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Photo # NH 103144:  USS Manchuria underway in 1919

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

USS Manchuria (ID # 1633), 1918-1919.
Originally SS Manchuria (American Passenger Liner, 1904) and (after 1928) SS President Johnson

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:

  • USS Manchuria (ID # 1633) -- 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 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

     
    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

     
    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

     

    High-Resolution JPG
    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

     
    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

     
    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

     
    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

     
    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

     
    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

     
    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

     
    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 Manchuria (ID # 1633) -- 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 13 March 2004
    Image updated 11 June 2010