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Bob Searl, Sr.(b1917-d2017) | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery #2 = WW II Overseas in July 1942 - Troopship SS Argentina > Troopship SS Argentina
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Troopship SS Argentina

Departed NY Port of Embarkation July 1942 in Naval Convoy. Arrived Gourock, Scotland with elements of 56th Signal Battalion aboard. An anxious two week voyage, in the U-boat infested waters of the North Atlantic Ocean in this recently quickly converted South American luxury liner. About 8000 troops aboard with "standing room only" accomodations.Fog and poor visibility was an asset during this journey. What a relief and appreciative sight to see the vivid green hills of Ireland approach the horizon after the two week journey. Little did I think that it would be three long years before I would be heading eastward for home and family again in this very same vessel...The SS Argentina, in June of 1945.


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Stuart Manley 30-Nov-2024 10:14
She had a life before all these trips described. My father departed Melbourne Australia on 23 May 1942 bound for Canada carrying Australian Air Force aircrew for training in Canada. I have a menu from one of the days of the trip. They were fed well at that stage.
Hugh St Onge 20-Nov-2022 18:38
My father sailed on the SS Argentina which was part of Convoy 6814 departing New York January 20, 1942. It was the first convoy from the US to the South Pacific to slow or hopefully stop the Japanese advances in the Pacific. They sailed via Australia to New Caledonia. There the Americal Division was formed which relieved the 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal. They moved from there to defeat the Japanese at Bouganville. Interestingly enough, my father sailed from Europe back to the US after the Way on the SS Argintina.
Larry Fox 30-Jun-2020 12:41
my Uncle Dan Mast and the 397th Fighter Squadron sailed on the Argentina from Boston Harbor to Firth of Clyde Scotland on Dec. 28, 1943 and arrived on his birthday, January 7, 1944
Guest 22-Jan-2019 01:16
My father's unit took the SS Argentina from England to Sicily, I believe they arrived in Acireale, Sicily on November 9th, 1943. From what I can tell they left the UK in mid October so I assume they dropped troops of at various points along the way.
Ned Irish 27-Jul-2018 21:24
Sorry, folks - My Dad arrived in New York on November 16, 1945, not Boston as I stated below. He departed for ETO from Boston, MA arriving in Gourock, Scotland on July 4, 1944. Apologies for the error.
Ned Irish 27-Jul-2018 18:28
My Dad returned from Le Havre to Boston on the Argentina arriving on November 16, 1945.
He was a Captain in the 135th Combat Engineer Battalion. He had been in France & Germany since August 9, 1944. He was wounded twice and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. We have the telegram he sent from Le Havre to his future bride (my Mom) the day before he sailed on November 9, 1945. Boy, was he ever glad to get back to the States not to mention his sweetheart!
George E Clower 21-Oct-2016 23:15
In early August 1951, I was a Boy Scout in the American contingent to the 7th World Scout Jamboree in Bad Ischl, Austria, who traveled from New York to Naples, Italy, aboard the SS Argentina.
George E. Clower
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Bob boules 19-Jun-2016 18:03
At the end of June or the beginning of July 1946 my mother brother and I sailed from New York to Southampton a board The SS Argentina. Thanks for showing the picture of the ship it's certainly brings back memories .
Shelly 31-May-2016 22:41
Andrew Bobotas, my parents and I were on the Argentina with you and your family!
Eric Cobbett 12-Jan-2016 22:45
My name is Eric Cobbett. I was in the Royal Irish Fusiliers. I boarded the SS Argentina in Toulon France and on our way to Alexandria Egypt called in at Trananto Italy. This was about September October 1945.
Eric Cobbett
Guest 07-Oct-2015 20:17
My dad sailed on this ship in 1943 to Glasgow, Scotland, then to England for more training, then went into WWII. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in Jan 1944.
Billy von Kruger 12-Apr-2015 16:08
My Name is William Thomas von Kruger. I Was born on SS Argentina in June, 14th 1954 during a trip from NYC to Rio de Janeiro. My name was gave in Honnor to The Doctor of the Ship Dr William Stevenson and the Comodore Thomas, the Capitain of SS Argentina in that trip.
Joe Dlubac 06-May-2014 20:50
My father, who is now deceased, served aboard the SS Argentina as a Merchant Marine during WWII. He made two round-trip crossings. According to papers that the family has, for the first voyage, Dad boarded in Baltimore on 3 July 1945 and was discharged in New York on 30 July 1945. (The nature of the voyage is listed as "foreign".) This corresponds to records that I have been able to find on the internet that show the SS Argentina departing Baltimore on 7 July 1945, sailing independently, arriving in Naples 18 July 1945. She then departed Naples on 19 July 1945 (one day after arriving), also sailing independently, arriving in New York on 29 July 1945.

For the second trip, Dad boarded in New York on 7 August 1945 and disembarked in New York on 11 September 1945. (The nature of the voyage is again listed as "foreign".) However, unlike the first voyage, I cannot find and detailed information on the passage like I can the first. Can anyone help? Thanks. My email address is: jdlubac@snet.net
Bill Sullivan 11-Jan-2014 19:07
My Dad was a First Lieutenant in the 215th Signal Corp. He apparently arranged transportation home on the Argentina for the company. I have a "certificate" that it sailed from Le Havre France on November 8, 1945, and a newspaper clipping that it arrived in NY on November 16, with the names of DC and Maryland servicemen. I also have about 25 pages of typed names, rank and hometowns (Restricted Personnel Roster) of the service members who sailed with him. Will share if interested
Jerry Fryer 04-Jan-2014 23:17
I am attempting to get information on my father's convoy dates, I believe in October 1943. He was travelling with the 5 CAT RCEME (Royal Canadian Engineers) from England to Sicily. Would you happen to having the sailing dates. Thank you
Doug 19-Oct-2013 01:41
On October 31st, 1944 the 101st Cavalery embarked at New York City on this ship bound for Liverpool in England where they arrived on the 12th of November
Domenico Rossi 08-Jul-2013 04:34
My father travelled with the S.S. Argentina, from Naples, Italy to Halifax, Canada
September 5th to the 19th, 1951
Raymond Jones 26-Mar-2013 19:06
My father crossed the equator in the SS Argentina on June 5th 1943. This I discovered from a Gideon New Testament, presented to him by the ship's chaplain, a B. L. Bowman, and which I recently inherited. The inscription says "American Republics Live SS Argentina on the equator". His service address is shown as "FUS A 189". My father served in the Royal Air Force during the war. After serving at RAF Middle Wallop from the Battle of Britain until mid July 1942, the family thought he spent the remainder of the war in Malta, Egypt and Palestine!

I am intrigued and any information about this happening would be greatly appreciated. My father died shortly after returning home at the end of the war when I was 6 years old! Thank you.
Joe Connell 14-Jan-2013 19:46
May I have a few of the Troopship SS Argentina pictures if avalible. I shipped on the Argentina for Scotland on 29 Dec 43 with arrivale on 8 Jan 44.
james r. boozer 11-Nov-2012 01:28
I sailed on this great ship 02/12/1944 WW2 (30th Infantry
Div) landed in Gourock Scotland 02/22/1944

Lt James R. Boozer
Have no Picture
Jim Duffus 05-Nov-2012 22:35
Jim Duffus, 51 Highland Division
I sailed on the Argentina on November 1943 from Sicily to uk.Jim Duffus
Robert Barham 05-Aug-2012 03:14
I sailed on the Argentina as an American GI from New York to Cherbourg in April 1945, a 13 day trip
GPeevely 24-Dec-2011 02:08
Sorry but the previous post was wrong. Cpl Raymond Thomas sailed in October of 1943 to the UK on the SS Argentina. He returned in 1945 on the Liberty Ship the SS Bret Harte. My BAD
G Peevely 24-Dec-2011 01:40
My father in law Cpl Raymond Dexter Thomas Sr. of the 479th ord evac, sailed on the SS Argentina from Cherbourg, France to New York NY December 9, 1945 and arrived in NY on the 28th. They ecountered what the Captain called the worst storm in his 30 years sailing in the North Atlantic. One day out of the Azores the Cpt gave the troops te choice of going back to port or going on. The storm blew the ship from ports of call in MA to SC. Twenty four days they made it to the NY harbor and 27 troops who had been injured had to be carried off on stretchers with broken arms, legs and other injuries.
john Balestra 14-Dec-2011 14:54
Does any one have any info for the journey leaving Naples Nov 11 1951 to Halifax
Rene Marriott 25-Oct-2011 15:08
Guest
I have discovered paper work from my late father that states he sailed on the Argentina in June of 1943. He crossed the equator as his certificate says the month and year. However I cannot find any reference to her sailing at this time! Has anyone any information on this voyage
Mike Marmo 02-Oct-2011 05:58
M Marmo I have papers which indicate my Father left from Naples Italy on 2-14-52 on this ship. He arrived in NY City on 2-23-52. Could this be the same ship?
Mike Marmo 02-Oct-2011 05:53
M Marmo I have papers which indicate my Father left from Naples Italy on 2-14-52 on this ship. He arrived in NY City on 2-23-52. Could this be the same ship?
William D Wall 25-Aug-2011 01:45
I sailed on the Argentina from NY in Sept 1943 directly to Cherbourg France.
Sharon W 22-Mar-2011 05:24
My Mother sailed on this ship as an army nurse in the summer of 1943 from New York (?) to England. Upon debarkment she took a train to Tidworth, Enland. Would love to hear from anyone who knew of this voyage.
Garland A Hummel 09-Jan-2011 22:02
I returned to USA in May/June 1945, as a wounded GI. At that time I believed it to be a Hospital ship. We travelled in concoy, I think it was 7 or 8 days. We left Southhampton, UK and arrived in Boston, where we were railroaded to Percy Jones Hospital in Michigan
Gretchen 14-Dec-2010 03:59
To the guest who has the photo of the ship arriving in NYC on 9 Dec 1945, is that something you'd be willing to make available? I've recently discovered that was when my grandfather returned to the US from the war, and it would mean a lot to me. Thank you!!
Peter Bobotas 05-Jan-2010 15:57
My family (mom,dad, and brother) journeyed on the SS Argentina from Greece to NYC harbor
in October 1951. As refugees, immigrants, and passengers traveling to our 'new homeland' on this ship. it was a very
exciting, bewildering, and great time of our lives. What a sight seeing the Statue of Liberty from the deck of the ship, truly an moment I'll always fondly, proudly and happily remember the rest of my life.
Andrew Bobotas 03-Jan-2010 17:24
I traveled on the SS Argentina to NYC harbor on October 24, 1951 from Greece with my brother and parents.
Guest 20-Nov-2009 04:10
i have a picture of this ship arriving in new york dec.9 th 1945 with 4,075 troops with papers on it and the troops.
Roy Buchanan 24-Oct-2009 16:25
My mother, sister and I sailed on the SS Argentina in the summer of 1946, from New York back to England, from which we had been evacuated in 1940. The bunks we slept in were still of the kind used when it was a troop ship.
Guest 09-Aug-2009 09:00
Thanks for the photo. My father-in-law, serving with the British forces in Italy in 1945, sailed on the SS Argentina from Brindisi up the coast to Ancona,

Pete Jones pete@jones.to
Tom Coucill 27-Jul-2009 17:35
I am reading a book "Field of Fire" by Jack Swaab, a gunnery officer, who returned from Sicily in this ship landing in Liverpool 25th November 1943. Fascinating to be able to turn up photographs after such a long time. Thank you.
Guest 28-Jun-2008 19:20
i have never had a photo of the infamous SS Argentina. In the Spring of 1943 I sailed on her from New York to Gourock, Scotland with a contingency of WACS. After spend one and a half years in Warrington, England we returned to the U.S. on the Queen Mary!! Quite a difference... Both trips were memorable but in different ways. The trip over took eleven days because we were in a convoy and no ship could sail faster than the slowest one. Danger of submarines....Marilyn Lanford Fuqua.
Guest 28-Jun-2008 19:20
i have never had a photo of the infamous SS Argentina. In the Spring of 1943 I sailed on her from New York to Gourock, Scotland with a contingency of WACS. After spend one and a half years in Warrington, England we returned to the U.S. on the Queen Mary!! Quite a difference... Both trips were memorable but in different ways. The trip over took eleven days because we were in a convoy and no ship could sail faster than the slowest one. Danger of submarines....Marilyn Lanford Fuqua.
Donna Mason-Smitj 27-Feb-2005 04:00
I am thrilled to see the ship that took my faher to Scotland to begin his service in the ETO in 1944.
Thanks!
dooley 06-Apr-2004 19:57
thank you for all your pictures they got me an A on a project
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