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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USAT Cambrai

Transport
  • Laid down, date unknown by American International Shipbuilding Co. at Hog Island, PA.
  • Launched 6 December 1919
  • Delivered to the U.S. Shipping Board 30 October 1920
  • Transferred to the War Department, in November 1920, and assigned to the U.S. Army Transport Service
  • Named in honor of the U.S. Army’s participation in the Battle of Cambrai in World War I
  • Assigned to the A.T.S. Atlantic Fleet with homeport at Army Supply Base, Brooklyn
  • USAT Cambrai generally serviced the New York—Antwerp and the New York—San Juan—Panama routes 1920-21
  • Maiden voyage for Army Transport Service 10 December 1920
  • Laid up, 6 June 1921, at New York
  • Recommissioned 10 November 1921
  • Transferred in 1922 to the A.T.S. Pacific fleet with homeport at Fort Mason, CA.
  • USAT Cambrai was Assigned to service the San Francisco—Honolulu route 1922-31
  • Transported earthquake relief supplies to Yokohama after the disastrous earthquake that hit Japan in September 1923
  • Beginning November 1928, about every other voyage was made between Fort Mason and the Army Supply Base, Brooklyn and making occasional voyages to Panama, Puerto Rico and the Philippines
  • Supported the U.S. Marine expedition to Nicaragua 1928-32
  • Struck a reef at Corinto, Nicaragua, in 1929
  • The damage was moderate, but required dry-dock repairs upon the ship’s return to San Francisco
  • Turned over to the U.S. Shipping Board, 27 October 1931, and sold to the United States Line, renamed SS American Traveler
  • Transferred to Belgian service in 1940, reflagged Belgian, renamed SS Ville d’ Arlon
  • Final Disposition, sunk by German U-Boat U-47, 2 December 1940.
    From U-Boat.net - "At 04.09 hours on 2 December 1940 the unescorted Ville d’Arlon (Master Albert Wilding) was hit on starboard side aft of amidships by one G7e torpedo from U-47 and sank quickly with a heavy list about 250 miles southwest of Rockall. The ship had been in station #71 of Convoy HX.90, but became a straggler due to steering troubles and laid stopped when attacked by the U-boat, presumably carrying out repairs. The master, 55 crew members and one passenger (DBS) were lost."
    Specifications:
    Displacement 12,275 t.(fl)
    Length 448'
    Beam 58' 3"
    Draft 26' (limiting)
    Speed 14.5 kts. (trial)
    Complement unknown
    Passenger capacity unknown
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 10,000 Bbls
    Diesel 360 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric geared turbine
    six Babcock and Wilcox boilers, 200psi Sat.
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gear
    three 200Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USAT Cambrai
    Cambrai 57k
    Namesake
    Named USAT Cambrai in honor of the U.S. Army’s participation in the Battle of Cambrai in World War I.
    Map photo thanks to: National Library of Scotland British First World War Trench Maps, 1915-1918.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Cambrai
    301306504    		 45k Tugboats assisting USAT Cambrai, probably New York harbor, circa 1920-21.
    Mysticseaport.comt>    		 John Spivey
    Cambrai 90k USAT Cambrai underway in the harbor at Honolulu, T.H. Note Aloha Tower in the background. Photo - Mariners Museum, Newport News, VA.
    Caption - William McFeeley
    Cambrai 61k Real Photo postcard of USAT Cambrai underway in harbor, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    Merchant Service
    Cambrai
    301306504    		 24k SS Ville d"Arlon underway in harbor in 1940, location unknown.
    U-Boat.net    		 John Spivey
    USAT Cambrai history is from US Army Order of Battle 1914-1941 Vol 4
    Masters
    01CAPT. Ferguson, Norman, A.T.S.30 October 1920 - 20 November 1929
    01CAPT. Hitchcock, James C., A.T.S.20 November 1920 - December 1920
    02CAPT. Feguson, Norman, A.T.S.December 1920 - 30 June 1921
    03CAPT. Williams, Charles F., A.T.S.30 June 1921 - 12 June 1928
    04CAPT. Pfeiffer, Francis A., A.T.S.12 June 1928 - 2 April 1929
    05CAPT. Torning, Bror E., A.T.S.2 April 1929 -8 August 1930
    06CAPT. Humphrey, Daniel, A.T.S.9 August 1930 - 27 October 1931
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    Last Updated 18 November 2022