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Identification Numbered Vessel Photo Archive

Panaman (ID 3299)



Navy call sign:
George - Fox - Jig - Tare



Civilian call sign (1919):
Love - Dog - George - Fox
Freighter:

  • Built in 1913 by the Maryland Steel Co., Sparrows Point, MD
  • Acquired by the Navy 6 August 1918 at New York
  • Commissioned 12 August 1918
  • Decommissioned 18 September 1919 and returned to her owner
  • Sold to Italy in July 1947
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 14,500 t.
  • Length 429' 2"
  • Beam 53' 8"
  • Draft 29' 6"
  • Speed 12 kts.
  • Complement 70
  • Armament: One 5"/40 mount and one 3"/50 mount
  • Propulsion: Three single ended and one auxiliary boiler, one 4,000ihp vertical quadruple expansion steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    SS Panaman
    Panaman 77k Off Baltimore, Maryland, probably when first completed in 1913
    U.S. Navy photo NH 65125    		 Naval Historical Center
    USS Panaman (ID 3299)
    Panaman 104k At anchor, circa 1918, while wearing pattern camouflage
    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives
    U.S. Navy photo 19-N-1114    		 Naval Historical Center
    Panaman 102k Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing the ship in port in 1919, while she was serving as a troop transport. Location is probably Hoboken, New Jersey. Ship in the background, partially visible on the opposite side of the pier, is USS Agamemnon (ID 3004)
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 103942    		 Robert Hurst
    Panaman 124k Halftone reproduction of a photograph of the ship's officers, taken in 1919, while she was serving as a troop transport. The officer in the center of the group is probably Lieutenant Commander Nicholas J. Kane, USNRF, the ship's commanding officer during that time. This image was published in 1919 as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views of and on board Panaman
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 103944
    Panaman 157k Halftone reproduction of a photograph looking forward over the ship's forecastle, showing cargo-handling booms and other gear. Taken circa the winter of 1919, while the ship was serving as a troop transport. This image was published in 1919 as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views of and on board Panaman
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 103951
    Panaman 139k Halftone reproduction of a photograph looking aft from the starboard side of the superstructure, showing life boats and life rafts. Taken circa the winter of 1919, while the ship was serving as a transport. This image was published in 1919 as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views of and on board Panaman
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 103949
    Panaman 150k Halftone reproduction of a photograph looking aft over the ship's quarterdeck, showing crew members standing near cargo winches and booms. Taken circa the winter of 1919, while the ship was serving as a troop transport. This image was published in 1919 as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views of and on board Panaman
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 103950
    Panaman 113k Alongside the American Bassens wharf, Bordeaux, France, while embarking homeward-bound troops, 10 April 1919
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 106233
    Panaman 87k Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken in the ship's wheel house in 1919, while she was serving as a troop transport. A Lieutenant (Junior Grade) is posing as helmsman. This image was published in 1919 as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views of and on board Panaman
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 103943
    Photo added 20 June 2019
    Panaman 86k Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken in the crew's galley in 1919, while she was serving as a troop transport. This image was published in 1919 as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views of and on board Panaman
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 103946
    Photo added 20 June 2019
    Panaman 66k Halftone reproduction of a photograph of a corpsman taking a patient's pulse in the ship's sick bay in 1919, while she was serving as a transport. This image was published in 1919 as one of ten photographs in a "Souvenir Folder" of views of and on board Panaman
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2006
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 103948
    Photo added 20 June 2019
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Nicholas J. Kane, USNRF1918 - 1919
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Panaman (No. 3299), a cargo ship built in 1913 by Maryland Steel Co., Sparrows Point, Md. for the American Hawaiian Steamship Co., was taken over at New York and commissioned into NOTS 12 August 1918.

    After refitting she took on a cargo of general supplies and beef, and a deck load of trucks, and departed New York in convoy 21 September for St. Nazaire, France, arriving 27 September. She returned to New York 7 October, where she was equipped with 821 stalls for horses. After taking on general cargo and horses, she steamed in convoy 19 October for Bordeaux, France, arriving 6 November.

    An eleven day return crossing saw her stand into Newport News, Va. for repairs 27 November. She departed 8 December for New York where, upon arrival, a Board of Survey inspection found her suitable for conversion to a troop transport.

    Detached from NOTS service 10 December 1918, she was assigned to the Cruiser Transport Force, in which status she returned 10,798 men of the American Expeditionary Forces to the United States. Panaman decommissioned 18 September 1919 and was simultaneously returned to her owner.

    (Transcriber's Note: SS Panaman took part in the Normandy invasion in June 1944).

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