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Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive

Texan (ID 1354)



Navy call sign:
George - Boy - Mike - Dog



Civilian call sign (1919):
King - Sail - Boy - George
Freighter:

  • Built in 1902 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, NJ
  • Acquired by the Navy 18 March 1918
  • Commissioned USS Texan (ID 1354), 23 March 1918
  • Decommissioned 22 August 1919 and returned to the United States Shipping Board
  • Torpeoded and sunk 11 March 1942 by the German submarine U-126 off Cape San Antonio, Cuba.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 18,000 t.
  • Length 484' 5"
  • Beam 57'
  • Draft 29' 3"
  • Speed 13.5 kts.
  • Complement 70
  • Armament: One 5"/51 mount and one 3"/50 mount
  • Propulsion: Three single-ended and two auxiliary boilers, two 1,850hp verticle quadruple-expansion steam engines, one shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    SS Texan
    Texan 99k Photographed prior to World War I, with a building in the right background bearing the name of her owner, the American Hawaiian Steam Ship Company. The print carries her builder's stamp: New York Shipbuilding Corp. of Camden, New Jersey
    U.S. Navy photo NH 65045-A    		 Naval Historical Center
    Texan 113k Photographed circa 1917
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 105610    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Texan (ID 1354)
    Texan 85k Arriving at Newport News, Virginia, with troops brought home from France, 1919. The tug Britannia is at left.
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 104077    		 Robert Hurst
    Texan 106k In port, 1919.
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 105491
    Texan 132k At Newport News, Virginia, with her decks crowded with troops arriving home from France, 1919
    Panoramic photograph by the White Studio, Newport News. Donation of Charles R. Haberlein, Jr., 2008
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 105516
    Texan 116k Homeward-bound troops boarding the ship at St. Nazaire, France, 1919. The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010. Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 107059
    Texan 83k Troops and sailors on deck amidships, while she was employed bringing servicemen home from Europe, 1919. The original image was printed on postal card ("AZO") stock
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006. Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 103931
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Enoch A. Forsyth, USNRF23 March 1918 - 1919
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Texan (Id. No. 1354), a passenger liner built in 1902 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J., for the American Hawaiian Steamship Co., was acquired by the United States Shipping Board (USSB) on 18 March 1918: was transferred to the Navy at New York City on the same day; and was commissioned on 23 March 1918.

    Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service after being refitted for naval service, the cargo ship loaded general military supplies and sailed on 9 April with a convoy for France. Texan arrived at Brest on the 24th and, after discharging her cargo, began the return voyage to New York on 19 May. Upon her arrival there, she underwent voyage repairs and then loaded supplies, including 405 tons of ammunition and 10 locomotives destined for Marseilles. The ship sailed with a convoy on 18 June and arrived at her destination on 7 July. Texan made another round-trip voyage to Marseilles in September and one to Verdon in November and December before returning to New York on 4 January 1919.

    On 18 January 1919, Texan was transferred to the Cruiser and Transport Force and operated bringing troops of the American Expeditionary Force home from France until 7 August 1919 when she was assigned to the 5th Naval District. Texan was decommissioned on 22 August 1919 and returned to the USSB.

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