USS Carolinian

Summary

USS Carolinian (ID-1445) was a cargo ship that served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1919.

SS Carolinian in 1917, with deck gun platforms fitted but still bearing neutrality markings
History
United States
NameUSS Carolinian
NamesakeA native of the Carolinas (previous name retained)
BuilderFurness-Withy Company, West Hartlepool, England
Launched3 September 1906
Completed1906
Acquired5 October 1918
Commissioned5 October 1918
Decommissioned22 March 1919
FateTransferred to United States Shipping Board 22 March 1919 for return to owner
NotesServed as commercial cargo ship SS Harley, SS Southerner, and SS Carolinian 1906-1918 and as SS Carolinian from 1919
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage4,170 Gross register tons
Beam50 ft 2 in (15.29 m)
Draft23 ft 11 in (7.29 m)
Installed power1,600 indicated horsepower
PropulsionSteam engine, one shaft
Speed9 knots
Complement35
Armament2 × 4-inch (102-millimeter) guns

Carolinian was built as a commercial cargo ship in 1906 at West Hartlepool, England, by the Furness-Withy Company. She operated under the names SS Harley and SS Southerner. By the time the United States entered World War I in 1917, she was named SS Carolinian and was the property of the Garland Steamship Company of New York City. For most of the war, she operated under a United States Army charter. The U.S. Navy acquired her for World War I service on 5 October 1918, assigned her the naval registry Identification Number (Id. No.) 1445, and commissioned her the same day as USS Carolinian.

Carolinian operated in European waters, based at Cardiff, Wales, carrying coal from Cardiff and other English ports to France for use by U.S. Army transports coaling at French ports from her commissioning until 8 February 1919.

On 8 February 1919, Carolinian departed for Newport News, Virginia, with a U.S. Army cargo, and, after stopping in the Azores for voyage repairs, arrived at Baltimore, Maryland, on 12 March 1919 to discharge her cargo and start inactivation.

Carolinian was decommissioned on 22 March 1919 and transferred to the United States Shipping Board the same day for return to the Garland Steamship Company.

References edit

  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
  • Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: S.S. Carolinian (American Freighter, 1906). Previously named Harley and Southerner. Served as USS Carolinian (ID # 1445) in 1918-1919
  • NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: Carolinian (ID 1445)