The USS Alaskan (ID-4542) was a versatile cargo ship and troop transport built in 1902 by the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California. Originally launched as the SS Alaskan for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company, she was designed as a robust, high-capacity merchant vessel primarily intended for freight transportation across the trans-Pacific and Atlantic routes. Her construction represented advanced maritime engineering for her time, emphasizing strength and large cargo capacity. In 1917, the U.S. Navy inspected her and subsequently commissioned her on 23 March 1918 for service during World War I, assigning her the Naval Registry ID No. 4542. She was initially operated under the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS), undertaking multiple transatlantic voyages to France. Her first voyage in April 1918 took her from Brooklyn to Brest and St. Nazaire, where she sustained minor damage after a collision with another vessel but successfully completed her mission. She contributed to the war effort by transporting military cargo, including oil and ordnance, and participated in convoy operations across the Atlantic. Notably, during her service, she aided in firefighting efforts aboard the USS Mexican in St. Nazaire harbor. Alaskan completed three wartime voyages, with her final trip ending in late October 1918, just before the armistice. After the war, she was converted into a troop transport, capable of carrying up to 2,260 soldiers. She conducted several troop-shipping missions between the United States and European ports, including France and Italy, until her last voyage concluded in July 1919. Following her military service, Alaskan was returned to her original owners, the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company, and resumed commercial operations. In 1927, she was sold to Italian interests, renamed SS Memore, and registered in Genoa. She remained on merchant registers until around 1933, when her name disappeared, likely indicating her scrapping. Her service exemplifies early 20th-century maritime logistics, blending commercial design with wartime utility, and her history reflects the critical role of cargo ships in supporting U.S. and Allied wartime efforts.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.