Howick Hall, a 8,097-ton steam cargo ship, was built in 1910 at Port Glasgow, Scotland. She was acquired the U.S. Navy and commissioned as USS Howick Hall (ID # 1303) in August 1918. During and shortly after the First World War, she made two trans-Atlantic voyages in support of the American Expeditionary Force in France. Following the end of the second trip, USS Howick Hall was decommissioned in March 1919 and returned to her owners.