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

Photo # NH 57886:  USS Sierra at the New York Navy Yard, 6 July 1918

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

USS Sierra (ID # 1634), 1918-1919

USS Sierra, a 9680-ton (displacement) troop transport, was built in 1900 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a 5989 gross ton civilian passenger steamship. After being acquired by the Navy in late May 1918, she underwent conversion work and was placed in commission at the beginning of July of that year. Sierra spent the rest of World War I carrying U.S. service personnel across the Atlantic to France. Following the November 1918 Armistice she continued the process, in reverse, bringing home veterans of the conflict. USS Sierra was decommissioned at the beginning of October 1919. Returned to her owners at that time, she resumed her commercial career and was later renamed Gdansk.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Sierra (ID # 1634).

For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Sierra (ID # 1634) -- 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 57886

    USS Sierra
    (ID # 1634)

    At the New York Navy Yard, 6 July 1918, after being painted in pattern camouflage.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 94981

    USS Sierra
    (ID # 1634)

    In a European port, circa 1918.
    She is painted in pattern camouflage.

    Courtesy of Paul H. Silverstone, 1983.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 440 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106694

    USS Sierra
    (ID # 1634)

    In port, 1919.
    The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2009.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 900 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 76009

    USS Sierra
    (ID # 1634)

    In port, circa 1919.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 460 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99454

    USS Sierra
    (ID # 1634)

    At anchor in the Bay of Biscay, while employed transporting U.S. service personnel home from France, 1919.
    Photographed from USS Scranton (ID # 3511).
    Note the two schooners under sail in the background.

    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 460 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106255

    USS Sierra
    (ID # 1634)

    Ship's officers ashore at St. Nazaire, France, 1919.
    The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock. Its reverse bears a hand-written message dated 6 July 1919.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104115-KN (color)

    Knights of Columbus Post Card for Returning Troops, 1919

    Front side of a card, featuring an artwork by Norman Rockwell, used by returning troops to report their arrival in the United States from Europe. This example was sent by Sergeant T.W. Michael, who was embarked on USS Sierra (ID # 1634). It was mailed to his wife, Mrs. T.W. Michael of Medley, West Virginia, and is postmarked 1 September 1919.
    The reverse side of this card is seen in Photo # NH 104115-A-KN.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 475 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104115-A-KN (color)

    Knights of Columbus Post Card for Returning Troops, 1919

    Reverse side of a card, featuring an artwork by Norman Rockwell, used by returning troops to report their arrival in the United States from Europe. This example was sent by Sergeant T.W. Michael, who was embarked on USS Sierra (ID # 1634). It was mailed to his wife, Mrs. T.W. Michael of Medley, West Virginia, and is postmarked 1 September 1919.
    The front side of this card is seen in Photo # NH 104115-KN.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103458

    YMCA Postal Card for Returning Troops, 1919


    Front side of a card used by returning troops to report their arrival home from Europe, featuring the Statue of Liberty, an airplane and a greeting from the YMCA, . This example was sent on 23 July 1919, reporting the arrival of a Vermont serviceman in USS Sierra (ID # 1634).
    The reverse of this card is seen in Photo # NH 103458-A.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 475 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103458-A

    YMCA Postal Card for Returning Troops, 1919


    Reverse side of a card used by returning troops to report their arrival home from Europe. This example was sent on 23 July 1919, reporting the arrival of a Vermont serviceman in USS Sierra (ID # 1634).
    The front side of this card is seen in Photo # NH 103458.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103596-KN (color)

    USS Sierra (ID # 1634)

    Cover of a "Souvenir Folder", published circa 1918-1919, that features ten halftone reproductions of photographs taken on board the ship.
    The individual photographs have Photo #s NH 103597, NH 103598, NH 103599, NH 103600, NH 103601,
    NH 103602, NH 103603, NH 103604, NH 103605, and NH 103606.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 445 x 765 pixels

     
    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

     

    For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Sierra (ID # 1634) -- 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 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 July 2004
    New image added 23 December 2009