U.S. Army Transport Bridgeport (of 7995 gross tons) was originally the German commercial steamer Breslau, built at Vegesack, Germany in 1901. During and after World War I she had active Navy service as USS Bridgeport. In reserve after November 1924, she was turned over to the War Shipping Administration, which employed her as a freighter in 1942-1943. Between September 1943 and August 1944, the ship was converted at Jacksonville, Florida, for use as a U.S. Army hospital ship. Renamed Larkspur, she made three voyages to England between September 1944 and February 1945. For the next several months the ship operated between the U.S. and Mediterranean ports and served locally in Mediterranean region. Beginning in September 1945 she served the European Theatre of Operations. Larkspur was decommissioned as a hospital ship in January 1946, renamed Bridgeport and modified for use as a military dependents' transport. She subsequently made several trips from England to the United States in this role. After being retired by the Army, Bridgeport was laid up in the Maritime Commission Reserve Fleet in April 1947. Later sold, she was delivered to her purchaser in mid-March 1948 and presumably scrapped soon thereafter.
This page features all our views of the U.S. Army Transport Bridgeport and the Army Hospital Ship Larkspur.
For additional views of this ship, taken during her U.S.
Navy service, 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.
For additional views of this ship, taken during her U.S.
Navy service, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 24 May 2003