U.S.S. Radnor (Id. No. 3023) Named after a
town in southeastern Pennsylvania. (Str.: dp. 10,000; Length 450';
Beam 57'6"; Draft 28'2"; Speed 10.5 k.; Compliment 75 armament; 1 -
5", 1 - 6 pounder)
Formerly named the War Indian, was built in 1918 by the Sun
Shipbuilding Co., Chester, Pa., for the Cunard Steamship Co.;
requisitioned by the US Navy 11 April 1918; and commissioned at
Philadelphia 13 May 1918, Lt. Comdr. Marcus S. Harloe, USNRF, in
Command.
Radnor was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service and
was used as a cargo ship carrying Army munitions and supplies
overseas during World War I. She departed Philadelphia 31 May 1918
for Cristobal, C.Z., with a full Army cargo and then proceeded via
Callao, Peru, to Antofagasta, Chile, arriving 28 June. Radnor later
joined two convoys to France, the first arrived at Marseilles 19
September and the second reached Quiberon 4 January 1919.
Radnor was transferred to the Cruiser and Transport Force 7 March
1919 and was subsequently converted into a troop transport. During
this assignment, she made four round trips to France, returning home
with 5,876 veterans. Radnor was detached 25 September 1919 from the
Cruiser and Transport Force and turned over to the USSB (United
States Shipping Board) 24 October 1919.
Text Source: Dictionary of
American Naval Fighting Ships
Photo Source: Photo Section Naval History Center
202-433-2765
Laid down as the War Indian but was completed as RADNOR, 1930 she was re-named the JACOB LUCKENBACH, 1947 re-named TUNG PING, 1950 re-named PACIFIC DRAGON Pacific Union Marine Corp, Panama, 1955 re-named OCEANIC JUSTICE, 1959 she was finally scrapped Tokio.
The photo above shows the Radnor at her launching at the Sun Shipbuilding Co. in Chester PA. 1918 .The photo shows some superstructure in place, but clearly she is not fitted out yet. On the origional photo you can see clearly her name in white letters on her bow. Many men can be seen waving to the camera as she slides from the ways into the water. Aslo visible are the gun tubs fore and aft. From the microfilms of the deck logs of the month of May 1919 I recieved from the National Archives, Ships Histories Branch the Radnor had 28 Officers including Lt. Commander Harloe. Her compliment of enlisted men were 208 for May, 1919. Armament for the same period was as follows:
Radnor in 1919 loaded with troops returning from France. This photo was provided by Elizabeth Brown who's father returned from France aboard the Radnor. Cpl. Harry A. Lundmark was in the 681st Motor Transport Company and was discharged in August 1919.