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Identification Numbered Vessel Photo Archive

Santa Malta (ID 3125-A)



Navy call sign:
George - Fox - Cast - Dog



Civilian call sign (1919):
Love - Quack - Tare - Watch
Freighter:

  • Built in 1918 by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, PA
  • Acquired by the Navy 17 May 1919 and commissioned USS Santa Malta (ID 3125-A) at Philadelphia
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Navy Register 6 November 1919 at Brooklyn, NY and returned to the United States Shipping Board for return to her owner, the Atlantic and Pacific Steamship Co. of
    New York
  • Sold in 1921 to the Grace Line
  • Sold in 1925 to the American Hawaiian Line and renamed Hawaiian
  • Sold in 1948 to Providencia of Panama and renamed Fortune
  • Scrapped in 1958 at La Spezia, Italy.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 6,270 t.
  • Length 420' 6"
  • Beam 53' 9"
  • Draft 26' 2"
  • Speed 10 kts.
  • Complement 177
  • Propulsion: Three single ended oil fired boilers, one 3,400hp vertical quadruple expansion steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Santa Malta (ID 3125-A)
    Santa Malta 111k Panoramic photograph of the ship with troops on deck, while she was transporting World War I veterans home from France in 1919
    Collection of Alvie Dawkins. Donation of Roger Dawkins, 2004
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99419    		 Naval Historical Center
    Santa Malta 60k Halftone reproduction of a panoramic photograph of the ship crowded with troops in 1919, while she was bringing American servicemen home from France.
    Collection of Alvie Dawkins. Courtesy of Roger Dawkins, 2004.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99420
    Santa Malta 151k Photographed from onboard USS Alaskan (ID-4542) at St Nazaire, France, 1919.
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 106038    		 Robert Hurst
    SS Fortune
    Santa Malta 95k Fortune shown between 1949 and 1958
    Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2008
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 10563    		 Robert Hurst
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships History: Santa Malta ([ID]-3125-a), a single-screw, steel freighter was built during 1918 by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pa., for the Atlantic and Pacific Steamship Co. of New York; ordered on 12 July 1918 to be delivered to the United States Shipping Board upon completion; transferred to the Navy; and commissioned on 17 May 1919 at Philadelphia, Lt. Comdr. John J. Coholan, USNRF, in command.

    Operated under the War Department account, Santa Malta was assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force, Atlantic Fleet, returning American troops home from Europe. Departing Philadelphia on 22 May 1919, she made three round-trip voyages from New York and Philadelphia to Brest and Bordeaux, France, before 29 August. Remaining under War Department account, Santa Malta departed from New York on 10 September 1919 for Colon, Panama, with a cargo of Army pontoon bridge sections and miscellaneous supplies. Santa Malta called at New Orleans, La., before reaching Panama on 1 October. Departing Colon on 6 October, she steamed northward to New York for drydocking and overhaul.

    Santa Malta was detached from the Cruiser and Transport Force on 14 October 1919 and transferred to the Commandant, 3d Naval District. Santa Malta was decommissioned on 6 November 1919 at Todd Shipbuilding Corp., Brooklyn, and simultaneously returned to the Shipping Board for eventual return to her owner. Renamed Hawaiian in 1925, she was transferred to Panamanian registry in 1948 as Fortune before being scrapped during 1958.

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