WWI Ship Name Index   Return to WWI Auxiliaries.

UNITED STATES NAVY
TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS
WORLD WAR I

Photo # NH 85820: USS Amphion in port, circa 1919

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Amphion (ID # 1888), 1919-1919.
Previously the German Passenger Liner Köln (built 1899) and the U.S. Army Transport Amphion (1917-1919)

USS Amphion, a 7409 gross ton transport, was built in 1899 at Geestemunde, Germany, as the civilian passenger liner Köln. She was interned in the United States when World War I began in August 1914 and was seized by the U.S. Government upon America's entry into the conflict in April 1917. For the rest of the war she served as the U.S. Army transport Amphion. In October 1918 she had a running gunfire engagement with a German submarine, receiving shell damage and losing two crewmen killed and six wounded, but was able to reach port and undergo repairs.

The ship was turned over to the Navy in 1919 and, in April of that year, was placed in commission as USS Amphion (ID # 1888). During the next five months she made three round-trip voyages to France as part of the vast effort to bring home American service personnel. Amphion was decommissioned in September 1919 and transferred to the U.S. Shipping Board. She was sold for scrapping in 1924.

This page features all available views concerning USS Amphion (ID # 1888).


Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 99175

USAT Amphion (U.S. Army Transport, 1899)

Photographed in port, circa 1917-1919.
The German passenger liner Köln was seized by the U.S. Government in 1917 and served during World War I as the U.S. Army Transport Amphion. She was placed in commission as USS Amphion (ID # 1888) in April 1919 and decommissioned in September 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 330 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85820

USS Amphion (ID # 1888)

In port, circa 1919, probably while bringing U.S. service personnel home from Europe.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1977.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 480 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 104735

USS Amphion (ID # 1888)

Arriving in a U.S. port (probably Newport News, Virginia) while transporting U.S. service personnel home from Europe, 1919.
Photographed by Holladay, Newport News, as one of "The Ship That Brought Us Home" post card series.
The original photograph was printed on "AZO" post card stock.

Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 


USAT Amphion (which later became USS Amphion) is partially visible in the right background of the following photograph of another ship:

Photo #: NH 105617

USAT Amphion (ID # 1888), in background

This photograph may have been taken when Amphion was inspected by the Third Naval District in March 1919. Amphion is the ship in the background to the right. The bow in the foreground may belong to USS Rappahannock (ID # 1854, later AF-6)).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 66KB; 545 x 765 pixels

 


Return to WWI Auxiliaries.

Page made 28 November 2002
New image added 8 April 2008