Panama Railroad Line Steamships

Go to War

USS Ancon
during Peace

U.S. Secretary of War and Mrs. Harry Woodring
christening the SS. Ancon in 1939.

When the war came, the Panama and Cristobal were taken over by the U.S. Army Transport Service and converted to troop carriers.  But probably no American merchant ship had a more distinguished war career that the Ancon.  She was the first and best know of the U.S. Navy communications ships and for two years was the only headquarters communications vessel in the European Theater.  She traveled further, was in more major operations and carried more famous political and military leaders than any other ship of her type.   She had many close calls in combat, but, miraculosly, while ships alongside her were torpedoed and sunk, she was never hit.  She participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Salerno and Normandy.  When the war ended in Europe, she was converted for Pacific duty, miles of wire and tons of sensitive radio devices installed below and above deck.  She took an active part in the Okinawa campaign and on September 2, 1945, it was from the Ancon that the news of the final surrender of Japan was flashed to the world.  Aboard were 90 war correspondents, photographers and newsreelmen representing the US, England, China and Australia.  The Ancon was returned to the Panama Line on February 25, 1946. 

USS ANCON AT WAR

Transiting the Canal as a Ship of the Navy

On the last day of 1944, the ship transited the Panama Canal and joined the Pacific Fleet. She continued on to San Diego, Calif., where she arrived on 9 January 1945. The vessel retransited the Panama Canal on 14 January and rejoined the Atlantic Fleet. She continued on to the New York Naval Shipyard, where she arrived on the 23d and began deactivation preparations.

U.S. Navy carrier planes fly in formation over USS Missouri (BB-63) during the surrender ceremonies, 2 September 1945. Photographed by Lieutenant Barrett Gallagher, USNR, from atop Missouri's forward 16-inch gun turret. Aircraft types include F4U, TBM and SB2C. Ship in the right distance is USS Ancon (AGC-4).

During World War II the USS Ancon was in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.  The ship transported troops and supplies to at least four continents during the war.  The US Navy used it to travel to North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia and had it cross the Panama Canal.  Its crew played a large part in the invasion of Sicily and Italy, the landing at Normandy on D-Day, and they even witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. The Ancon served all over the world during World War II.  This made it a unique ship.  Its crew witnessed the events at D-Day and in Tokyo Bay. 

After the Japanese offered to surrender, the USS Ancon served as the communications ship for the Iowa, Admiral William Halsey's Missouri and Admiral Chester Nimitz's South Dakota in Tokyo Bay. It was from the USS Ancon that some 90 war correspondents from the United States, China, England and Australia sent jubilant messages to the world that the war was over.
The Panama Canal Spillway, September 25, 1992

More about the SS Ancon http://www.pancanalsociety.org/Articles/articles.html ("The SS Ancon Goes to War)

 

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USAT Cristobal
(at war)

SS Cristobal
(during Peacetime)

Contributed by Don Connor

April 30th 1942 New York, NY Cristobal 34th sailed with Infantry Division (125th Field Artillery Battalion) on a 8-ship convoy: split off May 8 British Isles May 10, 1942.

 

USAT Cristobal August 27th 1944 sailed from New York, NY with 415th Inf. Regt., (less 3rd Battalion) (104th Infantry Division)  It with 56 ships  [largest convoy of the war; first direct trip US-France for Utah Beach, France on September 9, 1944.

On March 30th 1945, USAT Cristobal (Troopship) had a collision and was damaged in the North Atlantic.

The Cristobal was returned on June 14, 1946, after four years and five months of military service.  The vessel's first war duty was to carry troops to Australia, where she reloaded and carried field artillery to New Caledonia.  She transported troops to Suez and to  N. Africa (New York to Casablanca) on 11/1942 as part of the kickoff of Operation Torch.  She operated in the Mediterranean area, landing troop at Utah Beach after the Normandy Invasion.   When the war ended, The Critobal transported the wounded and war brides and children of 17 different nationalities to the United States. 

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USS James Parker
(at war)

USS James Parker BUILT: 1939 BEAM: 64' DRAFT: 26'-3" LENGTH: 493'-6" CARGO [cu ft]: 76,251 PASS [troop ship]: 2,324 PROP: Turbine 2 RADIUS [miles]: 13,000 TONS: 10,021 TYPE: SPEED [knots]: 17 DEPENDENTS TO JAPAN: ?

SS PANAMA
(during peacetime)

Transferred to the Army from the Panama Railroad Co on 13 June 1941. Operated for the Army until August when she underwent conversion and was renamed the JAMES PARKER in honor of Brig Gen James Parker, Class 1876, USMA.

On December 28, 1943  USAT James Parker left New York, NY with the  508th Parachute Infantry bound  for Belfast, North Ireland, arriving on January 9th, l944

The Panama called frequently at Cristobal during the first part of the war.  Later, she was on the Atlantic run as far as South Africa and then operated between the US and the Atlantic Theater of War.  Just before her return to civilian service, the vessel was again converted, this time for carrying brides and babies.  On one voyage, the Panama also brought back $80 million worth of paintings that the Germans had looted from various European capitals.  Space was made for the art works in the air-conditioned dining room, and later they were delivered to the National Art Gallery in Washington, D.C.

When the Panama was returned to the line after the war, passengers and cargo went aboard for the first post-war sailing out of NY on September 20, 1946.  Half an hour before sailing time, a maritime strike was called and the Panama was held in port.  For 14 days the passengers lived aboard the ship courtesy of the Panama Line. _______________________________________________________________________
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    Docking places for Panama RR Steamship


The pier in Cristobal, Canal Zone

Pier 64 in North River in New York
(the Empire State Bldg. in background.)

The Ancon's  luxurious interior.  Also typical of the Panama and Cristobal
1.  The clubroom and bar
2. A Private Verandah
3. A Cabin
4. The Great Hall with Lounge in background

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