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Photo # NH 103639: Lighter Rin Tin Tin bringing troops out to a transport for passage home from France, circa mid-1919.

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

Lighter Rin Tin Tin (1918-1932).
Later renamed Freight Lighter # 160, Water Barge # 30 and YW-30

Rin Tin Tin, a 560 ton steam-powered lighter, was originally built in 1883 at Renfrew, Scotland, as the coal barge Renfrew. Renamed Rin Tin Tin during World War I, the U.S. Navy obtained (and later purchased) her from the British Navy in about 1918. During much of 1919 she appears to have been employed in French ports as a personnel ferry, taking U.S. service personnel out to larger ships for transportation home. Later in 1919 Rin Tin Tin crossed the Atlantic to Norfolk, Virginia. Having been renamed Freight Lighter # 160 at some point, she was towed to New York in March 1920 for conversion to a water barge (receiving the new name Water Barge # 30). In July 1920 she became YW-30 and late in the year was towed to the West Coast. Following more than a decade of service at San Diego, San Pedro and Mare Island, California, YW-30 was sold in June 1932.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning U.S. Navy lighter Rin Tin Tin, which was later Freight Lighter # 160, Water Barge # 30 and YW-30.

For more images related to this vessel, see:

  • Lighter Rin Tin Tin (1918-1932) -- On Board and Close Up Views.


    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 105875

    U.S. Navy Lighter Rin Tin Tin
    (right)

    Alongside another lighter (which has a long lattice-type crane boom) in Brest harbor, France, 1919. Both are loaded with troops being carried out to a transport for passage home to the United States.
    The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO") stock, and was mailed at Camp Merritt, New Jersey,on 6 May 1919 by a Soldier who was preparing for discharge from the Army. See Photo # NH 105875-A-KN for a view of the reverse of this card, with the Soldier's message.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106021

    Ferry Lighter RinTinTin


    Alongside a transport in Brest harbor, France, 1919. She is delivering troops for transportation home to the United States.
    The transport may be USS Seattle (Armored Cruiser # 11).
    The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 65KB; 425 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106282

    Ferry Lighter Rin Tin Tin


    In Brest harbor, France, approaching USS Georgia (Battleship # 15) to transfer troops for transportation home to the United States, circa January-March 1919.
    The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock. A hand-written note on its reverse states: "The soldiers reach us in boats like this. We do not dock in Brest, but lay in the harbor."

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     


    Note: This is a rather fuzzy image.
    Photo #: NH 106019

    Ferry Lighter RinTinTin


    Approaching USS Connecticut (Battleship # 18) in Brest harbor, France, 11 March 1919. She is bringing out troops of the 136th Field Artillery, 37th Division, for transportation home to the United States.
    The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105817

    Lighter Rin Tin Tin


    Coming alongside USS Mount Vernon (ID # 4508) to transfer troops for passage home to the United States, in Brest Harbor, France, circa May 1919.
    Photographed by Grassel.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103639

    Lighter Rin Tin Tin


    In a French harbor, bringing American troops out to board a transport for their passage home, circa mid-1919.
    The original image was printed on postal card ("AZO") stock.
    The U.S. Navy purchased Rin Tin Tin in October 1919 and subsequently renamed her Freight Lighter # 160, Water Barge # 30 and YW-30.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 106369

    Ferry Lighter Rin Tin Tin


    Coming alongside USS Marica (ID # 4031) to transfer homeward bound troops of the First Division, in Brest Harbor, France on 23 August 1919.
    The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104812

    "Gobs Coaling at Brest, 6-10-19"


    U.S. Navy Sailors coaling USS Imperator (ID # 4080) at Brest, France, on 10 June 1919.
    In addition to the coal barges, three ferry lighters are alongside Imperator and another is in the middle distance. That closest to the camera, alongside one of the coal barges, is Rin Tin Tin. The other three lighters are crowded with troops awaiting transfer to the transport for passage to the United States. The two directly aft of Rin Tin Tin are the White Star Line's Nomadic (inboard) and Traffic (outboard). That in the middle distance is Amackassin. The ship faintly visible in the center distance is either USS Saint Louis (Cruiser # 20) or USS Charleston (Cruiser # 22).
    The original photograph was printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 445 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 72847

    Lighter Rin Tin Tin


    In port, circa 1919.
    Originally a British vessel, Rin Tin Tin was purchased by the U.S. Navy in October 1919 and subsequently renamed Freight Lighter # 160, Water Barge # 30 and YW-30.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 435 pixels

     


    The following photograph shows a ferry lighter that is either Rin Tin Tin or the nearly identical Nenette:

    Photo #: NH 105014

    USS Troy
    (ID # 1614)

    At Brest, France, circa May-June 1919, probably while embarking troops for passage home to the United States.
    Two personnel lighters are nearby: Tudno at left and either Rin Tin Tin or Nenette in the center of the view.
    Photographed from on board USS Patricia.

    Photograph from the album of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Edward D. Porges. Donated by his daughter, Gail Porges Guggenheim, 2007.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 37KB; 740 x 465 pixels

     


    For more images related to this vessel, see:

  • Lighter Rin Tin Tin (1918-1932) -- On Board and Close Up Views.


    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 13 September 2006
    Photo caption updated 26 February 2010