SS Dakotan was a cargo ship built in 1912 for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company that served as a transport ship in the United States Army Transport Service in World War I, and then was transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease in World War II before being finally scrapped in 1969. During World War I, she was taken over by the United States Army as USAT Dakotan. Near the end of that war she was transferred to the United States Navy and commissioned as USS Dakotan (ID-3882). During World War II, the ship was transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed SS Zyrianin.
SS Dakotan prior to World War I
The bridge and foredeck of USS Dakotan, c. 1919
SS Zyrianin in port at San Francisco, c. 1943
SS Minnesotan was a cargo ship built in 1912 for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company. During World War I she was known as USAT Minnesotan in service for the United States Army and USS Minnesotan (ID-4545) in service for the United States Navy. She ended her career as the SS Maria Luisa R. under Italian ownership. She was built by the Maryland Steel Company as one of eight sister ships for American-Hawaiian, and was employed in inter-coastal service via the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the Panama Canal after it opened.
SS Minnesotan
USS Minnesotan with returning troops in 1919 at Charleston, South Carolina
USS Minnesotan (right) is seen in drydock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in August 1919, where she was prepared for decommissioning.
SS Minnesotan sailed in several transatlantic convoys, like this typical one, seen in 1942.
