From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, Vol. IA, pp. 448-49.

III

(Str: t. 19,506; l. 706'4"; b. 72'; dr. 31'1"; s. 24 k.; cpl. 1,030; a. 4 5", 2 1-pdr., 2 mg.)

Kronprinzesin Cecilie, built at Stettin, Germany, in 1906 by Actien Gesellschaft, was operating on the transatlantic run for Norddeutcher Lloyd at the beginning of World War I. While steaming toward Germany from America carrying some $2 mill ion in gold bullion, she received word of the outbreak of war, headed back to the United States to avoid capture by the British Navy, and was interned at Bar Harbor, Maine. Commandeered by the United States 3 February 1917, the ship was transferred from t he USSB to the Navy when America entered the war; renamed Mount Vernon; fitted out at Boston to carry troops and war materiel to Europe; and commissioned 28 July 1917.

Mount Vernon departed New York for Brest 31 October 1917 on her first crossing for the Navy and during the war made nine successful voyages carrying the doughboys who turned back the Kaiser's final offensive and forced Germany to surrender. However, early on the morning of 5 September 1918, as the transport steamed homeward in convoy some 200 miles from the French coast, her No. 1 guncrew spotted a periscope some 500 yards off her starboard bow. Mount Vernon immediately fired o ne round at German submarine U-82. The U-boat simultaneously submerged, but managed to launch a torpedo at the transport. Mount Vernon's officer of the deck promptly ordered right full rudder, but the ship could not turn in time to avoid the missile, which struck her amidships, knocking out half of her boilers, flooding the midsection, killing 36 sailors, and wounding 13. Mount Vernon's guns kept firing ahead of the U-boat's wake and she launched a pattern of depth charges while damage contr ol teams worked to save the ship. Their determined and skillful efforts enabled the transport to return to Brest under her own power for temporary repairs before proceeding to Boston for permanent ones.

Mount Vernon rejoined the Cruiser and Transport Service in February 1919 and sailed on George Washington's birthday for France to begin returning veterans to the United States. Among her distinguished passengers during her naval service were : Adm. W. S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations; Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Col. Edward M. House, Special Adviser to President Wilson; and Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War.

Mount Vernon decommissioned 29 September 1919 and transferred to the War Department for service as an Army transport. She was scrapped at Boston 13 September 1940.