USS Amphion (ID-1888)

The first USS Amphion was a former German passenger liner SS Köln for Norddeutscher Lloyd that later served as a troop transport for the United States Expeditionary Force during World War I.

Amphion began its life as a passenger liner in Geestemunde, Germany in 1899. When World War I broke out in 1914, Köln was interned by the United States government. Later, in 1917 when the United States entered the war, Köln was seized and used as a troop transport, dubbed the Amphion, by the US Army to move its expeditionary force to France.

During this time, Amphion was damaged in a battle with a German U-boat, resulting in the deaths of two crewmen, six more wounded and a lengthy stay in port. In 1919, when the war was over, the Amphion was given to and commissioned by the United States Navy as USS Amphion (ID Number 1888) on April 1919. Between 21 May and 3 September 1919, Amphion journeyed thrice to France–twice to St. Nazaire and once to Brest–bringing home 6,410 American troops.

Decommissioned at Brooklyn, New York, on 27 September 1919, Amphion was turned over to the United States Shipping Board (USSB) for disposition; and her name was simultaneously stricken from the Naval list. In January 1924, she was sold by the USSB for scrapping.