USS ''Kittery'' (AK-2) was a German passenger liner of the
Hamburg America Line that was built in 1905 as D/S ''Präsident''. The
United States Navy took her over in 1918, renamed and commissioned her as a
troopship and military cargo transport in
World War I. She was transferred to the
United States Shipping Board in 1933 and scrapped in 1937.
Acquiring a captured German freighter
Schichau Seebeckwerft of
Bremerhaven built ''Präsident'', launching her on 30 November 1905. Hamburg America Line operated her in the
West Indies and Caribbean.
After the outbreak of World War I, she was suspected of supplying German
cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles.
The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...
s in the
Leeward Islands
french: Îles-Sous-le-Vent
, image_name =
, image_caption = ''Political'' Leeward Islands. Clockwise: Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Saint kitts and Nevis.
, image_alt =
, locator_map =
, location = Caribbean SeaNorth Atlantic Ocean
, coor ...
. Following several cruises, during which she narrowly avoided capture by
English and
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
ships, she entered the port of
San Juan, Puerto Rico, early in 1915 and was interned with two other German merchant ships. After the United States entered the war in April 1917, the US Navy took her over on the authority of President
Woodrow Wilson's
Executive Order 2619-A of 14 May 1917. ''Präsident'' sailed to the United States escorted by and was refitted for naval service. She was commissioned as USS ''Kittery'' 6 July at
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
World War I North Atlantic service
Assigned to cargo and troop transport service between the United States and the West Indies, ''Kittery'' left Philadelphia on 18 July. Operating out of
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
, she made monthly trips during the remainder of the war to supply US forces.
Post-war operations
After the war she continued cargo service from Charleston and
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...
, for more than 15 years, making scores of runs to West Indian ports. After a final trip to
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base,
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince ( , ; ht, Pòtoprens ) is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,311 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894. The metropolitan area is define ...
, and
Cap-Haïtien, she arrived Norfolk 21 December 1932. She left on 28 January 1933 and reached Philadelphia two days later.
Decommissioning
''Kittery'' decommissioned on 5 April, and her name was struck from the
Navy List 11 April 1933. She was transferred to the United States Shipping Board 26 June 1933 and scrapped in 1937.
Military awards and honors
''Kittery's'' crew members were authorized the following medals:
*
World War I Victory Medal (with Transport Clasp)
References
*
External links
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-2 Kitteryat Naval Historical Center
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kittery (Ak-2)
1905 ships
Cargo ships of the United States Navy
Passenger ships of Germany
Ships built in Bremen (state)
Ships of the Hamburg America Line
Steamships of Germany
Steamships of the United States
Troop ships of the United States
World War I cargo ships of the United States