162a US Navy Summer Whites, 1918

The United States Navy played a key logistical role in World War One after the entry of the United States in the War in 1917.  Due to their late entry into the war, the US capital ships were not directly engaged with the German fleet, with combat operations focused on Submarine actions.

The main focus of Navy operations was transporting and escorting the vast numbers of US troops and millions of tonnes of supplies across the Atlantic ocean to the Western Front. The Navy was also active in the Mediterranean, North Sea and Pacific theatres.

Four US Navy ships were lost in the course of the war.

This set shows six regular sailors in their summer white uniform with equipment belt and rifles at slope.