USS Rondo (ID-2488)

USS Rondo (ID-2488) was a Dutch cargo steamship that was built for Stoomvaart Mattschappij Nederland ("Netherland Line") in 1914. She served in the United States Navy from March 1918 until June 1919. She was scrapped in 1933.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Rondo.

Rondo with Dutch neutrality markings,
before her US Navy service
History
NameRondo
Owner
OperatorUnited States US Navy (1918–19)
Port of registryNetherlands Amsterdam
BuilderRotterdamsche Droogdok Maats
Yard number42
Laid down17 October 1913
Launched26 September 1914
Completed9 December 1914
Acquiredby US Govt, 21 March 1918
Commissionedinto US Navy, 28 March 1918
Decommissionedfrom US Navy, 21 June 1919
Identification
FateScrapped in 1933
General characteristics
Typecargo ship
Tonnage7,549 GRT, 4,759 NRT, 4,755 DWT
Displacement15,300 tons
Length450.3 ft (137.3 m)
Beam55.9 ft (17.0 m)
Draft26 ft 11 in (8.20 m)
Depth35.6 ft (10.9 m)
Depth of hold35 ft 7 in (10.85 m)
Decks2
Installed power829 NHP, 5,300 ihp
Propulsion
Speed13 knots (24 km/h)
Capacity
  • cargo: 542,000 cubic feet (15,300 m3) grain; 496,000 cubic feet (14,000 m3) bale
  • passengers: 10 × 1st class
Complementin US Navy, 70
Armament

This was the first of two Netherland Line ships to be called Rondo. The second was a Type C3-class ship built in 1946 and scrapped in 1971.[1] She was also the second US Navy ship to be called Rondo. The first was the motorboat USS Rondo (SP-90), which in April 1918 was renamed USS SP-90 to avoid confusion.

Building and identification

Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij built Rondo in Rotterdam for Netherland Line as yard number 42. She was laid down on 17 October 1913, launched on 26 September 1914 and completed on 9 December 1914. Her registered length was 450.3 ft (137.3 m), her beam was 55.9 ft (17.0 m) and her depth was 35.6 ft (10.9 m). Her tonnages were 7,549 GRT, 4,759 NRT, 4,755 DWT. Her holds had capacity for 542,000 cubic feet (15,300 m3) of grain or 496,000 cubic feet (14,000 m3) of baled cargo. She also had berths for ten first class passengers.[2]

She had a single screw, driven by a three-cylinder triple-expansion steam engine. It was rated at 829 NHP[3] or 5,300 ihp, and gave her a speed of 13 knots (24 km/h).

Netherland Line registered Rondo at Amsterdam. Her code letters were PRMF.[3] By 1917 she was equipped for wireless telegraphy. By 1918 her call sign was PHM.[4]

US service

On 21 March 1918 the United States Customs Service seized Rondo under angary at New York. She was one of 89 Dutch ships seized in US ports that day under Proclamation 1436.[5]

31 of the seized Dutch ships were commissioned into the US Navy. Rondo was commissioned on 28 March, with the ID number ID–2488. She was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, with Lieutenant Commander Paul C Grening, USNRF, in command.[5] She was fitted with one 5-inch/51-caliber gun and one 3-inch/50-caliber gun as defensive armament.[6]

On 12 April Rondo left New York for Norfolk, Virginia, where she loaded Army supplies for the American Expeditionary Forces. Between 7 May and 5 September she made two transatlantic round trips in convoys between the USA and France, on which she discharged cargo at La Pallice, Le Verdon-sur-Mer, and Bordeaux.[5]

In September 1918 Rondo was refitted to transport horses under United States Shipping Board account. She sailed to Uruguay, reaching Montevideo on 16 February 1919. There she embarked horses, which she took to Boston.[5]

Rondo was later assigned to take food to Europe. She suffered engine trouble, for which she returned to port. She reached Falmouth, Cornwall on 28 May 1919, and continued to Amsterdam, where she was decommissioned and returned to her owners on 21 June.[5]

Fate

Rondo resumed merchant service with Netherland Line. In April 1933 she was sold to SA Ricuperi Metallici of Turin. On 17 April she arrived in Genoa, Italy, to be scrapped.[2]

References
  1. "Rondo – ID 5575". Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. "Rondo – ID 5574". Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  3. Lloyd's Register 1917, ROM–RON.
  4. The Marconi Press Agency Ltd 1918, p. 724.
  5. "Rondo II (Id. No. 2488)". DANFS. Naval History and Heritage Command. 20 October 2005. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  6. Radigan, Joseph M. "Rondo (ID 2488)". Identification Numbered Vessel Photo Archive. NavSource Online. Retrieved 31 May 2023.

Bibliography

Media related to Rondo (ship, 1914) at Wikimedia Commons

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