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Photo # NH 85133:  Yacht Aphrodite, prior to her World War I Navy service

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

USS Aphrodite (SP-135), 1917-1919.
Originally the Civilian Steam Yacht Aphrodite.

Aphrodite, a 1147 gross ton steam yacht, was built in 1899 at Bath, Maine, as a pleasure craft. In May 1917 she was leased to the Navy for World War I service. Commissioned in June 1917 as USS Aphrodite (SP-135), she soon crossed the Atlantic as an escort for the first troop convoy sent from the U.S. to the European war zone. Aphrodite served in the waters off western France or the remainder of the conflict, escorting convoys and performing anti-submarine patrol missions. Following the 11 November 1918 Armistice, she was employed as station ship at Harwich and Portland, England, and at Hamburg, Germany. USS Aphrodite returned to the United States in late June 1919 and was decommissioned and returned to her owner a few weeks later.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Aphrodite (SP-135) and the yacht Aphrodite of 1899.


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 85133

Aphrodite
(American Steam Yacht, 1899)

Photographed prior to World War I. She served as USS Aphrodite (SP-135) in 1917-1919.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 560 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 91435

Aphrodite
(American Steam Yacht, 1899)

Photographed prior to World War I. During that conflict she served as USS Aphrodite (SP-135).

Courtesy of Charles Sass, 1980.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 540 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85347

USS Aphrodite (SP-135)


Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing her at sea during World War I.

Courtesy of Alfred Cellier, 1977.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 460 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 57627

USS Aphrodite (SP-135)


Photographed from another converted yacht, while escorting a convoy during World War I.
Note depth charges at the stern of the ship from which the photo was taken.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 450 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 104493

USS Aphrodite
(SP-135)

Anchored off Harwich, England, while serving as station ship there, circa late 1918 or early 1919.
Taken by Coates, Harwich.
The original photograph is printed on postcard stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 490 pixels

 


USS Aphrodite is visible in the background of the following images:

Photo #: NH 106638

USS Corsair
(SP-159)

Ship's Number Three 3"/50 gun, circa 1918.
Several depth charges are stowed on deck in the lower right.
The converted yacht patrol vessel partially visible in the right distance is USS Aphrodite (SP-135).

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2009.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 66KB; 900 x 555 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 106639

USS Corsair
(SP-159)

Depth charges carried on the ship's after deck, circa 1918.
Note the after steering wheel and binnacle in the center, with a "Y"-Gun depth charge projector just beyond. A Colt machine gun is mounted on the deck edge bulwark in the left center.
The converted yacht patrol vessel partially visible in the left distance is USS Aphrodite (SP-135).

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2009.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 63KB; 900 x 550 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 may 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 5 March 2003
    New images added 29 November 2009