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Identification Numbered Vessel Photo Archive

Invincible (ID 3671)



Civilian call sign (1919):
Love - Nan - Jig - Quack
Freighter:

  • Built in 1918 as War Rock by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. San Francisco, CA
  • Renamed Invincible prior to completion
  • Acquired by the Navy 17 October 1918 and commissioned USS Invincible (ID 3671) the same day
  • Completed 19 October 1918
  • Decommissioned 15 April 1919 and returned to the United States Shipping Board (USSB)
  • Sold in 1940 to National Bulk Carriers, Inc. of New York
  • Acquired by the British Ministry of War Transport in 1941 (managed by the Cunard-White Star Line) and renamed Empire Porpoise
  • Sold in 1946 to Marine Enterprises of London, England and renamed Chrysanthemum
  • Sold in 1950 to Cia Maritima Neptune SA of Puerto Limon, Costa Rica and renamed Chryss
  • Sold in 1952 to the Israel America Line Ltd. of Haifa, Israel and renamed Athlit
  • Scrapped in 1954 at Trieste, Italy.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 15,942 t.
  • Length 440' 2"
  • Beam 36'
  • Draft 28' 7"
  • Speed 11 kts.
  • Complement 70
  • Propulsion: Three single-ended boilers, one 3,000hp Curtis turbine steam engine with reduction gear, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    SS Invincible
    Invincible 109k Photographed in 1918, probably when first completed
    U.S. Navy photo NH 70466    		 Naval Historical Center
    Invincible 69k Underway at about the time of her completion, circa October 1918. She is painted in disruptive camouflage
    U.S. Navy photo NH 100113
    USS Invincible (ID 3671)
    Invincible 136k At Tilbury Docks, Thames River, England, 22 February 1919
    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2005
    U.S. Navy photo NH 102977    		 Naval Historical Center
    SS Chrysanthemum
    Invincible 71k S.S. Chrysanthemum in British commercial service between 1946 and 1950
    Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR, (Retired)
    U.S. Navy photo NH 105652    		 Naval Historical Center

    Construction progress photos showing the different stages of construction of Invincible which took 28 days from keel laying
    to launching

    Contributed by Tommy Trampp

    Click on thumbnail for full size photo


    5 July 1918

    8 July 1918

    9 July 1918

    10 July 1918

    11 July 1918

    11 July 1918

    12 July 1918

    14 July 1918

    15 July 1918

    18 July 1918

    19 July 1918

    19 July 1918

    20 July 1918

    22 July 1918

    23 July 1918

    23 July 1918

    24 July 1918

    25 July 1918

    25 July 1918

    26 July 1918

    26 July 1918

    27 July 1918

    29 July 1918

    29 July 1918

    2 August 1918

    4 August 1918

    4 August 1918

    4 August 1918

    18 October 1918

    18 October 1918
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Invincible, a cargo ship was launched in 1918 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. San Francisco, Calif.; transferred to the Navy from USSB 17 October 1918 and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. George H. Zeh in command.

    Assigned to NOTS, Invincible took on cargo at Port Costa and sailed for New York 31 October via the Panama Canal. She arrived New York 25 November and departed for London with supplies for the Allies 11 December, arriving there 27 December.

    Invincible left London 18 January 1919 and arrived New York 1 February. She made one more voyage to London before decommissioning 15 April 1919, and being returned to USSB the same day. The ship continued to sail for the Shipping Board and later for National Bulk Carriers, Inc., until the late 1930's.

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