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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

S.S. Lakeside (American Freighter, 1917)
Originally named War Signal.
Served as USS Lakeside (ID # 2158) in 1918-1919.
Later S.S. Lakeside, Sicilier, Koffiehandel, Cap Fedhala, and Virginia

Lakeside, a 2118 gross ton (4400 tons displacement) freighter, was built at Superior, Wisconsin, in 1917 as part of the World War I emergency ship construction effort. She was ordered by the British as War Signal but was requisitioned by the U.S. Shipping Board and renamed while under construction. Completed at the end of October 1917, Lakeside was commissioned as USS Lakeside (ID # 2158) on 25 January 1918 at New York. Between January and June 1918 she carried coal on coastal voyages that ranged from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Tampico, Mexico. She then commenced service as a mine transport, carrying mines and related supplies to the United Kingdom on two voyages between July and October 1918. After completing that assignment Lakeside remained in Europe, carrying supplies for the Army, until departing Inverness, Scotland, on 16 January 1919 for the United States. The ship was decommissioned and returned to the Shipping Board on 6 March 1919. During her long subsequent career as a merchantman she was renamed Sicilier in 1920, Koffiehandel in 1925, Cap Fedhala in 1926, and Virginia in 1932. The former Lakeside was finally scrapped at Aviles, Spain in 1953.

This page features the only views we have concerning the American freighter Lakeside, which was USS Lakeside (ID # 2158) in 1918-1919, and the Greek freighter Virginia.

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 105216 S.S. Lakeside (American Freighter, 1917) In port, possibly when inspected by the Third Naval District on 15 December 1917. This ship served as USS Lakeside (ID # 2158) from 25 January 1918 to 6 March 1919. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 46KB; 740 x 410 pixels

Photo #: NH 105253 S.S. Virginia (Greek/American Freighter, 1917) This freighter was built on the Great Lakes in 1917 as S.S. Lakeside and served in the U.S. Navy from January 1918 to March 1919 as USS Lakeside (ID # 2158). She was in commercial service under the name Virginia from 1932 until scrapped in 1953. Her owner during this period was Greek, and her name is rendered here on the bow in both Latin and Cyrillic letters. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 500 pixels

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Page made 11 September 2007
New image added 19 March 2008