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Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive

Lake Champlain (ID 1791)



Civilian call sign (1919):
Love - Have - Watch - Jig
Freighter:

  • The first Lake Champlain was built in 1917 as War Chant by the American (Superior) Shipbuilding Co., Superior, WI
  • Acquired by the Navy, 19 January 1918
  • Commissioned Lake Champlain (ID 1791), 24 January 1918 at Boston, MA
  • Decommissioned 20 March 1919 and returned to the United States Shipping Board
  • Sold in 1920 to Lloyd Royal Belge Societe of Brussels, Belgium and renamed Nipponier
  • Sold in 1925 to Armement Gylsen S.S. of Antwerp, Belgium and renamed Fruithandel
  • Sold in 1927 to Hiyoshi Kaiun KK of Amagasaki, Japan and renamed Meisei Maru
  • Torpedoed and sunk 11 June 1945 by Flying Fish (SS 229) off of Rashin, Korea at 41° 47' N., 131° 44' E.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 3,095 t.
  • Length 261'
  • Beam 43' 6"
  • Draft 18' 9"
  • Speed 9.5 kts.
  • Complement 52
  • Armament: One 5"/51 mount and one 6-pounder
  • Propulsion: Two single ended boilers, one 1,200hp verticle triple expansion steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Lake Champlain 83k Photographed at about the time she was completed
    U.S. Navy photo NH 101995    		 Naval Historical Center
    Lake Champlain 47k Photographed in 1917, possibly at the yard of her builder, the American Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wisconsin
    U.S. Navy photo NH 65107
    Lake Champlain 77k Photographed circa 1918-19, while wearing camouflage paint
    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969
    U.S. Navy photo NH 69588
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Richard R. Roberts, USNRF24 January 1918
    02LCDR Henry G. Robinson, USNRF1918
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    View the Lake Champlain (ID 1791)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site
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