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NavSource Online: Identified Number Vessel Photo Archive

USAHS Charles A. Stafford
ex-USAT Siboney
ex-USS Siboney (ID 2999)



Call sign (1918):
George - Tare - Watch - Have

Call sign (1919):
Nan - Zed - Mike



Civilian call sign (1919):
Love - Jig - Vice - King

Siboney served both the U. S. Navy and Army

Transport:

  • The first Siboney was laid down in 1916 as Oriente by William Cramp and Son, Philadelphia, PA
  • Launched 15 August 1917
  • Renamed Siboney 28 February 1918
  • Acquired by the Navy and commissioned USS Siboney (ID 2999), 8 April 1918
  • Decommissioned 10 September 1919 at Hoboken, NJ, struck from the Navy List and transferred to the War Department
  • Soon thereafter, she was returned to the New York and Cuba Mail Steamship Co.
  • Acquired by the U.S. Army in June 1941 and commissioned USAT Siboney
  • Converted to a U.S. Army Hospital Ship in 1944 and renamed USAHS Charles A. Stafford
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission in 1948 and laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Sold for scrap 22 January 1957 to the Bethlehem Steel Corp.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 11,298 t.
  • Length 443' 3"
  • Beam 60'
  • Draft 24' 6"
  • Speed 17.45 kts.
  • Complement 346
  • Armament: Four 5"/51 mounts, two 1-pounders and two machine guns
  • Propulsion: Eight single ended boilers, two 4,500shp Parsons steam turbines with reduction gear, two shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		Size Image Description Source
    USS Siboney (ID 2999)
    Siboney 267k
    Namesake:

    Named after Siboney, Cuba, a landing site of United States forces during the Spanish–American War

    		 Tommy Trampp
    Siboney 110k U.S. Navy photo 20809042 from the National Archives Robert Hurst
    Siboney 133k c. 1918
    Top view looking aft
    U.S. Navy photo 20809040 from the National Archives
    Siboney 97k Ship's after port side gun ready for loading, during target practice at sea in August 1918. This gun is a 5"/51, Mark VIII, with a Mark VII-2 breech
    Photographed by Machinist John G. Krieger, USN
    Donation of John G. Krieger, 1967
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 43480
    Siboney 69k Firing her after port side gun, during target practice at sea in August 1918. The armored cruiser in the left distance may be towing the target
    Photographed by Machinist John G. Krieger, USN
    Donation of John G. Krieger, 1967
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 43481
    Siboney 71k Photographed by Machinist John G. Krieger, USN, in May 1918
    Donation of John G. Krieger, 1967
    U.S. Navy photos NH 43469 and NH 43470    		 Naval Historical Center
    Siboney 90k
    Siboney 88k Colhoun (DD-85) escorting a convoy of troopships, in mid-1918. The two-stack transport beyond her bow is Siboney
    Photographed by R. Bowman
    Courtesy of Jack L. Howland, 1983
    U.S. Navy photo NH 95200    		 Naval Historical Center
    Siboney 140k Underway in 1918, while painted in "dazzle" camouflage
    National Archives photo 19-N-1109    		 Original photo: Naval Historical Center
    Replacement photo: Robert Hurst
    Siboney 166k Colorized version of above photo by Yu Chu Yu Chu
    Siboney 103k 18 June 1918
    Lifeboat from the British SS Dwinsk was torpedoed by the German Submarine U-151 about 400 miles (640 km) from Bermuda. After the ship sank, U-151 remained in the area, using the survivors in seven lifeboats as a lure to try to sink additional Allied ships. Later the same day, USS Von Steuben (ID 3017)spotted wreckage and the seven lifeboats, and as it approached the survivors, narrowly averted a torpedo strike launched by U-151. Six of the lifeboats were rescued by other ships; the seventh lifeboat, in the charge of the Second Officer, Joseph William Coppin (born 1881, St Neot, Cornwall), with 22 men aboard was never heard from again. USS Siboney rescued two boats    		 Tommy Trampp
    Siboney 107k In New York Harbor, with her decks crowded with troops returning home from France, circa late 1918 or 1919
    Photographed by E. Muller Jr., New York
    Collection of Captain Clarence S. Williams, USN. Donated by Mrs. Clarence S. Williams, 1975
    U.S. Navy photo NH 103238    		 Naval Historical Center
    Siboney 103k 20 February 1919
    American Bassens, Gironde River, France
    Large field guns on flat cars at the U.S. Army docks, American Bassens. Siboney is in the background
    Photographed by Machinist John G. Krieger, USN
    Donation of John G. Krieger, 1967
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 64932    		 Robert Hurst
    Siboney 66k The caption for this photo reads "U.S. Marines 'Devil Dogs' arriving at Naval Base - Hampton Roads, VA - USA August 8, 1919 Returning from overseas service aboard U.S.S Troop Ship Siboney." Submitted by Anna Bullard for her father Oliver Howard Holmes
    Siboney 105k Photographed in 1919, while engaged in returning troops to the United States from France. The card's reverse bears the hand-written inscription: "the ship that brought us HOME"
    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 64932    		 Robert Hurst
    Siboney 128k Letterpress reproduction of an artwork by Musician Loren C. Holmberg, USN, printed on page 5 of "Historical Souvenir of the U.S.S. Siboney", published by the ship's crew in 1919 as a memento of her service.
    Collection of Captain Clarence S. Williams, USN. Donated by Mrs. Clarence S. Williams, 1975
    U.S. Navy photo NH 103262-KN    		 Naval Historical Center
    Siboney 111k Photographed in 1919, while engaged in returning troops to the United States from France.
    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 105529    		 Robert Hurst
    Siboney 118k A halftone reproduction of a photograph showing the ship painted in "dazzle" camouflage in 1918-1919
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 105888
    Siboney 92k At Brest, France, August 1919
    Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 106391
    Siboney 1002k Arriving at U.S. Naval Base (probably Norfolk), 08 August 1919. John Spivey
    USAT Siboney
    Siboney 100k Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken while the ship was in port, circa 1942-1943. Reboilered, with her original two smokestacks replaced by a single unit
    Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles
    U.S. Navy photo NH 103243    		 Naval Historical Center
    USAHS Charles A. Stafford
    Siboney 62k
    Namesake:

    Charles Arthur Stafford (8 December 1908 - March 3, 1942) was a Captain and physician in the Medical Corps of the United States Army during World War II. While serving as flight surgeon with the 7th Bombardment Wing at DjokjakartaStafford was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions in treating wounded survivors of cruisers Houston and Marblehead. The B-24 he was a passenger aboard was shot down by Japanese fighters at Broome, Australia, 03 March 1942. His remains were never recovered.

    		 Tommy Trampp
    Siboney 277k c. 1944
    Charleston, SC
    U.S. Army Signal Corps photo    		 Tommy Trampp
    Siboney 235k Photo courtesy of 1st Lt. Orpha Mae Riggle (Blood), U.S. Army Nurse Corps, who served in Charles A. Stafford between September 1944 - October 1945 Orpha Mae Riggle (Blood)
    Siboney 115k Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken circa 1944-1946.
    Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles.
    U.S. Navy photo NH 103261    		 Naval Historical Center
    Siboney 118k Passing out Coca-Cola to wounded servicemen in one of the wards below decks
    From "Hospital Ships of World War II: An Illustrated Reference" by Emory A. Massman    		 Robert Hurst
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR Andrew T. Graham, USN - USNA Class of 1897
    Awarded the Navy Cross (1918) and a Letter of Commendation from the Secretary of War - Retired as Captain    		8 April 1918
    02CAPT Robert Morris, USN - USNA Class of 1900
    Awarded the Navy Cross (1919) - Retired as Captain    		1919
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    View the Siboney (ID-2999)
    DANFS history entry located at NavSource
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