For other ships with the same name, see SS Georgian.
USS Ice King (ID 3160) was a refrigerated cargo ship (reefer ship) acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was assigned to transport cargo across the Atlantic Ocean to Allied troops in Europe. On her first transatlantic crossing, a German submarine fired torpedoes at her, but, through skillful maneuvering, her captain was able to avoid being struck and sunk. Post-war she was sold, and continued her civilian maritime career.
USS Ice King (ID # 3160), a refrigerated cargo ship wearing pattern camouflage, probably photographed around 19 June 1918
History
United States
Name
USS Ice King
Namesake
Name Passaic changed to Ice King to prevent confusion
Ice King, a 4715 gross ton (10,562 tons displacement) refrigerated cargo ship, was built at Shooters Island, New York, as part of the World War I shipbuilding effort. Ordered by the British as War Unit, she was requisitioned by the U.S. Shipping Board and renamed Passaic while under construction. The ship was taken over by the Navy at New York City on 2 July and commissioned on 5 July 1918.
She carried the name Passaic in 1918 but was renamed Ice King shortly before commissioning, probably by the Navy to avoid confusion with a tug named Passaic (later designated YT-20) that was already on the Navy List.
World War I serviceedit
Dodging U-Boat torpedoesedit
Passengers and a junior naval officer standing at a railing at the rear of the ship's pilot house circa August–September 1919.
USS Ice King departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on 18 July 1918 and arrived at Bordeaux, France, on 5 August with a cargo of over 2,500 tons of frozen beef, 200 tons of general cargo, and 20 trucks. While en route from Brest to Quiberon Bay 3 August, the ship maneuvered clear of two torpedoes from a German U-boat and then proceeded safely to her destination.
Transatlantic crossingsedit
Between September 1918 and May 1919 Ice King made four more round trip voyages between the United States and France, loading up to 3,000 tons frozen beef at Hoboken, New Jersey, for the eastbound voyage and returning with smaller U.S. Army return cargoes, including ammunition. Ice King was twice delayed in French ports, once by a shortage of refrigerated railcars and once by port congestion.
Post-war decommissioningedit
USS Ice King was decommissioned and returned to the Shipping Board at New York City on 26 May 1919.
Subsequent maritime careeredit
As S.S. Ice King, the ship began commercial service later in 1919 while owned by the Shipping Board, with port calls including Hook of Holland in August and Goteborg, Sweden in September 1919. In 1920 the Shipping Board transferred her to the French American Line of New York, but this arrangement was short lived.
Before the end of the year she was back in Shipping Board hands, where she remained until she was sold and renamed Georgian in 1928. Renamed Hilton in 1936, she was finally scrapped at Wilmington, Delaware, in 1951.
USS Ice King (ID # 3160), 1918-1919. Previously S.S. War Unit, Passaic and Ice King (American Refrigerated Cargo Ship, 1918). Later S.S. Ice King, Georgian, and Hilton
January 01, 1970
king, other, ships, with, same, name, georgian, 3160, refrigerated, cargo, ship, reefer, ship, acquired, navy, during, world, assigned, transport, cargo, across, atlantic, ocean, allied, troops, europe, first, transatlantic, crossing, german, submarine, fired,. For other ships with the same name see SS Georgian USS Ice King ID 3160 was a refrigerated cargo ship reefer ship acquired by the U S Navy during World War I She was assigned to transport cargo across the Atlantic Ocean to Allied troops in Europe On her first transatlantic crossing a German submarine fired torpedoes at her but through skillful maneuvering her captain was able to avoid being struck and sunk Post war she was sold and continued her civilian maritime career USS Ice King ID 3160 a refrigerated cargo ship wearing pattern camouflage probably photographed around 19 June 1918History United States NameUSS Ice King NamesakeName Passaic changed to Ice King to prevent confusion OwnerCunard Steamship Company BuilderStandard Shipbuilding Company Shooters Island New York Laid downdate unknown Launchedas War Unit 22 December 1917 Christenedas War Unit renamed Passaic while under construction Completed1918 Acquiredby Navy 2 July 1918 Commissionedas USS Ice King 5 July 1918 at Brooklyn New York Decommissioned26 May 1919 Maiden voyageNova Scotia on 18 July 1918 to Bordeaux France on 5 August Renamedrenamed Ice King shortly before commissioning Strickencirca 26 May 1919 FateReturned to the U S Shipping Board for service until laid up in 1923 scrapped in 1950 at Wilmington Delaware NotesSubsequently entered merchant service as Georgian and later as Hilton for A H Bull Lines General characteristics Typerefrigerated cargo ship Tonnage4 715 gross tons Displacement10 562 tons Length392 6 Beam52 Draft23 8 Propulsionnot known Speed10 knots Complement86 officers and enlisted Armamentone 3 inch gun mount one 5 inch gun mount Contents 1 Requisitioned by the Navy 2 World War I service 2 1 Dodging U Boat torpedoes 2 2 Transatlantic crossings 3 Post war decommissioning 4 Subsequent maritime career 5 ReferencesRequisitioned by the Navy editIce King a 4715 gross ton 10 562 tons displacement refrigerated cargo ship was built at Shooters Island New York as part of the World War I shipbuilding effort Ordered by the British as War Unit she was requisitioned by the U S Shipping Board and renamed Passaic while under construction The ship was taken over by the Navy at New York City on 2 July and commissioned on 5 July 1918 She carried the name Passaic in 1918 but was renamed Ice King shortly before commissioning probably by the Navy to avoid confusion with a tug named Passaic later designated YT 20 that was already on the Navy List World War I service editDodging U Boat torpedoes edit nbsp Passengers and a junior naval officer standing at a railing at the rear of the ship s pilot house circa August September 1919 USS Ice King departed Halifax Nova Scotia on 18 July 1918 and arrived at Bordeaux France on 5 August with a cargo of over 2 500 tons of frozen beef 200 tons of general cargo and 20 trucks While en route from Brest to Quiberon Bay 3 August the ship maneuvered clear of two torpedoes from a German U boat and then proceeded safely to her destination Transatlantic crossings edit Between September 1918 and May 1919 Ice King made four more round trip voyages between the United States and France loading up to 3 000 tons frozen beef at Hoboken New Jersey for the eastbound voyage and returning with smaller U S Army return cargoes including ammunition Ice King was twice delayed in French ports once by a shortage of refrigerated railcars and once by port congestion Post war decommissioning editUSS Ice King was decommissioned and returned to the Shipping Board at New York City on 26 May 1919 Subsequent maritime career editAs S S Ice King the ship began commercial service later in 1919 while owned by the Shipping Board with port calls including Hook of Holland in August and Goteborg Sweden in September 1919 In 1920 the Shipping Board transferred her to the French American Line of New York but this arrangement was short lived Before the end of the year she was back in Shipping Board hands where she remained until she was sold and renamed Georgian in 1928 Renamed Hilton in 1936 she was finally scrapped at Wilmington Delaware in 1951 References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here USS Ice King ID 3160 1918 1919 Previously S S War Unit Passaic and Ice King American Refrigerated Cargo Ship 1918 Later S S Ice King Georgian and Hilton Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Ice King amp oldid 1151493152, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
