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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USQMDE No.23 US Army

Ocean Liner:
  • Laid down, date unknown, at Delaware River Shipbuilding Co. as Vigilancia for the United States and Brazil Steamship Co.
  • Launched, 17 September 1890
  • SS Vigilancia served the New York to Rio da la Plata trade route via stops at several Caribbean Islands
  • The United States and Brazil Steamsip Co. went bankrupt in April 1893
  • Vigilancia was sold at auction to E.H. Ludlow and Co,
  • Resold to the Brizilian government, 1 November 1893
  • Resold to Ward Line in 1894 for service between New York and Mexican ports via Havana, Cuba
  • Vigilancia was converted to a troopship in 1898, renamed QMDE No. 23 US Army
  • During the Spanish-American War she transported troops between New York and the Caribbean
  • Returned to Ward Line passenger service in 1899 and renamed Vigilancia
  • Sold in January 1915 to Armstrong and Co., converted to a cargo ship to carry cotton to Europe
  • Resold in June 1916 to Gaston, Williams and Wigmore Steamship Corp.
  • Final Disposition, sunk by torpedo attack from U-70, 16 March 1917, near Bishops Rock Lighthouse off the coast of the Isle of Scilly
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,934 net, 4115 Gross
    Length 321.3'
    Beam 45.3'
    Draft 27.3'
    Speed14 kts
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Passengers 160
    Complement
    1909, 87
    1917 43
    Cargo Capacity 2,000 cu.ft.
    Troop Capacity
    Officers 45
    Enlisted 800
    Propulsion one 3cyl triple expansion steam engine
    Boilers number and type unknown
    Single screw
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USQMDE No.23 US Army
    Vigilanca
    301311901    		 83k USQMDE No. 23 moored pierside with lighters alongside and crowded with soldiers, probably New York, circa 1898-1899
    https://www.spanamwar.com    		 Spanish-American War.com
    Merchant Service
    Vigilanca
    301311902    		 53k Passenger Liner SS Vigilancia moored pierside, circa 1917, location unknown.
    US National Archives Records Administration Identifier NARA 45500296    		 US National Archives
    Vigilanca
    301311903    		 297k Cargo Ship SS Vigilancia underway, circa 1917, location unknown.
    US National Archives Records Administration Identifier NARA 45500302    		 US National Archives
    SS Vigilancia/USQMDE No.23
    History from Wikipedia
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 16 January 2026