SS Duca d ' Aosta SS " Duca d ' Aosta " was an Italian ocean liner for Navigazione Generale Italiana named after one of the Dukes of Aosta . Launched in 1908 , she sailed between Italy and New York and South America for most of her career . During World War I she was employed as a troopship carrying United States troops to France as part of the United States Navy Cruiser and Transport Force . She was scrapped in 1929 . Early career . " Duca d ' Aosta " , was built by Cantieri Navale Siciliani of Palermo , with steam engines provided by N . Odero & Co . of Sestri Ponente . Launched on 29 September 1908 for Navigazione Generale Italiana , she sailed on her maiden voyage from Genoa to Naples and New York on 9 November 1909 . She continued on this service until 20 November 1912 , when she was switched to an Italy – South American route . On 7 July 1914 , " Duca d ' Aosta " resumed Genoa – New York service . U . S . troopship duties . In May 1918 , " Duca d ' Aosta " was chartered as a United States troop transport and attached to the United States Navy Cruiser and Transport Force , and sailed on a total of five roundtrips before the Armistice . Sailing in her first troopship convoy at 18 : 30 on 10 May , " Duca d ' Aosta " departed from Newport News , Virginia , with U . S . Navy transports , , , , , and , and the British steamer " Kursk " . The group rendezvoused with a similar group that left New York the same day , consisting of , , , British troopship , and Italian steamers and . American cruiser served as escort for the assembled ships , which were the 35th U . S . convoy of the war . On 20 May , the convoy sighted and fired on a " submarine " that turned out to be a bucket ; the next day escort " Frederick " left the convoy after being relieved by nine destroyers . Three days later the convoy sighted land at 06 : 30 and anchored at Brest that afternoon . " Duca d ' Aosta " safely arrived back in the U . S . on 5 June . Fate , however , was not as kind to former convoy mates " President Lincoln " and " Dwinsk " . On their return journeys they were sunk by German submarines " U - 90 " and " U - 151 " , respectively . " Duca d ' Aosta " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s next convoy left Newport News on 23 June and consisted of the Italian steamers " Caserta " , , the French , and American transports and " Susquehanna " . Accompanied by , , , , and , the convoy reached France on 5 July . " Duca d ' Aosta " returned to Virginia on 19 July with " Pocahontas " . " Duca d ' Aosta " sailed again for France on 26 July with " Pocahontas " , " Susquehanna " , and " Caserta " from Newport News , and met up with U . S . Navy transports , and the Italian that had sailed at the same time from New York . Cruisers and , and destroyers and ushered the transports to France , where they arrived on 7 August . " Duca d ' Aosta " arrived back in the United States on 18 August . The Italian liner began her next crossing on 30 August when she sailed from Newport News with and " Caserta " to join the New York contingent of " Kroonland " " Susquehanna " , and . " Duca d ' Aosta " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s convoy was escorted by " Frederick " and " Colhoun " . Beginning what would be her last wartime troop transport crossing , " Duca d ' Aosta " sailed with Navy transports and from Newport News on 21 October . " Pocahontas " and Brazilian steamer , sailing from New York , and U . S . Navy escorts , , " South Dakota " , , and filled out the convoy , which arrived on 4 November . " Duca d ' Aosta " returned to the U . S . on 17 November , six days after the Armistice . Later career . After her release from the U . S . charter , " Duca d ' Aosta " once again resumed sailing the Genoa – New York service in 1918 , which she continued through June 1921 . Returned to South American routes at that time , she continued in that service through February 1929 at which time she was scrapped .