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Civilian Identification Numbered Ships Photo Archive

Scranton (ID 3511)



Navy call sign:
George - Fox - Pup - Vice

ex-Pennsylvanian (ID 3511)



Call sign:
Love - Dog - Boy - Have
Freighter:

  • The first Scranton was built in 1913 as Pennsylvanian by the Maryland Steel Co., Sparrows Point, MD
  • Acquired by the Navy 13 September 1918 at New York
  • Commissioned USS Pennsylvanian (ID 3511), 14 September 1918
  • Renamed Scranton in November 1918
  • Decommissioned 16 July 1919 and transferred to the United States Shipping Board for return to her owner and renamed Pennsylvanian
  • Scuttled 16 July 1944 as part of the "Mulberry A" artificial harbor that supported the Normandy Invasion and the subsequent land campaign in northern France.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 14,375 t.
  • Length 429' 2"
  • Beam 53' 6"
  • Draft 28'
  • Speed 14.85 kts.
  • Complement 70
  • Armament: One 5"/40 and one 3"/50 mount
  • Propulsion: Three single ended and one auxiliary boiler, one 4,000ihp vertical quadruple expansion steam engine, two shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    SS Pennsylvanian
    Pennsylvanian 66k SS Pennsylvanian Joe Radigan
    USS Scranton (ID 3511)
    Scranton 132k In a harbor, circa spring 1919, probably at New York. She appears to be under tow
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99438    		 Naval Historical Center
    Scranton 173k View looking forward from the foremast crow's nest, showing anchor machinery, spare anchor, bollards and bow bulwark. Taken while Scranton was underway in the Atlantic, 1919.
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99467
    Scranton 126k View looking forward from the ship's mainmast crow's nest, taken while she was in port, 1919.
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99441
    Scranton 100k "Making 16 knots" while underway in the Atlantic, 1919. Photographed from her mainmast crow's nest, looking forward. According to this ship's official data card, her maximum speed was 15 knots.
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99439
    Scranton 173k "A spring day at sea", showing men relaxing on the ship's after deck while she was at sea in 1919. This photograph, taken from the mainmast looking aft, was made after Scranton's after gun foundation had been removed. Note lifeboats with provisions packed under the seats, and shipping crates on deck
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99443
    Scranton 77k In dry dock, 1919, probably in the New York City area
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99442
    Scranton 144k In dry dock, 1919, probably in the New York City area
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99448
    Scranton 113k At Bassens, France, 1919
    Photograph from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    U.S. Navy photo NH 99459
    Scranton 62k Officers in the ship's ward room, 1919. The man at right appears to be a representative of the Knights of Columbus, with "KofC" insignia on his collar
    Photo from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 99444
    Photo added 21 June 2019    		 Robert Hurst
    Scranton 81k "Jack-o-the Dust" (storekeeper of a provisions store room) in his domain on board the ship, 1919
    Photo from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 99445
    Photo added 21 June 2019
    Scranton 84k Scene in the ship's radio room, 1919
    Photo from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 99446
    Photo added 21 June 2019
    Scranton 92k Members of the ship's commissary force, 1919
    Photo from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 99447
    Photo added 21 June 2019
    Scranton 104k Crewmen coiling line on board the ship, 1919
    Photo from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 99460
    Photo added 21 June 2019
    Scranton 85k Crewmen operating winches on board the ship, 1919
    Photo from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 99461
    Photo added 21 June 2019
    Scranton 98k Ship's galley force, 1919
    Photo from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 99462
    Photo added 21 June 2019
    Scranton 77k "Dough for Dough-boys" -- A Chief Petty Officer carries bread, freshly baked for troops being transported home from France, 1919
    Photo from the USS Scranton photo album kept by J.D. Bartar, one of her crew members
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 99466
    Photo added 21 June 2019
    Scranton 135k Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing the ship in port, 1919. This view was published circa 1919 by A.M. Simon, 324 E. 23rd Street, New York City, as one of ten images in a "Souvenir Folder" concerning USS Scranton
    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2009
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 106670
    Scranton 81k Ship's officers, 1919. Some of those present are dressed in Army and other non-U.S. Navy uniforms
    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2009
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 106699
    Photo added 21 June 2019
    SS Pennsylvanian
    Pennsylvanian 43k 27 February 1944
    U.S. Coast Guard Photo    		 Joe Radigan
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Robert M. Tapley, USNRF13 September 1918 - 1919
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships History: The first Scranton (ID-3511) was built by the Maryland Steel Co., Sparrows Point, Md., in 1913, for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. She served that line as the Pennsylvanian until 13 September 1918 when she was taken over by the Navy at New York N.Y.; renamed Scranton and commissioned a Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS) ship.

    Scranton was refitted, refurnished, and classified as an animal transport. She loaded general cargo and sailed for Brest, France on 30 September. She arrived there on 15 October and, the following day, proceeded to La Pallice where she discharged her cargo. On 5 November, she sailed for New York.

    Scranton arrived on the 15th and was docked for repairs and the installation of horse stalls. On 12 December, she sailed for St. Nazaire, France, arriving there on the 29th. She returned to New York on 29 January 1919. Scranton was detached from NOTS on 5 February and assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force. She made three round trips to France, returning approximately 6,000 troops and passengers to the United States.

    Scranton was turned over to the United States Shipping Board on 16 July 1919 and subsequently returned to the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. She again operated as Pennsylvanian until 16 July 1944 when she was sunk by the United States Navy at San Lorenzo, France.

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