USS Charles

USS Charles at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, on 1 June 1918. The paint scheme is dazzle camouflage.
History
United States
Name	USS Harvard 9 April 1918-11 April 1918 USS Charles 11 April 1918–29 July 1920 USS Harvard 29 July 1920-14 October 1920
Namesake	Harvard, a previous name retained; Charles, a masculine proper name.
Builder	Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works, Chester, Pennsylvania
Launched	30 January 1907
Completed	1907
Acquired	Commandeered 21 March 1918 Purchased 28 August 1918
Commissioned	9 April 1918
Decommissioned	10 June 1920
Fate	Sold 14 October 1920; Returned to commercial service; Wrecked 30 May 1931
Notes	Served as commercial passenger ship SS Harvard 1907–1918 and 1920–1931
General characteristics
Type	Troop transport
Tonnage	3,731[1] or 3,737[2] Gross register tons
Length	403 ft (123 m)
Beam	51 ft 3 in (15.62 m)
Draft	19 ft (5.8 m)
Propulsion	Steam engine
Speed	22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Complement	211

USS Charles (ID-1298) was a troop transport that served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1920 and was briefly in commission as USS Harvard in 1918 and 1920. She was better known in her role as passenger liner SS Harvard, one of the premier West Coast steamships operated by the Los Angeles Steamship Company.