Pretoria

Pretoria

(Transport: dp. 14,130; 1. 561'1"; b. 62'2"; dr. 25'9"; s. 13 k.;
cpl.'542)

Pretoria was built in 1897 by Blohm and Voss K. G., Hamburg, Germany for the Hamburg-Amerikanische Paketfahrt A. G.: taken over by the Navy 28 March 1919, and commissioned at Cowes, England 29 March 1919, Comdr. Arehibald Grahame Stirling in command.

Upon arriving at Boston 28 April 1919, Pretoria, a sister ship of Graf Waldersee and Patricia, was assigned to the New York Division of the Cruiser Transport Force. Between 11 May and 25 August, she made four crossings from Brest France to New York during which she returned 10 380 World War I veterans to the United States. Among the irmy units that Pretoria brought home were 8th, 149th and 150th Maehine Gun Battalions, the 149th Field Artillery Battalion and the 144th Infantry Battalion.

Pretoria was turned over to USSB at New York 25 November 1919.