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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # NH 71577:  USAT Great Northern in port, circa 1919

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the UNITED STATES ARMY --

USAT Great Northern (Transport, 1919-1921).
Was USAT George S. Simonds in 1942-1946

In mid-August 1919 USS Great Northern, built in 1915 as a commercial passenger liner, was transferred to the War Department and began service as the U.S. Army transport of the same name. During the rest of that year and in 1920 she made several voyages in the Pacific, bringing home some 3,000 U.S. service personnel who had been stationed in eastern Russia, and taking U.S. Congressmen on an inspection trip to Hawaii, the Philippines and Hong Kong. She was reacquired by the Navy in August 1921 for use as a flagship, being renamed Columbia (AG-9) in November. As S.S. H.F. Alexander, she was again in commercial service from 1922 until the early 1940s.

In late July 1942 the U.S. War Shipping Administration purchased H.F. Alexander from the British Ministry of War Transport. She was overhauled and altered at Boston, Massachusetts, between August and November of that year, then entered service as the U.S. Army Transport George S. Simonds. Beginning in February 1943 she made several voyages across the Atlantic, calling at ports in North and South Africa, Gibraltar and the British Isles. In mid-1944 the transport was used for local service in the waters of the United Kingdom. From August 1944 into early 1946 George S. Simonds served between the Caribbean and the U.S. East Coast, mainly transporting Jamaican workers. Laid up in the James River, Virginia, in March 1946, she remained there until sold for breaking up in February 1948.

This page features all the views we have concerning the U.S. Army Transports Great Northern and George S. Simonds. It also provides views of this ship during her U.S. Navy and civilian service

For additional views related to this ship, see:

  • USS Great Northern (ID # 4569), 1917-1919;
  • USS Columbia (AG-9), 1921-1922. Ex-Great Northern; and
  • S.S. Great Northern and S.S. H.F. Alexander.


    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 71577

    U.S. Army Transport Great Northern


    In port, circa 1919.
    This ship served as USS Great Northern in 1917-1919 and as USS Columbia (AG-9) in 1921-1922. In 1942-1946 she was U.S. Army Transport George S. Simonds.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103412

    U.S. Army Transport George S. Simonds


    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken while the ship was underway, circa 1943-1946.
    Completed in 1915 as S.S. Great Northern, this ship served as USS Great Northern in 1917-1919, USAT Great Northern in 1919-1920 and as USS Columbia (AG-9) in 1921-1922.

    Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 390 pixels

     


    For additional views related to this ship, see:

  • USS Great Northern (ID # 4569), 1917-1919;
  • USS Columbia (AG-9), 1921-1922. Ex-Great Northern; and
  • S.S. Great Northern and S.S. H.F. Alexander.


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


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 30 January 2006