Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online:
Identification Numbered Vessel Photo Archive

USS El Sol (ID 4505)



Navy call sign (1918):
George - Fox - Jig - Nan

Call sign (1919):
Nan - Able - Vice - Xray

ex-USAT El Sol



Civilian call sign (1919):
Love - Boy - Pup - King


El Sol served both the U. S. Army and the Navy

El Sol Class Freighter:

  • Built in 1910 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA
  • Delivered 20 August 1910
  • Transferred from the Army to the Navy 3 August 1918 and commissioned USS El Sol the same day
  • Decommissioned 18 September 1919 and transferred to the Army for return to her owners the same day
  • Her registry number, ID-4505 was not assigned until the early 1920s
  • Collided with Sac City 11 March 1927 and sank in New York harbor
  • Scrapped later that year.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 10,750 t.
  • Length 430' 1"
  • Beam 53' 1"
  • Draft 26'
  • Speed 15.5 kts.
  • Complement 112
  • Armament: One 4"/50 mount and one 6-pounder
  • Propulsion: Three double ended and one auxiliary boiler, one 5,800ihp vertical triple expansion steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    SS El Sol
    El Sol 76k Photographed prior to World War I
    U.S. Navy photo NH 70474    		 Naval Historical Center
    USS El Sol
    El Sol 104k In a U.S. East Coast port, 1919
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 102941    		 Robert Hurst
    El Sol 74k Lifeboat from USS Scranton (ID 3511) that later capsized, between her and El Sol, 28 March 1919
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 99449
    El Sol 211k "Shoving off", circa 28 March 1919, after standing by USS Scranton (ID 3511).
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 99451
    El Sol 97k Standing by USS Scranton (ID 3511), probably circa 28 March 1919
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.
    Naval Historical Center photos NH 99455 and NH 99465
    El Sol 56k
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: El Sol, a cargo ship, was built in 1910 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.; transferred from the Army 3 August 1918; and commissioned the same day, Lieutenant Commander G. [Gustave] Anderson, USNRF, in command.

    Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, El Sol carried Army supplies and animals from New York and Newport News to the French ports of Bordeaux, Verdon, and La Pallice on four voyages between 2 September 1918 and 1 April 1919. On her last voyage she went to the assistance of the disabled transport Scranton east of New York and stood by for 40 hours until other aid arrived.

    El Sol was detached from the Naval Overseas Transportation Service 3 April 1919 and converted to a troop transport. Assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force 15 April, she made two additional voyages to France to bring home servicemen. She was decommissioned 18 September 1919, and returned to the Army for delivery to her owners the same day.

    Back To The Main Photo Index Back to the Identification Numbered Vessel (ID) Photo Index Back to the U.S. Army Transport Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster
    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by David Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History