Launched 1899 (as Köln) Renamed 1917 Beam 54 ft 3 in (16.54 m) Weight 18,290 tons Draft 9.1 m | Decommissioned 27 September 1919 Fate Sold for scrap, 1924 Length 136 m Displacement 16.33 million kg | |
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Commissioned 12 April 1919 (as USS Amphion) | ||
The first USS Amphion was a former German passenger liner SS Köln for Norddeutscher Lloyd that later served as a troop transport for the United States Expeditionary Force during World War I.
Amphion began her life as a passenger liner based at Geestemunde, Germany, in 1899. When World War I broke out in August 1914, Köln was interned by the United States Government. When the United States entered the war in April 1917, Köln was seized, placed in service as the United States Army Transport Amphion, and used by the United States Army as a troopship to move the American Expeditionary Force to France.
During one of these voyages, the German submarine SM U-155 attacked Amphion with gunfire in the Atlantic Ocean at 36°06′N 62°59′W on 12 October 1918. Two of Amphion′s crew were killed and six wounded. Amphion survived the engagement, which was followed by a lengthy stay in port.
World War I ended on 11 November 1918. With the war over, Amphion was transferred to and commissioned by the United States Navy as USS Amphion (ID Number 1888) in April 1919. Between 21 May and 3 September 1919, USS Amphion journeyed thrice to France – twice to St. Nazaire and once to Brest – bringing home 6,410 American troops.
Decommissioned at Brooklyn, New York, on 27 September 1919, Amphion was turned over to the United States Shipping Board (USSB) for disposition; and her name was simultaneously stricken from the Naval list. In January 1924, the USSB sold her for scrapping.