Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

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

Photo # NH 57745:  USS Kaiser Wilhelm II (later USS Agamemnon) in dry dock at the New York Navy Yard, June 1917

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

USS Agamemnon (ID # 3004), 1917-1919 --
In Dry Dock at the New York Navy Yard, 1917 (while she was still named Kaiser Wilhelm II)

In May 1917 the seized German passenger ship Kaiser Wilhelm II was towed to the New York Navy Yard, where she was to be refitted for U.S. Navy service. At more than seven-hundred feet, the liner was considerably longer than any of the Navy's existing ships, and almost too long for the Yard's Dry Dock Number Four, where her underwater work was to be done. After extraordinary planning, the big steamer entered the dock in June. There were only a few inches to spare at the bow. To reduce her overall underwater length Kaiser Wilhelm II's rudder was turned sharply to one side, while her stern projection was carefully aligned to fit between the dry dock caisson's external braces.

This page features all our views of USS Agamemnon (while still named Kaiser Wilhelm II) in dry dock at the New York Navy Yard, 1917.

For other views of this ship, see:

  • USS Agamemnon (ID # 3004), 1917-1919.


    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 57745

    USS Kaiser Wilhelm II
    (ID # 3004)

    In Dry Dock Number Four at the New York Navy Yard, 18 June 1917, while being refitted for U.S. Navy service.
    This former German passenger liner was renamed Agamemnon in September 1917, shortly after she was placed in commission.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 86448

    USS Kaiser Wilhelm II
    (ID # 3004)

    Drawing by Vernon Howe Bailey, 1917, depicting the ship in drydock at the New York Navy Yard in the Summer of 1917, while she was being refitted for U.S. Navy service. This view shows men painting her underwater hull on the starboard side.
    Commissioned in August 1917, Kaiser Wilhelm II was soon renamed Agamemnon.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. Donation of Mrs. Wilbur Jenkins.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 143KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57748

    USS Kaiser Wilhelm II
    (ID # 3004)

    View of the ship's bow, after she was placed in Dry Dock Number Four at the New York Navy Yard, 13 June 1917. There is only slight clearance between her stem and the head of the dock.
    This former German passenger liner was renamed Agamemnon in September 1917, shortly after she was placed in commission.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57747

    USS Kaiser Wilhelm II
    (ID # 3004)

    View of the ship's bow, after she was placed in Dry Dock Number Four at the New York Navy Yard, 13 June 1917. There is only a few inches of clearance between her stem and the gauge on the base of the altar at the head of the dock.
    Note rivets and draft markings on the ship's hull.
    This former German passenger liner was renamed Agamemnon in September 1917, shortly after she was placed in commission.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57746

    USS Kaiser Wilhelm II
    (ID # 3004)

    View of the ship's stern, after she was placed in Dry Dock Number Four at the New York Navy Yard, 12 June 1917. The point of the stern projects between the dock caisson's external braces, and her rudder has been turned 60 degrees to port to clear the caisson.
    This former German passenger liner was renamed Agamemnon in September 1917, shortly after she was placed in commission.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 111KB; 560 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 86449

    USS Kaiser Wilhelm II
    (ID # 3004)

    Drawing by Vernon Howe Bailey, 1917, depicting the ship in drydock at the New York Navy Yard in the Summer of 1917, while she was being refitted for U.S. Navy service. This view shows the ship's stern, with her rudder and port side propeller. The rudder is sharply turned to clear the dry dock caisson.
    Commissioned in August 1917, Kaiser Wilhelm II was soon renamed Agamemnon.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. Donation of Mrs. Wilbur Jenkins.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 125KB; 535 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57749

    USS Kaiser Wilhelm II
    (ID # 3004)

    View looking down at the point of the ship's stern, after she was placed in Dry Dock Number Four at the New York Navy Yard, 13 June 1917. The point of the stern projects between the external braces of the dry dock caisson.
    This former German passenger liner was renamed Agamemnon in September 1917, shortly after she was placed in commission.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     

    For other views of this ship, see:

  • USS Agamemnon (ID # 3004), 1917-1919.


    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 28 June 2002