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Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive

Antigone (ID 3007)

Antigone served both the U. S. Navy and Army.

Troop Transport: Built in 1900 as Neckar by J. C. Techlenborg, Geestemude, Germany; Acquired by the Navy, 2 July 1917; Renamed Antigone (ID 3007), 1 September 1917; Commissioned, 5 September 1917; Decommissioned, 24 September 1919 at New York, NY, struck from the Naval Register and transferred to the War Department. Fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement 17,024 t.; Length 518' 1"; Beam unknown; Draft 27'; Speed 14 kts.; Complement 389; Armament four 5" and two machine guns.


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Size Image Description Source
Antigone 94k At the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, on 1 September 1917, the day her name was changed from Neckar and five days before she was placed in commission.
USN Photo NH 57624
Naval Historical Center
Antigone 104k In the Norfolk harbor, Virginia, on 29 November 1917. A destroyer silhouette is painted on her side to give the illusion that she is being closely convoyed. A tug is passing by the after part of the destroyer silhouette.
Donation of Mr. Marshall Butt, Norfolk Naval Shipyard Museum.
USN Photo NH 57625
Naval Historical Center
Antigone 91k In the Norfolk harbor, Virginia, on 29 November 1917. A destroyer silhouette is painted on her side to give the illusion that she is being closely convoyed. A tug is passing by the after part of the destroyer silhouette.
Donation of Mr. Marshall Butt, Norfolk Naval Shipyard Museum.
USN Photo NH 57626
Naval Historical Center
Antigone 81k Underway with troops on board, probably in 1919.
Photographed by O.W. Waterman, Hampton, Virginia.
Courtesy of R.W. Cunningham, 1971.
USN Photo NH 73322
Naval Historical Center
Antigone 87k In harbor, circa 1919.
Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1972.
USN Photo NH 76008
Naval Historical Center

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships History:

Antigone

The daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta in Greek mythology. Antigone is most famous as the heroine of tragedies by Sophoand Euripides. She embodied the virtues of faithfulness and heroism which characterized the Greek ideal
of womanhood.

Neckar was launched on 8 December 1900 at Geestemude, German by J. C. Techlenborg; and was owned and operated by North German Lloyd. In the North Atlantic at the outbreak of World War I in the summer of 1914, the passenger and freight liner sought sanctuary at the neutral port, Baltimore, Md-lest she fall prey to the warships of the Royal Navy-and was interned, ostensibly for the duration of the conflict. However, when the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, American customs agents seized the ship. She was transferred to the Navy by the United States Shipping Board on 12 July 1917; converted for naval service as a troop transport at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Va.; renamed Antigone (Id. No. 3007) on 1 September 1917; and placed in commission on 5 September 1917, Comdr. Joseph R. Defrees in command.

Antigone was assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force, Atlantic Fleet, on 14 September, and she departed Norfolk on 29 November. After coaling and completing sea trials, she proceeded to Hoboken, N. J., and embarked approximately 2,000 American troops. The transport sailed from New York City en route to France on 14 December and, during the next 11 months, made eight round-trip voyages to France, each of which terminated in either Brest or St. Nazaire. The ship also carried medical supplies and general cargo-as well as 16,526 troops-to Europe before hostilities ended.

After the armistice was signed on 11 November 1918, the transport continued her transatlantic voyages and returned more than 22,000 veterans to the United States. She completed her last trip from France upon her arrival at New York City on 15 September 1919. She was decommissioned there on 24 September 1919, and her name was simultaneously struck from the Navy list. The ship was then transferred to the War Department for service in the Army Transport Service.


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