Lake Champlain

A lake in the State of New York which was the scene of Commodore Thomas McDonough's victory 11 September 1814 over a larger and more heavily armed British squadron in the War of 1812.


(Str: t. 3,095 l. 261'; b. 43'6"; dr. 18'9"; s. 8.5 k.; cpl. 65; a. 1 6", 1 5")

The first Lake Champlain was launched by Superior Shipbuilding Co., 31 July 1917 under USSB contract; acquired by the Navy 19 January 1918; and commissioned at Boston 24 January, Lt. Comdr. Richard R. Roberts, USNRF, in comma nd.

Assigned to the NOTS Lake Cliamplain carried coal from Norfolk to Boston and New York from February 1918 until she departed Hampton Roads 12 March for Clyde, Scotland, arriving 9 April and returning to Norfolk 6 May.

She made three other round trips to Europe in 1918 carrying ammunition, coal, and provisions, before returning to Norfolk 7 January 1919.

On 1 February 1919, Lake Champlain departed Norfolk with a cargo of mines and coal for Guantanamo, Cuba, and returned to Norfolk 10 March. She decommissioned 20 March 1919 and was returned to the USSB the same day. She was sold i n 1920 to Lloyd Royal Beige Societe, Brussels, Belgium, and renamed Nipponier.