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Naval History and Heritage Command

National Museum of the U.S. Navy

<p>NMUSN:&nbsp; WWI_Cruiser Transport Force</p>

Cruiser and Transport Force

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Cruiser and Transport Force

Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, USN, commanded the Cruiser and Transport Force, consisting of forty-five commisioned ships, to help safeguard the transportation of American service personnel.  The work of these vessels could be dangerous, and their crews were also sent into harm's way.   The troopships departed in groups, about two hours apart, and sailed at different speeds.   Each group was met while steaming off Europe and given additional escort into port from Queenstown, Ireland, destroyers.   Though convoys gathered targets together, as the critics of the convoy system stated, the system proved to be a detterrent.  The first U.S. convoy left Hampton Roads, Virginia, on May 24, 1917 to cross the North Atlantic.

Image:  LC-3G0034U:   "Shoot Ships to Germany and Help American Win."  Courtesy of the Library of Congress.