USS Floridian (ID-3875)

For various ships named USS Florida, see USS Florida.

USS Floridian arriving at New York City from France in 1919 with her decks crowded with American troops returning to the United States after serving in World War I. The Statue of Liberty is in the distance at left.
History
United States
Name:	USS Floridian
Namesake:	Previous name retained
Builder:	Maryland Steel Company, Baltimore, Maryland
Completed:	1915
Acquired:	28 January 1919
Commissioned:	28 January 1919
Decommissioned:	4 August 1919
Fate:	Sank in collision 1 September 1928
Notes:	In commercial service as SS Floridian 1915—1919 and from 1919—1928
General characteristics
Type:	Troop transport
Tonnage:	6,930 gross tons
Displacement:	14,500 tons
Length:	429 ft 2 in (130.81 m)
Beam:	53 ft 8 in (16.36 m)
Draft:	29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
Propulsion:	Steam engine
Speed:	14 knots
Armament:	1 × 6-inch (152-millimeter) gun 1 × 3-inch (76.2-millimeter) gun

USS Floridian (ID-3875) was a United States Navy troop transport in commission in 1919.

SS Floridian was built as a commercial cargo ship in 1915 at Baltimore, Maryland, by the Maryland Steel Company for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company of New York City. After the United States entered World War I in 1917, Floridian came under the control of the United States Shipping Board. Converted to a troop transport, she spent the rest of the war operating under a United States Army charter. The U.S. Navy acquired Floridian from the Shipping Board on 28 January 1919, assigned her the naval registry Identification Number (Id. No.) 3875, and commissioned her on the same day as USS Floridian with Lieutenant Commander J. F. Nichols, USNRF, in command.

Floridian was assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force and designated to carry U.S. Army passengers and cargo. She departed New York City on 16 March 1919 for St. Nazaire, France, where she arrived on 28 March 1919 with supplies for the Army of Occupation.

Three trips were made with U. S. Army troops in 1919, all from St. Nazaire, France. On 14 April, the Floridian arrived was one of seven transports to arrive at Hoboken, New Jersey carrying 10,000 troops. She carried 1,824 men including as described by the Seattle Times: "Headquarters and Medical Detachments and Companies A and B of 346th Machine Gun Battalion; 3rd Battalion Headquarters, Medical and Ordnance Detachments, Supply Company and Companies H, I, K, L and M of the 362nd Infantry; 620th Casual Company."

The second trip came arrived in Hoboken on 14 June. This landing held 1,791 troops. Units aboard included as described by the Seattle Times: 435 "men of the 148th Field Artillery, 41st Division... [with] Field and Staff, Medical Detachments, Headquarters Company and Battery E. Other troops on board were the 509th Engineers, Headquarters and Medical Detachments and Companies A to D inclusive; members of the 369th Service Park Unit."

The final load of returning soldiers arrived in Hoboken on 16 July. 1,829 men were aboard. These included per the Seattle Times: "... the 337th Field Remount Squadron and casuals for Camps Dodge and Bowie."

After these voyages, Floridian was assigned to the 3rd Naval District on 16 July 1919. She was decommissioned and returned to the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company on 4 August 1919. She then resumed service as the commercial cargo ship SS Floridian. At about 10:30 p.m. on 1 September 1928 Floridian and Admiral Fiske collided south of Umatilla lightship, then LV 67, with Floridian sinking and the other ship heavily damaged.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: S.S. Floridian (American Freighter, 1915). Served as USS Floridian (ID # 3875) in 1919
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: Floridian (ID 3875)