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 102029:  Steamship Mercer, probably when completed in 1918.  She became USS Mercer in 1919

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

USS Mercer (ID # 3837), 1919-1919.
Originally, and later, S.S. Mercer (U.S. Freighter, 1918). Later renamed Empire Kangaroo, Parthenia, Erminia Mazzella and Pina Onorato

USS Mercer, a 13,130-ton cargo ship, was built to Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1037 at Hackensack River, New Jersey, in 1918 as the civilian ship of the same name. The Navy acquired her upon completion in January 1919 and immediately placed her in commission. She made one voyage to Europe, with a cargo of food, beginning in mid-February. Upon arrival in England, she was given emergency repairs and then sent to Antwerp, Belgium. After staying at that port into early May, Mercer recrossed the Atlantic and steamed on to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she was decommissioned late in that month. She was returned to the United States Shipping Board in early June 1919.

Mercer remained in that agency's custody until 1941, when she was transferred to British registry and renamed Empire Kangaroo. She operated as Parthenia in 1946-1949, then went to Italian registry, initially as Erminia Mazzella and, from 1951, as Pina Onorato. The ship was scrapped at Spezia, Italy, in 1958.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Mercer (ID # 3837) and the civilian S.S. Mercer, Empire Kangaroo, Parthenia, Erminia Mazzella and Pina Onorato.


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 102029

Mercer
(U.S. Freighter, 1918)

Photographed by Lionel Dottin, probably at the yard of her builder, Federal Shipbuilding Company, East Hackensack, New Jersey, after completion but before commencing her Naval service.
She was acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 16 January 1919 as USS Mercer (ID # 3837). She was returned to the U.S. Shipping Board on 3 June 1919.

The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 525 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 105618

USS Mercer
(ID # 3837)

Probably photographed around the time the ship was inspected by the Third Naval District in January 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 50KB; 580 x 675 pixels

Note:
This image is a double-exposure!

 
Photo #: NH 386

USS Mercer (ID # 3837)


In drydock, possibly in a European port, 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 49901

USS Mercer (ID # 3837)


View from off the ship's bow while she was in drydock, possibly in a European port, 1919.
Note her anchor chains and what appears to be a paravane skeg attached to the lower part of her stem.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 76KB; 555 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 49902

USS Mercer (ID # 3837)


Crewmen standing on the ship's fantail, 1919.
Note: fancy style of name painted on her stern; rivets in her hull plating.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 84504

USS Mercer (ID # 3837)


Crewmen leaving the ship for liberty in a European port, 1919.
Note the sign on her gangway, reading: "For the Accomodation of the Captain and Ship's Crew Only".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 84505

USS Mercer (ID # 3837)


Ship's officers standing beside her gangway, while she was drydocked in a European port, 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 105651

S.S. Pina Onorato
(Italian Freighter, 1919)

Shown between 1951 and 1958.
This ship served as USS Mercer (ID # 3837) from January to June 1919.

Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2008.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 490 pixels

 


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 10 February 2002
New image added and introductory text revised 10 May 2008