Post war service
In 1919 after the First World War Rochambeau brought service personnel home to the USA. On one crossing in January she repatriated 883 men of the 337th and 339th field artillery, 88th Infantry Division and medical units.[21] On another in September she brought home 245 Czech Americans and Slovak Americans who had served in the Czechoslovak Legion in France.[22]
Lafayette's westbound crossing in January 1919 was marred by engine trouble three days out of Bordeaux, which reduced her speed to 9 kn. She then stopped in Halifax, Nova Scotia for four days for bunkering. She reached New York 17 days after leaving Bordeaux. The ship carried 554 civilian passengers on the voyage as well as 883 US troops, and her Master imposed rationing to ensure her supply of food lasted for the prolonged voyage.[23]
Rochambeau last sailed from Bordeaux in January 1919 and reverted to Le Havre in February. Also in 1919 her first and second class accommodation was refitted as 475 berths for "cabin class",[14] a new concept that the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company had pioneered in the First World War.[24]
On 15 August 1924 Rochambeau suffered a broken crankshaft en route from Le Havre to New York. She continued under her own power at reduced speed.[25]
On the morning of 21 February 1925 Rochambeau collided with the Anchor Line liner SS Tuscania (1921) in New York Harbour, damaging both ships above the waterline. The two ships were at anchor, and as they swung with the turn of the tide Rochambeaus stern struck Tuscanias bow. Damage to Rochambeau was assessed at $100,000.[26]
Rochambeau sustained storm damage at sea on 30 December 1925. CGT took her out of service, sent her to Toulon for repairs and announced that it would use the occasion to have her converted from coal to oil fuel.[27]
The Immigration Act of 1924 limited migration to the USA, which reduced steerage class traffic. Therefore while Rochambeau was at Toulon, CGT had her steerage berths replaced by "tourist class". She returned to service in August 1926. Her accommodation was revised again in December 1927 to three classes: cabin, tourist and third.[14]
In June 1931 the United Press Association reported that Rochambeau collided with a vessel called Uncheria off Ushant. UPA reported that Uncheria was sunk, Rochambeau suffered slight damage, and Rochambeau rescued all 29 crew from Uncheria.[28] Numerous newspapers published the story, but the Waikato Times noted that there was no vessel called Uncheria in Lloyd's Register.[29]
Rochambeau made her final Le Havre – Vigo – New York crossing in July 1933.[14] In 1934 her code letters OSAN[7] and original wireless call sign were superseded by the call sign FNTW,[30] but by then she was waiting to be scrapped. She was broken up at Dunkirk.[14]
