SS Yale

SS "Yale", a 3,731 gross ton coastal passenger steamship, was built by the Delaware River Steamboat Company in 1906. In March 1918 the U.S. Navy acquired her from the Pacific Steamship Company of Seattle, Washington, placing her in commission later in that month as USS "Yale" (ID-1672).

USS "Yale" served between March 1918 and September 1919. During World War I, the steamboat made 31 round-trip voyages transporting troops between Britain and France. "Yale" was decommissioned in early September 1919 and, in June 1920, sold for commercial operation along the Pacific Coast.

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 in Europe brought her back into use. She was used this time as a dormitory ship in Alaskan 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 with Lieutenant Commander W. N. VanDenburgh in command. She was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the greyhound, 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 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.

ources

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* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-xz/id1672.htm Naval Historical Center]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h89000/h89788c.htm Naval Historical Center]
* [http://www.ggarchives.com/maritime/steamships/troop_carriers_wwi/yale.html Steamships.org]