Kroonland, a 12,241 gross ton passenger steamship, was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1902, she was operated commercially for the next fifteen years, mainly trading between New York and Antwerp, Belgium, until the outbreak of World War I in 1914. In 1915 she transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific, and in 1916 began service between the United States and Great Britain. On 20 May 1917, some weeks after the U.S. had entered the conflict, Kroonland was en route to Liverpool when she was damaged by a German submarine's torpedo. Following repairs, the ship returned to service. She was formally taken over by the U.S. Army in February 1918 and made one round-trip voyage to France between then and early April.

Transferred to the Navy later in that month, she was placed in commission as USS Kroonland (ID # 1541), a transport. Five more round-trip voyages, carrying American troops to France, were made before the 11 November 1918 Armistice ended the fighting. On 10 July 1918 she had an encounter with an enemy U-Boat, but emerged unhurt and may have damaged the submarine with gunfire. After the Armistice Kroonland began bringing veterans home from the former war zone, work that continued until September 1919. She was decommissioned at the beginning of October 1919 and returned to her owner. The steamer resumed commercial operations in 1920, initially between the U.S. and Europe and, after 1923, between the East and West Coasts by way of the Panama Canal. Kroonland was scrapped in 1927.

This page provides links to all the images we have concerning USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) and the civilian passenger liner Kroonland.

Additional images USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) - Shipboard Activities
USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) - Medical Activities, Facilities and Staff
USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) - Miscellaneous Shipboard Scenes
USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) - Group Photos of the Ship's Crew

Click photograph for a larger image

Photo #: NH 100556 Kroonland (American Passenger Steamer, 1902) Photographed prior to World War I, during and after which this liner served as USS Kroonland (ID # 1541). Commissioned on 25 April 1918, she was decommissioned and returned to her owner on 1 October 1919. NHHC Collection Online Image: 36KB; 740 x 225
Photo #: NH 52091 International Mercantile Marine Company's Chelsea Piers, North River, New York Five passenger steamers tied up at the Chelsea Piers, circa early 1917, before the United States entered World War I. SS Kroonland is at right, with her name painted on her side. She later became USS Kroonland (ID # 1541). Tug Victor J. Newton is in the center of the image, with her stern toward the camera. Courtesy of the International Mercantile Marine Company. NHHC Collection Online Image: 67KB; 900 x 345
Photo #: NH 52092 SS Kroonland (American Passenger Steamer, 1902) View of the ship's after portion, starboard side, in November 1917. She is painted in Mackay system low-visibility camouflage and has a gun mounted atop her after deckhouse. This ship served as USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) in 1918-1919. Courtesy of the International Mercantile Marine Company. NHHC Collection Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 600
Photo #: NH 52093 USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) At the New York Navy Yard, 24 July 1918. Note her pattern camouflage. NHHC Collection Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 590
Photo #: NH 105584 USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) In a harbor, 1918, while painted in "dazzle" camouflage. Courtesy of James A. Turner, Jr., from the collection of Samuel A. Turner, Jr., who served in USS Wakiva (SP-160) during World War I. NHHC Collection Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 520 Note: Though the original print was labeled USS America (ID # 3006), this ship is actually the considerably smaller Kroonland.
Photo #: NH 105842 USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) In port prior to the removal of her guns, circa early 1919. The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock. Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008. NHHC Collection Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 460
Photo #: NH 104599 USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) Arriving in a U.S. port (probably New York) in 1919, with her decks crowded with troops returning from Europe. Photographed by E. Muller Jr., New York City. The reverse of the original print features a credit to the Army Transport Photograph Co., 204 Franklin St., New York. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. NHHC Collection Online Image: 97KB; 900 x 625
Photo #: NH 103137 USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) Photographed in 1919. The original image was printed on postal card ("AZO") stock. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005. NHHC Collection Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 465
Photo #: NH 103136 USS Kroonland (ID # 1541) In port in 1919, while employed bringing U.S. service personnel home from Europe. The original image was printed on postal card ("AZO") stock. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005. NHHC Collection Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 460
Photo #: NH 82951 "The Original U.S. Troop Transports" Chart compiled 16 August 1919, showing the number of trans-Atlantic "turn arounds" and their average duration for thirty seven U.S. Navy troop transports employed during and immediately after World War I. Collection of the USS Pocahontas Reunion Association, 1974. NHHC Collection Online Image: 157KB; 690 x 655 Click here to rotate chart 90 degrees clockwise

USS Kroonland, or the virtually identical USS Finland (ID # 4543), is visible in the background of the following photographs of another ship:

Photo #: NH 105416 S.S. Traffic (White Star Line Ferry Lighter) Coming alongside a transport to transfer troops for passage home to the United States, 1919. Location is probably Brest, France. This photo shows Traffic's superstructure, seen from off her the port quarter. The ship in the background is either USS Finland (ID # 4543) or USS Kroonland (ID # 1541). The original image is printed on postcard ("AZO") stock. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. NHHC Collection Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 475

Photo #: NH 105415 S.S. Traffic (White Star Line Ferry Lighter) Transferring troops to a transport for passage home to the United States, 1919. Location is probably Brest, France. This photo shows Traffic's superstructure, seen from off her the port quarter. The ship in the background is either USS Finland (ID # 4543) or USS Kroonland (ID # 1541). The original image is printed on postcard ("AZO") stock. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. NHHC Collection Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 475

For higher resolution images see: Obtaining Photographic Reproductions