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Koningen der Nederlanden (ID 2708)

Koningen der Nederlanden served both the U. S. Navy and Army.

Specifications: Displacement 8,225 t.; Length 455' 2"; Beam 55' 2"; Draft 26' 5"; Speed 14.5 kts.; Complement 221; Armament two 1-pounders and two machine guns.

Click on thumbnail for full size image	Size	Image Description		Source
SS Koningen der Nederlanden
	137k	Photographed circa 1917, possibly soon after the ship was seized by the U.S. Government. U.S. Navy photo NH 64598		Naval Historical Center
USS Koningen der Nederlanden (ID 2708)
	101k	In port with troops crowding her decks, circa late 1918. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation Naval Historical Center photo NH 105625		Robert Hurst
	119k	In dry dock, 1919. The Sailor standing on the forecastle with his foot on a bitt (in left center) is Earl H. Crane (1896-1961), who was the ship's barber. Courtesy of Miona Crane Armstrong, daughter of Earl H. Crane, 2005. Naval Historical Center photo NH 102997-KN		Robert Hurst
	124k	In port circa early 1919, prior to the removal of her guns. Location appears to be American Bassens, France. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation Naval Historical Center photo NH 105626		Robert Hurst
	97k	In port 1919, probably at Newport News, Virginia Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2007 Naval Historical Center photo NH 105068		Robert Hurst
	108k	Photographed in 1919, while serving as a troop transport. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005. Naval Historical Center photo NH 103052		Robert Hurst
	171k	At Newport News, Virginia, 4 June 1919, after arriving from Europe with Soldiers of the U.S. Army's 88th Division. Men in the foreground are from that division. Cropped from a panoramic photograph by Holladay, Newport News, Virginia. The entire original image is photo NH 103676. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006. Naval Historical Center photo NH 103676-A		Robert Hurst

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Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS), Koningen der Nederlanden departed San Francisco 5 May 1918, arriving Balboa, C.Z., on the 11th. Here she was converted to a troop transport before steaming on to Norfolk in mid-July to prepare for a cruise to the war-ravaged European continent.

On 6 August Koningen der Nederlanden was detached from NOTS and assigned to the cruiser-transport force embarking over 2,200 Army troops for duty in Europe. For the next 3 months the transport made two more round trip cruises from Norfolk to French ports, arriving Brest, France, on her third cruise 9 November. The Armistice which ended World War I was signed 2 days later, and Koningen der Nederlanden was assigned the task of returning war veterans to the United States.

From November 1918 until August 1919 the transport made 5 cruises from French to American ports, carrying with her over 10,000 soldiers of the American-European forces to their home shores. Koningen der Nederlanden arrived New York from her final crossing on 19 August and decommissioned 7 November 1919 for return to her owner.