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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

Herbert L. Pratt (American Tanker, 1918-1946).
Served as USS Herbert L. Pratt (ID # 2339) in 1918-1919

Herbert L. Pratt, a 7150 gross ton oil tanker, was completed at Alameda, California, in 1918. She was ordered delivered to the Navy but, while off Cape Henlopen, Delaware, on 3 June 1918 she struck a mine laid by the German submarine U-151. Though her entire forward section was submerged, structural damage was apparently not too severe, as she was quickly salvaged and repaired. While this work was in process, the ship was placed in commission as USS Herbert L. Pratt (ID # 2339) in June 1918. At the end of July she began her first Navy voyage, taking fuel oil to Brest, France, for use by the U.S. warships stationed there. She made a second trans-Atlantic trip, from New York to England and back, in October-December 1918. USS Herbert L. Pratt was decommissioned in mid-January 1919 and returned to her owners, the Atlantic Refining Company. She had more than two-and-a-half decades of further commerical service, taking her through the Second World War. The old ship was placed in the War Shiping Administration's reserve fleet in February 1946 and sold for scrapping in December of that year.

This page features all the views we have concerning the tanker Herbert L. Pratt, which was USS Herbert L. Pratt in 1918-1919.

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

Photo #: NH 105604 S.S. Herbert L. Pratt (American tanker, 1918) Probably photographed upon completion in March 1918. This ship was in commission as USS Herbert L. Pratt (ID # 2339) from June 1918 to January 1919. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 450 pixels
Photo #: NH 65116-A SS Herbert L. Pratt (American tanker, 1918) Photographed circa 1918. This ship was acquired by the Navy on 2 June 1918 and, though damaged by a mine on 3 June, was placed in commission as USS Herbert L. Pratt (ID # 2339) on 10 June 1918, while under repair at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She was decommissioned on 18 January 1919 and returned to her owner. The original print is in National Archives' Record Group 19-LCM. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 585 pixels
Photo #: NH 14 SS Herbert L. Pratt (American tanker, 1918) Under salvage after striking a mine off Cape Henlopen, southeast of Lewes, Delaware, on 3 June 1918. Note the tug alongside. This ship later served as USS Herbert L. Pratt (ID # 2339). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 560 pixels
Photo #: NH 53528 SS Herbert L. Pratt (American tanker, 1918) Under salvage after she hit a mine on 3 June 1918. This ship later served as USS Herbert L. Pratt (ID # 2339). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 355 pixels
Photo #: NH 53529 SS Herbert L. Pratt (American tanker, 1918) Under salvage after striking a mine on 3 June 1918. Note the degree to which her bow is submerged, a situation soon corrected by the salvors. This ship later served as USS Herbert L. Pratt (ID # 2339). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 570 pixels
Photo #: NH 53527 SS Herbert L. Pratt (American tanker, 1918) Hull damage sustained when the ship struck a mine on 3 June 1918. Photographed while drydocked at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 12 June 1918. Though clearly only in the earliest stages of repairs, she had been placed in commission as USS Herbert L. Pratt (ID # 2339) two days earlier. Note men in skiff by the damaged area, and hull plating with holes from sheared rivets. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 605 pixels
Photo #: NH 83121 SS Herbert L. Pratt (American tanker, 1918) Under salvage after hitting a mine, June 1918. By the time this view was taken buoyancy had been restored to the ship's forward section and she had raised steam in preparation for going to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for repairs. Note the diagonal line on her hull, sloping down and aft from the quarterdeck break, representing the degree to which her bow had been submerged. Collection of Chief Warrant Officer J.B. Dofflemeyer, 1972. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 465 pixels

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Page made 18 June 2003
New image added 10 April 2008