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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo #  NH 70474:  SS El Sol, prior to World War I


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

El Sol (American Freighter, 1910).
Served as USS El Sol (ID # 4505) in 1918-1919

El Sol, a 6008 gross ton freighter built at Newport News, Virginia, in 1910, was transferred to the Navy by the U.S. Army in early August 1918. Placed in commission at that time as USS El Sol, she was employed by the Naval Overseas Transportation Service carrying Army cargo to France. After completing four round-trip voyages to France, in April 1919 the ship began conversion to a troop transport. In that role, El Sol made two trips from France to the U.S., bringing home veterans of World War I. She was decommissioned in September 1919 and returned to her owner. Her Navy registry ID #, 4505, was probably assigned during the early 1920s.

This page features all the views we have concerning the freighter El Sol and USS El Sol (ID # 4505).


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 70474

S.S. El Sol
(American Freighter, 1910)

Photographed prior to World War I.
This ship served as USS El Sol (ID # 4505) in 1918-1919.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 465 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102941

USS El Sol
(ID # 4505)

In a U.S. East Coast port, 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: 67KB; 740 x 460 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99449

USS Scranton
(ID # 3511)

"Boat that capsized", 28 March 1919.
USS El Sol (ID # 4505) is 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: 91KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99455

USS El Sol
(ID # 4505)

Standing by USS Scranton (ID # 3511), probably circa 28 March 1919.

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: 59KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99465

USS El Sol
(ID # 4505)

Standing by USS Scranton (ID # 3511), 28 March 1919.

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: 43KB; 400 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 99451

USS El Sol
(ID # 4505)

"shoving off", circa 28 March 1919, after standing by USS Scranton (ID # 3511).

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: 82KB; 425 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103099

USS El Sol
(ID # 4505)

Ship's Officers and Crew posed on board, 7 February 1919, with their mascot dog in the center of the view.
Photographed by Faber & Son, Norfolk, Virginia.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 106365

USS El Sol
(ID # 4505)

Ship's Officers and Crew, 1919.
Photograph by J.F.A. LaTour, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 153KB; 900 x 550 pixels

 


The following photograph is of a ship that may be USS El Sol, though it is more likely her sister, USS El Occidente (ID # 3307):

Photo #: NH 106039

U.S. Navy Cargo Ship


Photographed circa early 1919. Location may be the Gironde River, France, off the American Bassens port facility.
This ship is either USS El Oriente (ID # 4504), USS El Occidente (ID # 3307), or USS El Sol (ID # 4505). What may be a name board on her bridge face indicates, from its length, that El Occidente is the more likely identification.
Note that the ship still carries her bow gun, and is still in freighter configuration. El Oriente and El Sol were converted to transports in the Spring of 1919, while El Occidente was decommissioned in March of that year.
The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 470 pixels

 


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 30 November 2003
    New image added 17 February 2009