USS Finland (ID-4543)

USS "Finland" (ID-4543) was a transport for the United States Navy during World War I. From her launch until 1917, she was known as SS "Finland" for several subsidiary lines of International Mercantile Marine. Before her Navy service, she was also USAT "Finland" for the United States Army.

SS "Finland" was built in 1902 as an ocean liner for the Red Star Line, and also sailed under charter for the White Star Line, the Panama Pacific Line, and the American Line, all subsidiaries of International Mercantile Marine. Sailing out of New York, she sailed primarily to ports in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Italy. She also briefly sailed on New York to San Francisco, California, service. In 1912, "Finland" was chartered by the American Olympic Committee to take the U.S. team to the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.

At the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1917, the liner was chartered by the United States Army as USAT "Finland". She made five transatlantic runs under Army control ferrying troops to Europe. On the return portion of her third voyage, "Finland" was torpedoed by "U-93", but was able to safely return to port for repairs. In April 1918, "Finland" was transferred to the U.S Navy and commissioned as USS "Finland". She completed an additional five voyages to Europe, carrying almost 13,000 troops. After the Armistice, she returned over 32,000 troops to the United States before being decommissioned in September 1919.

After her Navy service ended, she was returned to International Mercantile Marine, resumed her original name of SS "Finland", and served on New York to Europe routes until 1923, when she returned to New York–San Francisco service. "Finland" was scrapped in 1928.

Launching and early career

"Finland" was launched on 21 June 1902 by W. Cramp and Son, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Red Star Line of International Mercantile Marine (IMM). She was the sister ship to was also referred to in sources as both "H. R. Mallory" and "Mallory".] and escorts consisting of cruiser before she sank near Staten Island, [Benson, p. 221.] had an uneventful roundtrip. "Finland" next sailed on 24 September as part of the 8th convoy with "Henderson", "Antilles", and ] sinking in 6½ minutes with the loss of 67 out of the 234 men on board. [Gleaves, p. 106.]

"Finland" began her return journey to the United States on 28 October in an , , and destroyers , and destroyers , "Pueblo", with battleship USS|Georgia|BB-15|2 on 4 November and arrived in France on 15 November, four days after the end of hostilities. [Crowell and Wilson, p. 620.] In all, "Finland" transported 12,654 troops to France on her five Navy crossings.Gleaves, p. 246–47.]

As the flow of troops was reversed to bring American troops home, "Finland" made 8 round trips from Europe to the United States, returning 32,197 personnel to the United States. On 4 September 1919 she was transferred to the 3d Naval District and on 15 November decommissioned and delivered to the War Department, and, eventually, to the Red Star Line.

Postwar career

After a refurbishment that outfitted her for 242 first-class, 310 second-class, and 876 third-class passengers, "Finland" resumed her civilian career in April 1920. The liner, sailing opposite her sister ship "Kroonland", returned to her original route when she departed Antwerp on 28 April for Southampton and New York. The two ships remained on that route until chartered to the American Line in mid-1923. After both ships were converted to cabin- and third-class passengers only, they sailed on the New York–Plymouth–Cherbourg–Hamburg route from June to September. On 29 September, "Finland" resumed New York–San Francisco service for the Panama Pacific Line; "Kroonland" once again joined her sister ship the following month. When SS|California|1928|2, and SS|Virginia|1928|2 joined the Panama Pacific fleet in 1928, "Finland" and "Kroonland" were no longer needed and were both scrapped; "Finland" at Blyth, and "Kroonland" at Genoa.

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