troop ship? USCGC Seminole

[mccooper]

Doing some research on a doughboy's photo albums - all well-identified photos until I found this RPPC with nothing on it, and I cannot read the name on the stern under magnification. Does anyone recognize this vessel? Could it have been his troop ship? He returned home in July of 1919, after serving with the 308th MST, then was transferred to the ASC until he returned. Thank you for your comments.

 

mccooper

 

 

[sigsaye]

Do not believe that is a troop ship, as it appears much too small. Also, do not believe it to be USN due to color and where the flag is being displayed (underway, USN flies from gaff, not flagstaff)

[Bluejacket]

mccooper,

 

It looks like a Coast Guard cutter to me....possibly the Seminole.

 

 

Bluejacket

[gwb123]

From: http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/usrc_photo_index.asp

 

Eighteenth, Nineteenth & Early Twentieth Century Revenue Cutters

A Historic Image Gallery

 

 

Seminole, a 188-foot, 845-ton steamer, was constructed by the Columbian Iron Works in Baltimore, MD for $141,000. She was commissioned in 1900 and saw service through 1934, when she was transferred to the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.

She was first based out of Boston and transferred to Wilmington, NC, in late 1904. She then patrolled along the southeastern coast, including winter cruises from Cape Hatteras, NC to Charleston, SC and even down through Key West, FL. Her duties included derelict destruction, attending local ceremonies, patrolling regattas, and rendering assistance when needed. With the outbreak of World War I, she enforced the neutrality laws of the US until the US entered the war. She then served under the Navy and patrolled off the Carolinas. In 1923 she was detached to Puerto Rico where she served as an independent unit and returned to her permanent station of Wilmington later that year. In 1929 transferred for service on the Great Lakes where she was stationed at Sault Ste. Marie, MI until she was decommissioned in 1934.

 

[gwb123]

It sure looks the same.

 

I was wondering why it had so many lifeboats on board for a vessel of this size. It makes sense for a Coast Guard Cutter.

[mccooper]

Gents-

 

Many thanks for the information. I crossed the North Atlantic twice on a troop ship (1960 & 1962) and sure would not have wanted to be on this one! However, I was not at all sure about WWI practices. Will never know for sure why this photo was in his album, but there are some others that do not equate with his personal military experience, so.................. All the best,

 

mccooper

[gwb123]

If it is an RPPC, it's possible he may have had a friend or a family member who was a crewman on the ship.

 

As noted in the history above, I don't believe the Seminole crossed the Atlantic. More likely it was relegated to US coastal service.

[sigsaye]

The flag on the flag staff is not a national ensign, so most likely a guide flag, meaning that they guided other ships out of harbors through cleared channels.

[mccooper]

sigsaye-

 

Thanks - that makes sense. Perhaps the SEMINOLE guided them out of the NY harbor.

[superchief]

The SEMINOLE was home ported in Puerto Rico in WWI and made a number of convoy escorts. The photo in question was probably taken off Bermuda as the cutter was part of an escort screen heading for Norfolk Va.