View source for SS Finland

{{Short description|American-flagged ocean liner built in 1902 for the Red Star Line}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Finland in New York Harbour 1906.jpg
|Ship caption=Finland in New York Harbor 1906
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[United States]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|civil}}
|Ship name=SS ''Finland''
|Ship namesake=[[Finland]]
|Ship builder=*[[William Cramp & Sons]], [[Philadelphia]]
|Ship launched=21 June 1902
|Ship acquired=
|Ship yard number=312
|Ship registry=*{{flagicon|United States|1896}} New York (1902-08)
*{{flagicon|Belgium}} Antwerp (1908-11)
*{{flagicon|United States|1912}} New York (1911-28)
|Ship operator=*[[Red Star Line]]
*[[White Star Line]] ([[Chartering (shipping)|chartered]])
*[[American Line]] (chartered)
*[[Panama Pacific Line]] (chartered) 
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship struck=
|Ship fate=chartered by [[United States Department of War|War Department]] for the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=United States 
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1919}}
|Ship name=USS ''Finland'' (ID-4543)
|Ship acquired=24 April 1918
|Ship commissioned=26 April 1918
|Ship decommissioned=15 November 1919
|Ship struck=15 November 1919
|Ship fate=Transferred to [[United States Department of War|War Department]], 15 November 1919; returned to [[Red Star Line]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship displacement=22,400 (full)
|Ship length={{convert|580|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|60|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|31|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 × [[triple-expansion steam engine]]s, twin [[Propeller|screw propellers]]
|Ship speed={{convert|16|kn}}
|Ship troops=
|Ship complement=414
|Ship armament=*4 × {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}} guns
*2 × [[1-pounder gun]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''SS ''Finland''''' was an American-flagged [[ocean liner]] built in 1902 for the [[Red Star Line]]. During [[World War I]] she served as a [[transport]] for the [[United States Navy]] named '''USS ''Finland'' (ID-4543)'''. Before her Navy service in 1917, she was also '''USAT ''Finland''''' for the [[United States Army]].

SS ''Finland'' sailed for several subsidiary lines of [[International Mercantile Marine Co.|International Mercantile Marine]], including the Red Star Line, and also [[Chartering (shipping)|under charter]] for the [[White Star Line]], the [[Panama Pacific Line]], and the [[American Line]]. Sailing out of [[New York City|New York]], she sailed primarily to ports in the [[United Kingdom]], Belgium, and [[Italy]]. She also briefly sailed on New York to [[San Francisco, California]], service. In 1912, ''Finland'' was chartered by the [[American Olympic Committee]] to take the U.S. team to the [[1912 Summer Olympics]] in [[Stockholm]], Sweden.

At the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1917, the liner was chartered by the [[United States Army]] as USAT ''Finland''. She made five transatlantic runs under Army control ferrying troops to Europe. On the return portion of her third voyage, ''Finland'' was torpedoed by [[SM U-93|''U-93'']], but was able to safely return to port for repairs. In April 1918, ''Finland'' was transferred to the U.S. Navy and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] as USS ''Finland''. She completed an additional five voyages to Europe, carrying almost 13,000&nbsp;troops. After the [[Armistice with Germany|Armistice]], she returned over 32,000&nbsp;troops to the United States before being decommissioned in September 1919.

After her Navy service ended, she was returned to International Mercantile Marine, resumed her original name of SS ''Finland'', and served on New York to Europe routes until 1923, when she returned to New York–San Francisco service. ''Finland'' was scrapped in 1928.

== Launching and early career ==
''Finland'' was launched on 21 June 1902 by [[William Cramp and Sons]], [[Philadelphia]], for the [[Red Star Line]] of [[International Mercantile Marine Co.|International Mercantile Marine]] (IMM). She was the sister ship to {{SS|Kroonland}}, launched four months prior. ''Finland'' was {{convert|560|ft|m|1}} long ([[Length between perpendiculars|LBP]]) with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|60.2|ft|m}}, and had two [[steamship funnel|funnel]]s and four [[Mast (sailing)|mast]]s. Her twin three-[[Cylinder (engine)|cylinder]], [[triple expansion]] [[steam engine]]s drove twin [[Propeller|screw propellers]] that moved her at {{convert|15|kn|km/h}}. She accommodated 342&nbsp;passengers in first class, 194&nbsp;in second class, and 626&nbsp;in third class.<ref name=Bonsor-2-856>Bonsor, p. 856.</ref>

[[File:Rsl 22 crop mod.jpg|thumb|left|The second-class [[smoking room]] aboard ''Finland'', c. 1909]]
[[File:SS Finland underway in harbor before 1917.jpg|thumb|left|SS ''Finland'' underway in a U.S. port before [[World War I]].]]
''Finland'' sailed on her maiden voyage from New York to [[Antwerp]] on 4 October under the [[Flag of the United States|American flag]], and remained on this route for the next seven years.<ref name=Bonsor-2-856 /> In November 1907, as the liner neared Antwerp, a gale in the [[English Channel]] almost drove ''Finland'' ashore. The timely assistance of two tugs kept the big ship from grounding on the [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwater]] at [[Dover]].<ref>Carson, p. 9.</ref> By January 1909, ''Finland'' had been reflagged under the [[Flag of Belgium|Belgian flag]], but remained on the New York–Antwerp route.<ref name=Bonsor-2-856 />

On 19 January 1908, ''Finland'' collided with the [[Greece|Greek]] [[cargo ship]] {{SS|Epirus}} off [[Terneuzen]], sinking ''Epirus''.<ref name=BelgeAG/> In March 1909, the liner was chartered to the [[White Star Line]], another IMM subsidiary, for three round-trip voyages between [[Naples]] and New York.<ref name=Bonsor-2-856/> On 25 December 1910, she rammed and sank the {{SS|Baltique}} which was anchored in the [[Vlissingen|Flushing Roads]] sheltering from a storm. Six crew were lost from ''Baltique''.<ref name=BelgeAG>{{cite web |url=http://www.belgischekoopvaardij.net/belgian%20merchant%20A-G%2023.5.04.pdf |title=Belgian Merchant A-G |publisher=Belgische Koopvaardij |access-date=30 September 2010 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Returning to the Red Star Line's New York–Antwerp service, ''Finland'' was reflagged in January 1912, sailing under the American flag once again.<ref name=Bonsor-2-856 /> During this time, noted German-American [[psychologist]] [[Hugo Münsterberg]] sailed on ''Finland'' to Europe to attend a Psychological Congress in [[Berlin]] in April 1912.<ref>Münsterberg, p. 228.</ref>

=== 1912 Olympics ===
[[File:LO-RES-Training-on-Ship0001.jpg|thumb]]
The [[American Olympic Committee]] (AOC) chartered ''Finland''—after a proposal for sailing on {{RMS|Oceanic|1899|2}} was rejected—to take the American team to the [[1912 Summer Olympics]] in [[Stockholm]].<ref>Sullivan, p. 33.</ref> After setting aside rooms for all the team members, additional space aboard the ship was sold for the benefit of the AOC.<ref>Sullivan, p. 246.</ref> The delegation of 164&nbsp;athletes left New York at 09:30 on 14 June.<ref>Halpin, p. 237.</ref> {{nowrap|''Finland''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s}} dining rooms were divided during the voyage, so that the athletes on board would have "their own cuisine" and not be tempted to partake in "promiscuous indulgence in the great variety of food" on the ship.<ref name=Sull-37>Sullivan, p. 37.</ref>

The AOC, aided by {{nowrap|''Finland''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s}} crew,<ref name=Hal-239>Halpin, p. 239.</ref> made several accommodations for shipboard training en route to the Games. A cork track, {{convert|100|yd|m}} long and wide enough for two men running abreast, was installed on the top deck, especially for the sprinters.<ref name=Sull-37 /> Longer distance runners would practice their starts on the track, and train by running laps around the deck, which was about one-tenth of a mile (160&nbsp;m) for one circuit.<ref name=Sull-39>Sullivan, p. 39.</ref> Swimmers practiced in a canvas tank, {{convert|15|ft|m}} long by {{convert|5|ft|m}} wide, constructed on deck. While practicing their strokes, they would wear a belt suspended from an overhead rope that kept them in the middle of the tank.<ref name=Sull-39 /> The [[Cycling at the 1912 Summer Olympics|cycling team]] worked on the forward deck with bikes secured to the ship's structure.<ref name=Sull-41>Sullivan, p. 41.</ref>

Some of the individual athletes came up with ideas to further their training while at sea. [[Discus throw|Discus]] champion [[James Duncan (discus thrower)|James Duncan]] had the ship's carpenter bore a hole in the middle of a discus, through which he attached a rope tied to the ship's rail. Duncan would then throw the discus out to sea, and then haul it back in by the rope.<ref name=Sull-39 /> [[Theodore Roosevelt Pell]], the only U.S. competitor in any of the [[Tennis at the 1912 Summer Olympics|tennis events]], set up a {{convert|10|ft|m|0|adj=on}} backstop on the [[aft]]er deck, practicing for hours each day.<ref name=Sull-41 />

''Finland'' arrived at Antwerp on the morning of 24 June after a ten-day voyage over smooth seas. While the ship took on stores, the athletes completed their training at a local athletic club. Sailing at noon on 26 June, ''Finland'' reached Sweden four days later.<ref name=Hal-239 /> There were no injuries during the entirety of the voyage,<ref name=Sull-37 /> and, unlike the trip of the next American Olympic delegation in 1920<ref>The [[1916 Summer Olympics]], slated for [[Berlin]], were canceled because of [[World War I]].</ref>—when the so-called "[[Mutiny of the Matoika|Mutiny of the ''Matoika'']]" took place—no threats of a [[strike action|strike]] because of bad conditions aboard the ship.

== World War I ==
After her Olympic charter ended, ''Finland'' returned to her usual New York–Antwerp route until the outbreak of war in Europe in August 1914.<ref name=Bonsor-2-856 /> The Red Star liner, still sailing from New York, shifted to call at [[Liverpool]] beginning 22 August for two roundtrips. Next moved to [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] service, ''Finland'' sailed from New York to [[Naples]] and [[Piraeus]] starting in November 1914. To complete her third and final circuit to the Mediterranean, she began her last voyage from Italy back to New York on 24 March 1915.<ref name=Bonsor-2-856 />

By early May, ''Finland'' and sister ship ''Kroonland'' had both been chartered to the IMM subsidiary [[Panama Pacific Line]] for New York to San Francisco service via the [[Panama Canal]].<ref name=Bonsor-2-856 /> The trips took about 17 days each way and called at either [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] or [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] on both eastbound and westbound trips.<ref>{{cite book | author = Panama Pacific Line | title = Panama Pacific Line Passenger List | date = 22 May 1915 | page = 2 }} Convenience copy of relevant page can be found [http://auctionwagon.s3.amazonaws.com/G2SM7101861a-f6f3-41d3-92d6-9779f30321ec-10585.jpg here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225123525/http://auctionwagon.s3.amazonaws.com/G2SM7101861a-f6f3-41d3-92d6-9779f30321ec-10585.jpg |date=25 February 2009 }}. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.</ref>

''Finland'' was next chartered to the [[American Line]], yet another IMM subsidiary, for service from New York to [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] and [[London]] beginning on 26 October. After completing two circuits, the liner was returned to New York–Liverpool service on 19 January 1916.<ref name=Bonsor-2-856 /> At some point during this period, ''Finland'' was equipped with four {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}} guns, manned by members of the U.S. Navy's [[Naval Armed Guard]].

On 18 December 1916, during an eastbound journey, ''Finland'' was halted by a French warship. According to Marjorie Crocker, an American woman headed for refugee work in Paris, the cruiser had fired a shot across the bow of ''Finland'', and then queried the officers of the liner. After allowing ''Finland'' to go on her way, the French ship circled around several times, then headed off first in one direction and then another, as if, according to Crocker, it were searching for something.<ref>Root and Crocker, p. 42–43.</ref>

[[File:King George V inspects American ship Finland in Liverpool.jpg|thumb|right|[[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]] (center foreground, with beard) inspects gun crews aboard ''Finland'' in [[Liverpool]] on 15 May 1917.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30839187/king_george_v_visits_finland_troop/|title = King George V visits ''Finland'' troop ship Liverpool 1917|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = 16 May 1917|page = 3}}</ref>]]
''Finland'' was still in New York–Liverpool service when the United States declared war on the [[German Empire]] in April 1917. The United States Army, needing transports to get its men and materiel to [[France]], had a select committee of shipping executives pore over registries of American shipping. On 28 May, the committee selected ''Finland'' and thirteen other American-flagged ships that were sufficiently fast, could carry enough coal in their [[:wikt:bunker|bunker]]s for [[transatlantic crossing]]s, and, most importantly, were in port or not far at sea.<ref><!-- 28 May date-->Sharpe, p. 359.</ref><ref><!-- committee, qualities of ships -->Crowell and Wilson, p. 313–14.</ref> After ''Finland'' discharged her last load of passengers, she was officially handed over to the Army at noon on 2 June, the last of the fourteen ships acquired.<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 315–16.</ref>

=== U.S. Army service ===
[[File:USS Finland at Newport News with soldiers on board.jpg|280px|right|USS ''Finland'' (ID-4543) arrives at [[Newport News, Virginia]], with returning U.S. troops in 1919.]]
Before any troop transportation could be undertaken, all of the ships had to be hastily refitted—in two weeks in the case of ''Finland''. Of the fourteen ships, ten, including ''Finland'', were designated to carry human passengers; the other four were designated as animal ships. The ten ships designated to carry troops had to have all of their second- and third-class accommodations ripped out and replaced with berths for troops. Cooking and toilet facilities had to be greatly expanded to handle the large numbers of men aboard. ''Finland'', uniquely among the fourteen ships, already carried guns and did not need to be refitted for them.<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 316.</ref> All the ships were manned by merchant officers and crews but carried two U.S. Navy officers, Navy gun crews, [[quartermaster]]s, [[signaller|signalmen]], and [[radio|wireless]] operators. The senior Navy officer on board would take control if a ship came under attack.<ref>Gleaves, p. 102</ref>

The American convoy carrying the AEF was broken into four groups;<ref>The individual groups of the first convoy were typically counted as separate convoys in post-war sources. See, for example, Crowell and Wilson, Appendix G, p. 603.</ref> ''Finland'' was in the third group with {{USAT|San Jacinto||2}} and {{USAT|Henry R. Mallory||2}},<ref>{{USAT|Henry R. Mallory||2}} was also referred to in sources as both ''H. R. Mallory'' and ''Mallory''.</ref> and escorts consisting of [[cruiser]] {{USS|Charleston|C-22|2}}, armed [[Collier (ship type)|collier]] {{USS|Cyclops|AC-4|2}}, and [[destroyer]]s {{USS|Allen|DD-66|2}}, {{USS|Preston|DD-19|2}}, and {{USS|McCall|DD-28|2}}.<ref>Gleaves, p. 38.</ref> The headquarters detachment and six [[company (military unit)|companies]] (of a total of 12) of the [[18th Infantry Regiment (United States)|18th Infantry Regiment]] embarked on ''Finland'' at New York.<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 23–24.</ref> The ship, under the command of U.S. Navy [[Commander (United States)|Commander]] [[Stephen Victor Graham|S. V. Graham]],<ref>Gleaves, p. 34.</ref> departed with her group on 14 June for [[Brest, France|Brest]], France, steaming at a comfortable {{convert|13|kn|km/h|adj=on}} pace.<ref>Gleaves, p. 42.</ref> A thwarted submarine attack on the first convoy group,<ref>Gleaves, pp. 42–43.</ref> and reports of heavy submarine activity off of Brest resulted in a change in the convoy's destination to [[Saint-Nazaire]].<ref>Gleaves, p. 45.</ref>

After returning to the United States, ''Finland'' <nowiki>'</nowiki>s next convoy crossing began on 6 August in the company of {{USS|Henderson|AP-1|2}}, {{USAT|Antilles||2}}, and ''San Jacinto'', all escorted by cruiser {{USS|Montana|ACR-13|2}}.<ref name=C&W-603>Crowell and Wilson, p. 603.</ref> ''Finland'', carrying some of the troops that had tried to depart on 30 July on {{USAT|Saratoga||2}} before she sank near [[Staten Island]],<ref>Benson, p. 221.</ref> had an uneventful roundtrip.<ref name=C&W-603 /> ''Finland'' next sailed on 24 September as part of the 8th&nbsp;convoy with ''Henderson'', ''Antilles'', and {{USAT|Lenape||2}}, escorted by cruiser {{USS|San Diego|ACR-6|2}}.<ref name=C&W-603 /> According to Crowell and Wilson, the 8th group was "destined to misfortune". Three days out from New York, ''Lenape'' developed engine trouble and was compelled to return to port, but the rest of the convoy proceeded on and arrived in France on 7 October.<ref>Gleaves, p. 102.</ref> ''Henderson'' was the only ship to return to the United States without incident.<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 428.</ref> On 17 October, ''Antilles'' was torpedoed by [[SM U-105|''U-105'']],<ref>{{cite web | last = Helgason | first = Guðmundur | url = http://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/359.html | title = Ships hit during WWI: Antilles | work = The U-boat War | publisher = Uboat.net | access-date = 2008-05-09 }}</ref> sinking in 6{{frac|1|2}}&nbsp;minutes with the loss of 67 out of the 234 men on board.<ref>Gleaves, p. 106.</ref>

{{Multiple image|direction=vertical|align=left|image1=USS Alcedo and USS Wakiva II pick up survivors from USAT Finland 28 October 1917.jpg|image2=USAT Finland torpedo damage.jpg|width=300|caption1={{USS|Alcedo|SP-166|6}} (left) and {{USS|Wakiva II|SP-160|6}} (far right) pick up survivors from USAT ''Finland'' (center background) after she was struck by a torpedo from [[SM U-93|''U-93'']]|caption2=Workers pose by the torpedo damage to ''Finland'' in drydock at [[Brest, France|Brest]], France.}}
''Finland'' began her return journey to the United States on 28 October in an {{convert|11|kn|km/h|adj=on}} convoy with cargo ships ''Buford'' and ''City of Savannah'' and escorted by [[armed yacht]]s {{USS|Alcedo|SP-166|2}}, {{USS|Corsair|SP-159|2}}, and {{USS|Wakiva II|SP-160|2}}, and destroyers {{USS|Smith|DD-17|2}}, {{USS|Lamson|DD-18|2}}, {{USS|Preston|DD-19|2}}, and {{USS|Flusser|DD-20|2}}.<ref name=G-108-110>Gleaves, p. 108–110.</ref> ''Finland'', returning most of the survivors of ''Antilles'' back to the U.S., was struck on her [[starboard]] side by a torpedo from [[SM U-93|''U-93'']] at 09:27, {{convert|150|nmi|km}} from the French coast.<ref name=G-108-110/><ref><!-- uboat number, distance -->{{cite web | last = Helgason | first = Guðmundur | url = http://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/2179.html | title = Ships hit during WWI: Finland | work = The U-boat War | publisher = Uboat.net | access-date = 2008-05-09 }}</ref> Many of the civilian crew and the survivors of ''Antilles'', experiencing a torpedo attack for the second time in 11&nbsp;days, panicked. Lifeboats were immediately launched without word from Commander Graham, and the engine room and fire room men all left their stations, contrary to orders. The naval officers, armed with a [[revolver]] and a wooden mallet, were able to get the men back to their stations. The damage was limited to one [[cargo hold]] and had not affected the boilers or the engines. Although ''Finland'' took a starboard [[List (watercraft)|list]], it did not increase and Graham was able to steer a course back to Brest, anchoring there the next morning. Men aboard the prematurely launched lifeboats were rounded up by ''Wakiva II'' and ''Alcedo'' and returned to Brest.<ref name=G-108-110/> Nine men,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-f/id4543.htm | title = USS ''Finland'' (ID # 4543), 1918-1919 | work = Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy ships | publisher = [[United States Department of the Navy|Navy Department]], [[Naval Historical Center]] | date = 7 March 2008 | access-date = 2008-05-14 }}</ref> including three of the Naval Armed Guard detachment,<ref name=Officers>Bureau of Naval Personnel, ''Officers and Enlisted Men...'', pp. 354, 359, 369.</ref> two soldiers and four crew<ref name=Star>{{cite news|title=Eight on Finland Lost Their Lives|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1917-11-03/ed-1/seq-6/|access-date=12 March 2015|work=Evening Star (Washington DC)|date=3 November 1917|location=Part 1|page=6}}</ref> perished in the attack.

In the aftermath of the torpedoing incident, Commander Graham was awarded the [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] for his "exceptionally meritorious service" in getting ''Finland'' safely back to port.<ref>Stringer, p. 26.</ref> [[Lieutenant, Junior Grade|Lieutenant (junior grade)]] Huntington English, from ''Wakiva II'', received the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]], in part because he rescued a soldier who had jumped from the torpedoed transport.<ref>Stringer, p. 67.</ref> [[Boatswain's Mate (US Navy)|Chief Boatswain's Mate]] John P. Doyle, on ''Alcedo'', was issued a letter of commendation for commanding a [[whaleboat]] that pulled a number of men from ''Finland'' from the water.<ref>Stringer, p. 192.</ref>

The deportment of the crew aboard ''Finland'', as well as that of ''Antilles'', while under attack demonstrated the problems with civilian-manned vessels. The Navy, led by the recommendations of [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] [[Albert Gleaves]], insisted that all troop transports be manned entirely by Navy personnel. This was accomplished soon after so as to avoid the need for what Gleaves called "ignorant and unreliable men" who were "the sweepings of the docks".<ref name=G-108-110/>

''Finland'' was sufficiently repaired over the next two months and sailed for return to the United States on 5 January 1918.<ref name=C&W-603 /> Ready again for convoy duty the next month, she sailed from New York on 10 February with {{USS|Antigone|ID-3007|2}}, {{USS|Martha Washington|ID-3019|2}}, {{USS|President Lincoln|1907|2}}, and {{USS|Von Steuben|ID-3017|2}} under escort of the cruiser {{USS|Pueblo|CA-7|2}}.<ref name=C&W-605>Crowell and Wilson, p. 605.</ref> After safely reaching Saint-Nazaire, ''Finland'' discharged her passengers and cargo that included {{convert|13910|lb|kg}} of frozen beef for the AEF.<ref>[[United States Army Quartermaster Corps]], ''Cold Storage Branch'', p. 35.</ref> On 27 February, one day after departing, {{nowrap|''Finland''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s}} steering gear jammed, forcing her into the path of ''Henderson''. That ship was able to maneuver such that ''Finland'' only dealt her a glancing blow. ''Finland'' suffered only superficial damage; ''Henderson'' was holed below the waterline, but her crew took advantage of unusually calm February seas to repair the damage, and were soon able to proceed to New York.<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 431.</ref> ''Finland'' and ''President Lincoln'' arrived back at New York on 16 March.<ref name=C&W-605 />

''Finland'' made one more crossing under Army charter. Leaving New York on 23 March, she convoyed with {{USS|Powhatan|ID-3013|2}}, {{USS|El Occidente|ID-3307|2}}, ''Martha Washington'', and cruiser ''Pueblo'', arriving in France on 4 April. ''Finland'' returned to New York on 24 April,<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 606.</ref> and was delivered to the U.S. Navy the same day.<ref name=DANFS-fin>{{Cite DANFS | title = Finland | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/finland.htm | accessdate = 2008-05-09 | short = yes }}</ref>

=== U.S. Navy service ===
''Finland'' was [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 26 April.<ref name=DANFS-fin /> The transport's move from Army to Navy control little changed her routine. Four days after her Navy commissioning, ''Finland'' departed New York with {{USS|Matsonia|ID-1589|2}}, {{USS|Manchuria|1633|2}}, and ''Kroonland''. Rendezvousing with the convoy were two transports sailing from [[Newport News, Virginia]], ''Martha Washington'' and ''Powhatan''. {{USS|South Dakota|ACR-9|2}} provided the convoy with protection until its arrival in France on 12 May. ''Finland'' and ''Manchuria'' both returned to New York on 30 May.<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 608.</ref>

''Finland'' next left New York on 15 June with {{USS|DeKalb|ID-3010|2}}, ''Kroonland'', {{USS|George Washington|ID-3018|2}}, {{USS|Covington|ID-1409|2}}, {{USS|Rijndam|ID-2505|2}}, Italian steamer {{SS|Dante Alighieri||2}}, and British steamer ''Vauban'' and met up with the Newport News portion of the convoy—which included ''Lenape'', {{USS|Wilhelmina|ID-2168|2}}, {{USS|Princess Matoika|ID-2290|2}}, {{USS|Pastores|AF-16|2}}, and British troopship {{HMT|Czar||2}}—the next morning and set out for France.<ref name=Cutchins-67>Cutchins and Stewart, p. 67.<!-- time of meeting--></ref><ref name=C&W-610-611>Crowell and Wilson, p. 610–11.<!-- list of ships --></ref> The convoy was escorted by cruisers {{USS|North Carolina|ACR-12|2}} and {{USS|Frederick|CA-8|2}}, and destroyers {{USS|Stevens|DD-86|2}} and {{USS|Fairfax|DD-93|2}};<ref name=C&W-610-611 /> [[battleship]] {{USS|Texas|BB-35|2}} and several other destroyers joined in escort duties for the group for a time.<ref name=Cutchins-67 /> The convoy had a false alarm when a floating barrel was mistaken for submarine, but otherwise uneventfully arrived at Brest on the afternoon of 27 June.<!-- date of arrival from C&W --><ref name=C&W-610-611 /><ref name=Cutchins-68>Cutchins and Stewart, p. 68.<!-- false alarm, uneventful nature of trip, time of day arrival --></ref> ''Finland'' and ''Kroonland'' arrived back at New York on 13 July.<ref name=C&W-610-611 /> ''Covington'' was not so fortunate. On her return journey, she was torpedoed by [[SM U-86|''U-86'']] on 1 July, and sank the next afternoon.<ref name=DANFS-Cov>{{cite DANFS | title = Covington | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c14/covington-ii.htm | accessdate = 2008-05-12 | short = on }}</ref>

[[File:USS Finland view from crow's nest.jpg|upright|thumb|right|Looking aft from USS {{nowrap|''Finland''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s}} [[crow's nest]] on her [[foremast]] while the ship was underway at sea, c. 1918–19.]]
On 26 July, ''Finland'', loaded with 3,879 officers and men,<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 555.</ref> departed on her next trip to France. In the company of ''Kroonland'' and Italian steamer {{SS|Taormina|1908|2}}, she met up with {{USS|Pocahontas|ID-3044|2}}, {{USS|Susquehanna|ID-3016|2}}, and the Italian steamers {{SS|Duca d'Aosta||2}} and {{SS|Caserta||2}} from Newport News.<ref name=C&W-614>Crowell and Wilson, p. 614.</ref> Cruisers ''Pueblo'', {{USS|Huntington|CA-5|2}}, and destroyers {{USS|Rathburne|DD-113|2}} and {{USS|Colhoun|DD-85|2}} ushered the transports to France, where they arrived on 7 August.<ref>Crowell and Wilson (p. 614) list the destroyer as "''Calhoun''". The only {{USS|Calhoun|1851|6}} ever was a former [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] steamer captured during the [[American Civil War]].</ref> ''Finland'' arrived back in the United States on 25 August.<ref name=C&W-614 />

After embarking 3,678 troops,<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 559.</ref>  ''Finland'' departed again on 15 September sailing with ''Henderson'', ''Martha Washington'', ''Pocahontas'', {{USS|Calamares|ID-3662|2}}, ''Powhatan'', and steamer ''Ulua''. ''Finland'' <nowiki>'</nowiki>s New York group met up with a Virginia group of Navy transports {{USS|Aeolus|ID-3005|2}} and {{USS|Koningen der Nederlanden|ID-2708|2}}, and steamers {{SS|Patria||2}} and {{HMT|Kursk||2}}. Escorts {{USS|New Hampshire|BB-25|2}}, ''Pueblo'', {{USS|St. Louis|C-20|2}}, {{USS|Stribling|DD-96|2}}, {{USS|Stringham|DD-83|2}}, and {{USS|Hopkins|DD-6|2}} helped to ensure the safe arrival of all ships in France on 28 September. ''Martha Washington'' and ''Pocahontas'' accompanied ''Finland'' on her return journey and arrived at New York on 12 October.<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 617.</ref>

''Finland'' began one last transatlantic crossing before the [[Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)|Armistice]]. She left New York with [[hospital ship]] {{USS|Mercy|AH-4|2}} and steamers {{SS|Lutetia||2}}, {{HMT|Czaritza||2}} and {{SS|Armaugh||2}} with battleship {{USS|Georgia|BB-15|2}} on 4 November and arrived in France on 15 November, four days after the end of hostilities.<ref>Crowell and Wilson, p. 620.</ref> In all, ''Finland'' transported 12,654 troops to France on her five Navy crossings.<ref name=Gleaves-246-47>Gleaves, p. 246–47.</ref>

As the flow of troops was reversed to bring American troops home, ''Finland'' made 8 round trips from Europe to the United States, returning 32,197&nbsp;personnel to the United States.<ref name=Gleaves-246-47 /> On 4 September 1919 she was transferred to the [[3d Naval District]] and on 15 November decommissioned and delivered to the [[United States Department of War|War Department]],<ref name=DANFS-fin /> and, eventually, to the Red Star Line.<ref name=Bonsor-2-856 />

==Postwar career==
After a refurbishment that outfitted her for 242&nbsp;first-class, 310&nbsp;second-class, and 876&nbsp;third-class passengers, ''Finland'' resumed her civilian career in April 1920. The liner, sailing opposite her sister ship ''Kroonland'', returned to her original route when she departed Antwerp on 28 April for [[Southampton]] and New York. The two ships remained on that route until chartered to the American Line in mid-1923. After both ships were converted to cabin- and third-class passengers only, they sailed on the New York–Plymouth–Cherbourg–[[Hamburg]] route from June to September. On 29 September, ''Finland'' resumed New York–San Francisco service for the Panama Pacific Line; ''Kroonland'' once again joined her sister ship the following month. When {{SS|California|1928|2}} and ''[[SS Brazil (1928)|Virginia]]'' joined the Panama Pacific fleet in 1928, ''Finland'' and ''Kroonland'' were no longer needed and both were scrapped;<ref name=Bonsor-2-856/> ''Finland'' by [[Hughes Bolckow|Hughes Bolckow Shipbreaking Ltd]] at [[Blyth, Northumberland]]. She arrived for breaking on 28 April 1928.<ref name=BelgeAG/> ''Kroonland'' was scrapped at [[Genoa]].<ref name=Bonsor-2-856/>

In 1925, [[Harold S. Vanderbilt]] devised the game of [[contract bridge]] while on board ''Finland''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbridge.org/repository/tourn/estoril.05/Bulletin/Bul0906.htm |title=The BLML{{ndash}}SS Finland Challenge |date=31 October 2005 |website=[[World Bridge Federation]] |access-date=27 April 2016}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | editor-last = Benson | editor-first = Albert Emerson | title = Saint Mark's School in the War Against Germany | location = [[Norwood, Massachusetts]] | publisher = [[St. Mark's School (Massachusetts)|Saint Mark's School]] | year = 1920 | oclc = 1904474 }}
* {{cite book | last = Bonsor | first = N. R. P. | title = North Atlantic Seaway, Volume 2 | edition = Enlarged and completely revised | location = [[Saint Brélade, Jersey|Saint Brélade]], [[Jersey]] | publisher = Brookside Publications | orig-year = 1955 | year = 1978 | isbn = 0-905824-01-6 | oclc = 29930159 }}<!-- ISBN as printed in book -->
* {{cite book | author = Bureau of Naval Personnel | author-link = Bureau of Naval Personnel | title = Officers and Enlisted Men of the United States Navy Who Lost Their Lives During the World War, from April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918 | url = https://archive.org/details/cu31924027835325 | location = [[Washington, D.C.]] | publisher = [[United States Government Printing Office]] | year = 1920 | oclc = 1187918 }}
* {{cite book | last = Carson | first = Blanche Mabury | title = From Cairo to the Cataract | url = https://archive.org/details/fromcairotocata00carsgoog | location = [[Boston]] | publisher = L. C. Page & Co. | year = 1909 | oclc = 1824794 }}
* {{cite book | last = Crowell  | first = Benedict  | author-link = Benedict Crowell |author2=Robert Forrest Wilson | title = The Road to France: The Transportation of Troops and Military Supplies, 1917–1918 | url = https://archive.org/details/roadtofrancetra04wilsgoog  | series = How America Went to War: An Account From Official Sources of the Nation's War Activities, 1917–1920 | location = [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]] | publisher = [[Yale University Press]] | year = 1921 | oclc = 18696066 }}
* {{cite book | last = Cutchins | first = John A. |author2=George Scott Stewart, Jr. | title = History of the Twenty-ninth division, "Blue and gray," 1917-1919 | url = https://archive.org/details/historytwentyni01thgoog | location = [[Philadelphia]] | publisher = Press of MacCalla & Co. | year = 1921 | oclc = 3260003 }}
* {{cite book | last = Feuer | first = A. B. | title = The U.S. Navy in World War I: Combat at Sea and in the Air | location = [[Westport, Connecticut]] | publisher = [[Praeger Publishers|Praeger]] | year = 1999 | isbn = 978-0-275-96212-8 | oclc = 40595325 }}
* {{Gleaves}}
* {{cite book | last = Halpin | first = Matthew P. | chapter = How the team trained on the Finland | editor = James Edward Sullivan | title = The Olympic Games: Stockholm 1912 | url = https://archive.org/details/olympicgamessto00sullgoog | location = New York | publisher = American Sports Publishing | year = 1912 | oclc = 11031794 | series = Spalding "Red Cover" Series of Athletic Handbooks | editor-link = James E. Sullivan }}
* {{cite book | last = Münsterberg | first = Margarete Anna Adelheid | title = Hugo Münsterberg: His Life and Work | url = https://archive.org/details/hugomnsterberg00mnuoft | location = New York | publisher = D. Appleton and Co. | year = 1922 | oclc = 519668 }}
* {{cite DANFS | author = Naval Historical Center | author-link = Naval Historical Center | title = Covington | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c14/covington-ii.htm | accessdate = 2008-05-12 }}
* {{Cite DANFS | author = Naval Historical Center | title = Finland | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/finland.htm | accessdate = 2008-05-09 | link = off }}
* {{cite book | last = Root | first = Esther Sayles |author2=Marjorie Crocker | title = Over Periscope Pond: Letters from Two American Girls in Paris, October 1916–January 1918 | url = https://archive.org/details/overperiscopepo01crocgoog | location = Boston | publisher = Houghton Mifflin | year = 1918 | oclc = 1115265 }}
* {{cite book | last = Sharpe | first = Henry Granville | author-link = Henry Granville Sharpe | title = The Quartermaster Corps in the Year 1917 in the World War | url = https://archive.org/details/quartermasterco00unkngoog | location = New York | publisher = [[The Century Company|Century Co.]] | year = 1921 | oclc = 7980339 }}
* {{cite book| last = Stringer | first = Harry R. | title = The Navy Book of Distinguished Service | url = https://archive.org/details/navybookdisting00strigoog | location = [[Washington, D.C.]] | publisher = Fassett Pub. Co| year = 1921 | oclc = 2654351}}
* {{cite book |editor-last = Sullivan |editor-first = James Edward| editor-link = James E. Sullivan | title = The Olympic Games: Stockholm 1912 | url = https://archive.org/details/olympicgamessto00sullgoog | location = New York | publisher = American Sports Publishing | year = 1912 | oclc = 11031794 | series = Spalding "Red Cover" Series of Athletic Handbooks }}
* {{cite book | author1 = United States Army Quartermaster Corps | author-link1 = United States Army Quartermaster Corps | author2 = Quartermaster Corps School | title = The Organization and Activities of the Cold Storage Branch, Supplies Division, Quartermaster Corps with the American Expeditionary Forces in France | location = [[Philadelphia]] | publisher = Quartermaster Corps School (Schuylkill Arsenal) | year = 1929 | oclc = 22367828 }}
<!-- no DANFS text is included in the article; information referenced from DANFS is cited -->
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons and category|USS Finland (ID-4543)|USS Finland (ID-4543)}}
* {{navsource|12/174543|Finland}}

{{1908 shipwrecks}}
{{1910 shipwrecks}}
{{October 1917 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finland}}
[[Category:1902 ships]]
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[[Category:Transport ships of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Transports of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:World War I auxiliary ships of the United States]]
[[Category:World War I passenger ships of the United States]]
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