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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 70476:  SS El Capitan, probably while fitting out in 1917


Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

S.S. El Capitan (American Freighter, 1917).
Served as USS El Capitan (ID # 1407) in 1918-1919

S.S. El Capitan, a 10,200 ton (displacement) freighter, was built at Newport News, Virginia, in 1917. She was turned over to the Navy in March 1918 and commissioned as USS El Capitan (ID # 1407). The ship served with the Naval Overseas Transportation Service during and shortly after World War I, making four voyages to France and England with military supplies and other cargo. El Capitan was decommissioned at the beginning of February 1919 and returned to her owner, the Southern Pacific Steamship Company.

During World War II El Capitan was owned by the War Shipping Administration and, beginning in June 1941, operated by United States Lines. She was transferred to Panamanian registry at the beginning of October 1941. Disabled by German aircraft on 9 July 1942, while operating with the ill-fated Arctic convoy PQ-17, S.S. El Capitan sank the following day.

This page features the only view we have concerning the steamship El Capitan, which served as USS El Capitan (ID # 1407) in 1918-1919.


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 70476

S.S. El Capitan
(American Freighter, 1917)

Photographed by E.P. Griffith of Newport News, Virginia, probably while fitting out at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company shipyard, circa 1917.
This ship was acquired by the Navy on 21 March 1918 and placed in commission as USS El Capitan (ID # 1407). She was decommissioned and returned to her owners on 1 February 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 460 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 11 September 2006