffman, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image size: 72KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     


    For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) -- On Board and Close Up Views;
  • USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) -- Ship's Activities and Crew;
  • USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) -- Miscellaneous Views; and
  • Robert H. Helm's USS Powhatan (ID # 3013) Photo Collection.


    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 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."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 14 April 2001
    New images added and page divided 12 February 2009