SS George Washington
Luxury steamer, George Washington built by the Norddeutsche Lloyd in 1909.
| |
History | |
---|---|
Germany | |
Name | SS George Washington |
Namesake | George Washington |
Owner | North German Lloyd |
Port of registry | Bremen |
Route | Bremen – Southampton – Cherbourg – New York |
Builder |
|
Cost | US$6,000,000[2] |
Yard number | 286[1] |
Launched | 10 November 1908 |
Sponsored by | U.S. Ambassador to Germany |
Maiden voyage | Bremen – Southampton – Cherbourg – New York, 12 June 1909 |
Nickname(s) | Called Washington by crew[1] |
Fate | Interned, 3 August 1914; seized by U.S. on 6 April 1917 |
United States | |
Name | USS George Washington |
Operator | US Navy |
Acquired | 6 April 1917 |
Commissioned | 6 September 1917 |
Decommissioned | 28 November 1919 |
Fate | Turned over to United States Shipping Board |
United States | |
Name | SS George Washington |
Owner | United States Shipping Board |
Operator |
|
Port of registry | New York |
Fate | Laid up, 1931 |
United States | |
Name | USS Catlin |
Namesake | Albertus W. Catlin |
Operator | US Navy |
Commissioned | 13 March 1941 |
Decommissioned | 26 September 1941 |
Identification | Hull number: AP-19 |
Fate | Lend-lease to United Kingdom for one voyage; to United States Army |
United States | |
Name | USAT George Washington |
Operator | US Army |
In service | 17 April 1943 |
Out of service | 21 April 1947 |
Fate | Laid up 1947; sold for scrap, 13 February 1951 |
General characteristics (as built) | |
Type | Ocean liner |
Tonnage | 25,570 GRT |
Length | 213.07 m (699 ft 1 in) (between perpendiculars) |
Beam | 23.83 m (78 ft 2 in) |
Draft | 33 ft (10 m)[4] |
Depth | |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 18 to 19 knots (33 to 35 km/h; 21 to 22 mph) |
Capacity |
|
Notes | two funnels, four masts |
General characteristics (as USS George Washington) | |
Type | transport |
Displacement | 33,000 t |
Length | 722 ft 5 in (220.19 m) (overall) |
Beam | 78 ft (24 m) |
Draft | 36 ft (11 m) |
Propulsion | coal fired later converted to oil fired boilers, steam turbine |
Speed | 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
Complement | 749 |
Armament |
|
SS George Washington was an
When George Washington was launched in 1908, she was the largest
On 14 April 1912, George Washington passed a particularly large
At the outbreak of World War I, George Washington was interned by the then-neutral United States, until that country entered into the conflict in April 1917. George Washington was seized by the United States and taken over for use as a troop transport by the U.S. Navy. Commissioned as USS George Washington (ID-3018), she sailed with her first load of American troops in December 1917.
In total, she carried 48,000 passengers to France, and returned 34,000 to the United States after the
During World War II, the ship was re-commissioned by the U.S. Navy as USS Catlin (AP-19) for about six months and was operated by the British under
Design and construction
SS George Washington was an ocean liner built within two years (1907–1908) by
After George Washington was completed, she was reported in contemporary news accounts as being 27,000
George Washington had accommodations for nearly 2,900 passengers, with 900 divided between first and second class and the balance as third class or steerage.[5] The ship had only eight decks rather than a more typical nine, which gave her passenger accommodations a spacious feel.[10] The first-class passenger section included 31 cabins with attached baths,[11] and the liner's imperial suites were designed by German architect Rudolf Alexander Schröder.[12] The second-class, third-class, and steerage compartments were fitted out in a "comfortable manner" suitable for each class.[11]
The first class public rooms were "sumptuously appointed",[10] and included murals by German fresco artist Otto Bollhagen that commemorated the life and times of George Washington.[13] First-class passengers could visit a separate lounge, a reading room decorated by Bruno Paul, a two-story smoking room, and their own dining room that spanned the width of the ship.[10] The upper and lower floors of the smoking room were joined by a broad staircase which helped, according to a report in The New York Times, make it "one of the most attractive parts" of the first-class areas. The dining saloon seated 350 diners at small tables designed for between two and six diners in "roomy and moveable" red Morocco chairs. The dining room was decorated in white and gold, with a gilded dome rising above, while its walls featured floral designs executed against a blue background.[11]
Other first-class passenger amenities aboard George Washington included a gymnasium with machines for "Swedish exercises", and two electric elevators for those who did not want to exercise at all.[10] There was also a darkroom open to amateur photographers; 20 dog kennels, along with a kennel master;[12] a 70-by-50-foot (21 by 15 m) solarium decorated with green and gold tapestry, palms, and flowers of all kinds; and an open air cafe on the awning deck for taking after-dinner coffee.[11] Second-class passengers had a separate dining room, a drawing room, and a smoking room, and third-class passengers had similar amenities.[10]
North German Lloyd passenger service
George Washington began her maiden voyage on 12 June 1909, sailing from Bremen to New York via
Upon her arrival in New York on 20 June, George Washington was greeted by the unfurling of the official banner of the League of Peace from the
On 22 June, the liner hosted a press luncheon,[15] and, the next afternoon, hosted some 3,000 members of the Daughters of the American Revolution who presented a commemorative bronze tablet. Stewart L. Woodford, a former Congressman and ambassador, spoke at the ceremony dedicating the tablet, which was placed at the base of the staircase in the first-class smoking room.[16] Beginning 24 June, the North German Lloyd opened George Washington to the public for five days of viewing of the new ship.[12]
Sailing on her first eastbound journey on 1 July,[17] George Washington commenced regular service between Bremen and New York with intermediate stops in Southampton and Cherbourg.[5] North German Lloyd considered the Washington, as her crew affectionately called her,[1] such a success that they soon ordered another liner of similar, but slightly larger, size.[18][Note 3]
On 24 June 1911, George Washington participated in the
While headed to New York on the morning of 14 April 1912, crew aboard George Washington observed a large
Notable passengers
Throughout her Lloyd transatlantic career George Washington carried some notable and interesting passengers to and from Europe. In August 1909
Composer
Financier and philanthropist
Newlyweds
Socialite and philanthropist Sarah Polk Fall, left for a six-month tour of Europe in August 1923.[38] She was traveling First Class to England. Her daughter Saidee Grant and her husband New York Banker Rollin Grant, along with their servants accompanied her for the journey. They returned to New York in February 1924.[39]
World War I
George Washington continued operating on the Bremen – New York route until World War I when she sought refuge in New York, a neutral port in 1914. With the American entry into the war in 1917, George Washington was taken over 6 April and towed to the
George Washington sailed with her first load of troops 4 December 1917 and during the next 2 years made 18 round trip voyages in support of the
The President again embarked on board George Washington in March 1919; arriving France 13 March, and[43] returned at the conclusion of the historic conference 8 July 1919.[40] During this voyage, the ship carried radiotelephone equipment, then a new technology, and during much of the trip Wilson was able converse with officials back in Washington.[44] The radio transmitter was also used to broadcast entertainment to the troops, and it was planned to broadcast Wilson's 4 July Independence Day speech to accompanying vessels, which would have been the first radio address by a U.S. president. However Wilson stood too far from the microphone, and the technicians were too intimidated to try to get him to stand in the correct spot.[45]
During the fall of 1919, George Washington carried another group of distinguished passengers—
The Hatchet newspaper
Started in February 1918; as a means to relieve the stress the troops, sailors, and officers were under aboard a ship in the danger zone; it was written by officers who had previous literary experience and produced by men who had printing and publishing experience. It was printed on a small hand press – 5,000 copies with the first issue but this was increased to 7,000 – and titled The Hatchet (a reference to the tale about George Washington and the cherry tree).[46] News from the ship and news received by radio were in the single-sheet newspaper. The masthead in 1919 listed the ship chaplain as managing editor and three reporters—one each from the Associated Press, International News Service and the United Press as "associate editors". The newspaper pages, printed on a shipboard press, measured about 9 by 8 inches (23 by 20 cm). The newspaper's motto: "We Cannot Tell a Lie". Its front page claimed it had "The Largest Circulation on the Atlantic Ocean".[47]
Interwar passenger service
After her delivery to the United States Shipping Board (USSB), George Washington was used to transport 250 members of the American Legion to France as guests of the French Government in 1921. The vessel was then reconditioned by USSB for transatlantic service, and chartered by the U.S. Mail Steamship Company, for whom she made one voyage to Europe in March 1921. The company was taken over by the government August 1921 and its name changed to the United States Lines. In 1930, she transported the first group of American Gold Star Mothers to France to visit the graves of their sons. George Washington served the Line on the transatlantic route until 1931 when she was laid up in the Patuxent River, Maryland.[40]
World War II
George Washington was reacquired for Navy use from the
The ship was next operated under General Agency Agreement by the
In July, George Washington sailed from New York to the
George Washington was taken out of service and returned to the Maritime Commission 21 April 1947. She remained tied to a pier at Baltimore, until a fire damaged her 16 January 1951. She was subsequently sold for scrap to the Boston Metals Corporation of Baltimore on 13 February 1951.[40]
Awards
- World War I Victory Medal
- American Defense Service Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp
Notes
- Oder River. See: Drechsel, p. 374.
- ^ The Singer Building, then the world's tallest building at 612 feet (187 m), was 110 feet (34 m) shorter than George Washington was long. See: "Singer Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- Homeric and sailed for the White Star Line. See: Drechsel, p. 433.
- ^ Drechsel's father, Willy Drechsel, was the Second Officer on George Washington in April 1912.
- ^ A coastal transport, George Washington built 1924 5,284 GRT, was WSA operated from East Coast ports to the islands of the Caribbean. That ship was dubbed little George Washington.
References
- ^ a b c d Drechsel, p. 374.
- ^ "Steamship to cost $10,000,000 ordered by German company". The Christian Science Monitor. 29 April 1912. p. 14.
- ^ a b "Praises George Washington" (PDF). The New York Times. 20 June 1909. p. 4. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- ^ "Great liner is launched" (PDF). The New York Times. 11 November 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- ^ a b c d Bonsor, p. 570.
- ^ a b "New German liner". The Times. 11 November 1908. p. 16.
- ^ a b Bonsor, p. 533.
- ^ "Launch of a steamship". The Times. 9 November 1908. p. 5.
- ^ Putnam, p. 164.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "New North-German Lloyd liner". The Times. 14 June 1909. p. 15.
- ^ a b c d e f "Peace flag greets new German liner" (PDF). The New York Times. 21 June 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- ^ a b c d e "Third largest ship due in port to-day" (PDF). The New York Times. 20 June 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- ^ "New liner's fine frescoes" (PDF). The New York Times. 27 December 1908. p. C2. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- ^ "Consul a lively ship passenger" (PDF). The New York Times. 21 June 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- ^ "Luncheon on new German liner" (PDF). The New York Times. 23 June 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- ^ "Tablet is unveiled to Washington on new German ship". The Christian Science Monitor. 24 June 1909. p. 7.
- ^ "Miss Helen Taft will join houseboat party". The Washington Post. 1 July 1909. p. 7, col. 4.
- ^ Norddeutscher Lloyd, p. 68.
- ^ See image of George Washington at the review in Drechsel, p. 374.
- ^ "The merchant marine". The Times. 26 June 1911. p. 10.
- ^ a b Drechsel, pp. 33–34.
- ^ Drechsel, p. 32.
- ^ "Sir Edgar Speyer coming". The Christian Science Monitor. 12 February 1910. p. 2.
- ^ "Tsai Tao sails away tired but grateful" (PDF). The New York Times. 6 May 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ "H.W. Taft back from Europe". The Wall Street Journal. 11 October 1910. p. 2.
- ^ "Row aboard ship as Dr. Cook arrives" (PDF). The New York Times. 23 December 1910. p. 1. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ "Ernst R. von Possart here" (PDF). The New York Times. 23 December 1910. p. 13. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ "Prof. Humperdinck sails" (PDF). The New York Times. 4 January 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ "Defends his nude statues". The Washington Post. 25 April 1911. p. 2.
- ^ "Peacock lost at sea". The Washington Post. 6 July 1911. p. 6.
- ^ "Nathan Straus off for world congress" (PDF). The New York Times. 20 August 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ "U.S. ships statue of von Steuben". The Christian Science Monitor. 19 August 1911. p. 6.
- ^ "J.P. Morgan, Jr., home". The Christian Science Monitor. 25 November 1912. p. 4.
- ^ a b "German Christmas liners crowded" (PDF). The New York Times. 15 December 1912. p. C2. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ "Yes, Mary is still lovely". Los Angeles Times. 26 November 1912. p. I-5.
- ^ "Bridal pair is hidden". The Washington Post. 27 November 1913. p. 1.
- ^ "Maugham praises our playwrights" (PDF). The New York Times. 5 January 1914. p. 9. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
- ^ "FamilySearch". familysearch.org. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ "United States Passport Application". familysearch.org.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Naval Historical Center. "George Washington". DANFS.
- ^ "Big Fleet to Meet Wilson; Ten Battleships and 28 Destroyers Will Be in Escort" (PDF). The New York Times. 4 December 1918. p. 3.
- ^ "Battleship Fleet sails for New York; Ten Dreadnoughts Homebound from Brest to Join in Christmas Celebration" (PDF). The New York Times. 15 December 1918. p. 15.
- ^ "Brest - USS George Washington".
- ^ "The Alexanderson System for Long-Distance Radio Communication: Duplex Radio-Telephony". The Electrician. 16 December 1921. p. 759.
- ^ "Radiophone Transmitter on the U.S.S. George Washington". John H. Payne. General Electric Review. October 1920. pp. 804-806.
- ^ Pollock, Captain Edwin T. and Bloomhardt, Lieut. Paul F. (compiled by), The Hatchet of the U.S. Ship "George Washington, 1919
- ^ Details about the paper are from scans from one edition of The Hatchet that was posted for sale on an auction website. See a part of front page, the masthead, a news article, and an editorial.
- ^ Bone, David W., E:Merchantman Rearmed, Chapter XIII. Chatto and Windus, London, 1949.
- ^ Maritime Administration. "George Washington". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
Bibliography
- Bonsor, N. R. P. (1978) [1955]. North Atlantic Seaway, Volume 2 (Enlarged and completely revised ed.). OCLC 29930159.
- Drechsel, Edwin (1994). Norddeutscher Lloyd, Bremen, 1857–1970: History, Fleet, Ship Mails, Volume 1. Vancouver, British Columbia: Cordillera Pub. Co. OCLC 30357825.
- Naval Historical Center. "George Washington". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- )
- OCLC 46732396.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
External links
Media related to George Washington (ship, 1909) at Wikimedia Commons
- Photo gallery of George Washington at NavSource Naval History