SS ''Yale'', a coastal passenger

steamship A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...

, was built by the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works in 1906, for service between New York and Boston. In March 1918 the US Navy acquired her from the Pacific Steamship Company of

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

, placing her in

commission In-Commission or commissioning may refer to: Business and contracting * Commission (remuneration), a form of payment to an agent for services rendered ** Commission (art), the purchase or the creation of a piece of art most often on behalf of anot ...

later in that month as USS ''Yale'' (ID-1672). USS ''Yale'' served between March 1918 and September 1919. In

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the ship made 31 round-trip voyages transporting troops between

Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...

and

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. ''Yale'' was decommissioned in early September 1919 and, in June 1920, together with her sister ship sold for commercial operation along the Pacific Coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Steamship Company spent $8,000,000 to turn the troop ships into high-speed luxury liners, able to make the one way trip in 18 hours.

World War II

After 15 years of fast passenger service along the West Coast, ''Yale'' was laid up in 1935; in 1940 the national emergency resulting from the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

brought her back into use. She was used this time as a dormitory ship in

Alaskan Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the norther ...

waters. The United States Navy again acquired her in April 1943 and in August she was commissioned as USS ''Greyhound'' (IX-106) on 8 August 1943. She was the third ship of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

to be named for the

greyhound The English Greyhound, or simply the Greyhound, is a dog breed, breed of dog, a sighthound which has been bred for coursing, greyhound racing and hunting. Some are kept as show dogs or pets. Greyhounds are defined as a tall, muscular, smooth-c ...

, a breed of tall, slender, swift hound with a narrow pointed head. After brief service ''Greyhound'' decommissioned on 31 March 1944, and began duty as a floating barracks for personnel at various

Puget Sound Puget Sound ( ; ) is a complex estuary, estuarine system of interconnected Marine habitat, marine waterways and basins located on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. As a part of the Salish Sea, the sound ...

training schools. She was placed out of service on 9 March 1948 and her name was struck 18 June 1948. She was turned over to the Maritime Commission 12 November 1948 and placed with the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington until 5 June 1949 when she was sold for scrapping. She departed Olympia on 13 July 1949, towed by the Red Stack tug ''Hercules'', bound for the Walter W. Johnson Company scrap yard at Stockton, California, where she was due to arrive 18 July. The salvaged steel was to go to the Columbia steel mill at

Pittsburg, California Pittsburg (formerly Black Diamond, New York Landing and New York of the Pacific) is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is an industrial suburb located on the southern shore of the Suisun Bay in the East Bay region of t ...

Sources

*
Naval Historical Center

References

1906 ships Ships built by the Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works Steamships of the United States Unclassified miscellaneous vessels of the United States Navy {{US-mil-ship-stub

World War II

Sources

See also

References