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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 94: USS Imperator off Manhattan Island, New York City, 1919

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

USS Imperator (ID # 4080), 1919-1919.
Previously S.S. Imperator (German Passenger Liner, 1913).
Later the British Passenger Liner Berengaria

USS Imperator, a very large transport, was built in 1913 as the 52,117 gross ton German passenger liner of the same name. Taken over by the U.S. Navy after the World War I Armistice, she was placed in commission in early May 1919. During the next three months Imperator carried U.S. troops home from the former European war zone. During one westbound voyage in mid-June, she received the President of Brazil and his party from the disabled French passenger liner Jeanne D'arc and brought them to the United States. USS Imperator completed her seagoing Naval service in August 1919 and spent the following three months at New York, where she was decommissioned in late November 1919 and turned over to the British Government. Renamed Berengaria, she spent nearly two more decades as a civilian passenger liner.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Imperator (ID # 4080).

For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Imperator (ID # 4080) -- Miscellaneous Views; and
  • S.S. Imperator (German Passenger Liner, 1913). Later the British Passenger Liner Berengaria.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

    Photo #: NH 105815

    USS Imperator     (ID # 4080)

    Assisted by tugs, probably at Hoboken, New Jersey, in mid-1919.
    Photographed by the Bain News Service, New York City.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 103KB; 900 x 660 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 94

    USS Imperator     (ID # 4080)

    Off Manhattan Island, New York City, in 1919.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 40KB; 740 x 275 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 85172

    USS Imperator     (ID # 4080)

    Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing the ship underway in 1919, while she was employed bringing U.S. service personnel home from Europe.

    Courtesy of William H. Davis, 1977.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99104

    USS Imperator     (ID # 4080)

    In harbor, with tugs alongside, 1919.

    Donation of Staff Sergeant Craig Ingersoll, USMC, 1980.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105816

    Lighter Rin Tin Tin

    Coming alongside USS Mount Vernon (ID # 4508) to transfer troops for passage home to the United States, in Brest Harbor, France, circa May 1919.
    USS Imperator (ID # 4080) is in the background.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103126-A

    USS Imperator     (ID # 4080)

    At Hoboken, New Jersey, probably after her first trans-Atlantic voyage as a U.S. Navy ship, circa late May 1919.
    Panoramic photograph by Picot, 15 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.
    This view is cropped from Photo # NH 103126.
    Note the large decoration on the ship's bow.

    Donation of Georgia Adams Grann and Caryl L. Adams, 2005. The original print came from the collection of their father, George W. Adams, who enlisted in the Navy in 1908.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 395 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103126

    USS Imperator     (ID # 4080), at left,
    and
    USS Leviathan (ID # 1326)

    At Hoboken, New Jersey, probably after Imperator's first trans-Atlantic voyage as a U.S. Navy ship, circa late May 1919. At that time, these were the World's largest ships, hence the photo's title: "The 'Giants' of the Sea".
    Panoramic photograph by Picot, 15 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.
    Note the large decoration on Imperator's bow.

    Donation of Georgia Adams Grann and Caryl L. Adams, 2005. The original print came from the collection of their father, George W. Adams, who enlisted in the Navy in 1908.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 1200 x 280 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105700

    USS Imperator     (ID # 4080)

    Ship's Officers and Crew, posed on her after boat deck, circa late spring or summer 1919.
    Panoramic photograph by H.A. Helm, 121 West 68th Street, New York.
    Note the large boat cranes flanking this scene, and the very large group of stewards in the front left.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 212KB; 2000 x 505 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105872

    USS Imperator     (ID # 4080)

    "Concert Time" on the ship's after boat deck, circa late spring or summer 1919.
    Note the life boats, life rafts and pair of large boat cranes.
    The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 128KB; 900 x 570 pixels

     


    The following photographs shows barges and ferry lighters alongside what may be USS Imperator:

    Photo #: NH 104812

    "Gobs Coaling at Brest, 6-10-19"

    U.S. Navy Sailors coaling a large transport (possibly USS Imperator) at Brest, France, on 10 June 1919.
    In addition to the coal barges, three ferry lighters are alongside and another is in the middle distance. That closest to the camera, alongside one of the coal barges, is Rin Tin Tin. The other three lighters are crowded with troops, probably awaiting transfer to the transport for passage home. The outboard lighter, directly aft of Rin Tin Tin, appears to be Traffic. She is alongside another lighter which appears to be of very similar configuration. The ship faintly visible in the center distance is either USS Saint Louis (Cruiser # 20) or USS Charleston (Cruiser # 22).
    The original photograph was printed on post card ("AZO") stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 445 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105965

    Ferry Lighter Amackassin

    Alongside a transport in Brest harbor, France, to transfer troops for passage to the United States, June 1919.
    The transport may be USS Imperator (ID # 4080), as the original photograph was acquired with a postcard sent from that ship.

    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 65KB; 455 x 765 pixels

     


    For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Imperator (ID # 4080) -- Miscellaneous Views; and
  • S.S. Imperator (German Passenger Liner, 1913). Later the British Passenger Liner Berengaria.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 13 December 2007
    New image added 4 January 2009