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:
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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 14 April 2001
New images added and page divided 12 February 2009