Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page. Return to Online Library listing

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

Photo # NH 104598:  USS Iowan arriving in a U.S. port, 1919

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

USS Iowan (ID # 3002), 1917-1919.
Originally, and later, S.S. Iowan (American Freighter, 1914). Later Soviet S.S. Tashkent

USS Iowan, a 14,375 tons (displacement) cargo ship, was built at Sparrows Point, Maryland, in 1914 as the 6649 gross ton commercial freighter Iowan. She was acquired by the Navy and placed in commission in December 1917, assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, and put to work carrying cargo across the Atlantic to support the Western Front war effort. In late 1918 and early 1919, with World War I's fighting essentially over, this relatively large freighter was converted to a troop transport. The next several months were spent bringing home American service personnel.

USS Iowan was decommissioned in September 1919 and returned to her owner, the American Hawaiian Steamship Company, of New York City. Her long subsequent career in the U.S. merchant marine ended in December 1942, when she was transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed Tashkent. She was reportedly turned over to North Korea in the late 1950s.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Iowan (ID # 3002), the American freighter Iowan and the Soviet freighter Tashkent.


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 106028

USS Iowan
(ID # 3002)

At St. Nazaire, France, 8 October 1918.
The original print has been inscribed by its original owner, Seaman 1st Class John H. Allen, with information concerning the ship and his service as a member of her crew.
Note the pattern camouflage worn by Iowan during 1918.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 119KB; 900 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 104598

USS Iowan
(ID # 3002)

Arriving in a U.S. port (probably New York) in 1919, with her decks crowded with troops returning from Europe.
Photographed by E. Muller Jr., New York City.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 64KB; 900 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 106645

USS Iowan
(ID # 3002)

In port, 1919.
Note the ship's nickname printed in the lower left: The "Jitney" (a public transportation vehicle).
The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2009.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 106KB; 900 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103276

USS Iowan
(ID # 3002)

In port in 1919, while serving as a troop transport engaged in returning World War I veterans to the United States.
The original image was printed on postal card ("AZO") stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103920

USS Iowan
(ID # 3002)

In port in 1919, while serving as a troop transport.
The original image was printed on postal card stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 470 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103040

USS Iowan
(ID # 3002)

Men of Company C, 104th Field Signal Battalion, U.S. Army, boarding the ship at St. Nazaire, France, on the morning of 8 May 1919, to be transported back to the United States.
The original image is printed on postal card ("AZO") stock. See Photo # NH 103040-A for a view of the reverse of the original postal card, which was mailed at Camp Dix, New Jersey, on 23 May 1919.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103040-A

USS Iowan
(ID # 3002)

Address and message side of a postal card bearing a photograph of the ship at St. Nazaire, France, on 8 May 1919, as she was being boarded by Company C, 104th Field Signal Battalion, U.S. Army.
This side features a message written on 22 May 1919 by a Soldier stationed at Camp Dix, New Jersey.
Note the Y.M.C.A. ("Young Men's Christian Association") rubber stamp inscription on the card.
See Photo # NH 103040 for a view of the front side of the original postal card.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 485 pixels

To more easily read the post card's message,
Rotate image 90 degrees counter-clockwise

 
Photo #: NH 103642-KN (color)

USS Iowan (ID # 3002)

Front side of a Troop Billet card, issued in 1919 to troops embarked on Iowan for passage home from France.
See Photo # NH 103643-KN for the reverse side of this card.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 505 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 103643-KN (color)

USS Iowan (ID # 3002)

Reverse side of a Troop Billet card issued in 1919 to troops embarked on Iowan for passage home from France.
See Photo # NH 103642-KN for the front side of this card.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 154KB; 740 x 505 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 89976

S.S. Tashkent
(Soviet Freighter, 1914)

At anchor in San Francisco Bay, California, during World War II.
Built in 1914 as the American flag freighter Iowan, this ship was USS Iowan (ID # 3002) in 1917-1919 and then reverted to commercial operation under the same name. She was turned over to the Soviet Union on 26 December 1942. In the late 1950s she was reportedly transferred to North Korea.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 76KB; 740 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 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 29 November 2005
    New image added 20 December 2009