USS Lenape (ID-2700)

USS "Lenape" (ID-2700) was a troop transport for the United States Navy in 1918, during World War I. She was launched in 1912 as SS "Lenape", a passenger steamer for the Clyde Line. After the entry of the United States into World War I in 1917, she was chartered by the United States Army as transport USAT "Lenape". After her Navy service ended in October 1918, she was returned to the Army.

Early career

"Lenape" was launched by Newport News Shipbuilding Co. of Newport News, Virginia, in 1912 for the Clyde Steamship Company, known as the Clyde Line. She operated as a passenger steamer on the East Coast of the United States, typically on a New York–Charleston–Jacksonville route. [Crowell and Wilson, p. 315.] [, armed yacht , , .Crowell and Wilson, p. 609. ] Gleaves, p. 202. ] American cruiser USS|Frederick|CA-8|2 served as escort for the assembled ships, which were the 35th U.S. convoy of the war.Crowell and Wilson, p. 609.] On 20 May, the convoy sighted and fired on a "submarine" that turned out to be a bucket; the next day escort "Frederick" left the convoy after being relieved by nine destroyers. Three days later the convoy sighted land at 06:30 and anchored at Brest that afternoon.Pollard, p. 27.] "Lenape" sailed for Newport News and arrived there safely on 6 June with "Pastores" and "Princess Matoika". Fate, however, was not as kind to former convoy mates "President Lincoln" and "Dwinsk". On their return journeys they were sunk by German submarines "U-90" and "U-151", respectively.cite DANFS | title = President Lincoln | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p11/president_lincoln.htm | date = | accessdate = 2008-04-10 | short = yes ] "German submarine activities", p. 48.]

"Lenape" set sail from Newport News on 14 June with "Wilhelmina", "Pastores", "Princess Matoika", and British steamer "Czar". On the morning of 16 June, lookouts on "Princess Matoika" spotted a submarine and, soon after, a torpedo heading directly for that ship. The torpedo missed her by a few yards and gunners manning the ship's convert|6|in|mm|adj=on guns claimed a hit on the sub with their second shot.Cutchins and Stewart, p. 66.] Later that morning, the Newport News ships met up with the New York portion of the convoy—which included USS|DeKalb|ID-3010|2, "Finland", USS|Kroonland|ID-1541|2, USS|George Washington|ID-3018|2, "Covington", "Rijndam", "Dante Alighieri", and British steamer "Vauben"—and set out for France.Cutchins and Stewart, p. 67. ] Crowell and Wilson, p. 610–11. ] The convoy was escorted by cruisers USS|North Carolina|ACR-12|2 and "Frederick", and destroyers USS|Stevens|DD-86|2 and USS|Fairfax|DD-93|2; battleship USS|Texas|BB-35|2 and several other destroyers joined in escort duties for the group for a time. The convoy had a false alarm when a floating barrel was mistaken for submarine, but otherwise uneventfully arrived at Brest on the afternoon of 27 June. Cutchins and Stewart, p. 68. ] "Lenape", "Covington", "Princess Matoika", "Rijndam", "George Washington", "DeKalb", "Wilhelmina", and "Dante Alighieri" left Brest as a group on 30 June.Feuer, p. 63.] The following evening at 21:15, "Covington" was torpedoed by "U-86" and sank the next afternoon. cite DANFS | title = Covington | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c14/covington-ii.htm | date = | accessdate = 2008-05-08 | short = on ] "Lenape", "Rijndam", and "Dante Alighieri" arrived back in the United States on 12 July.

"Lenape" took on board 1,853 officers and men and sailed from New York on 18 July in the company of "George Washington", "Rijndam", USS|Antigone|ID-3007|2, USS|Ophir|ID-2800|2, and the Italian steamer "Regina d'Italia". Joined by a Newport News group, all arrived safely in France on 30 July. [Crowell and Wilson, p. 554] [Crowell and Wilson, p. 613.] Arriving back stateside on 13 August, "Lenape" sailed again from New York with 2,024 troops nine days later in convoy with USS|President Grant|ID-3014|2, "Wilhelmina", "DeKalb", "Rijndam", "Toloa", and the French steamer "Sobral". [ Crowell and Wilson, p. 557] [ Crowell and Wilson, p. 329–30.]

Returning from her final cruise for the Navy on 17 September, [Crowell and Wilson, p. 615.] "Lenape" was returned to the Army 28 October. In February 1919, "Lenape" was returned to the Clyde Line. [Crowell and Wilson, p. 319.] Her ultimate fate is unknown.

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