German SS Kiel was built in 1900 by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft at Flensburg, Germany, and operated as a merchantman for seventeen years before being seized by the United States upon America's entry as an active participant in the First World War during April of 1917. Congress authorized the transfer of SS Kiel from the United States Shipping Board to the United States Navy. The Navy acquired the merchant ship on 22 May 1917 and fitted her out as a cargo ship. Renamed USS Camden, for the cities in New Jersey and Maine of the same name, and designated "Number 3143," the AK-type vessel was commissioned into the United States Navy on 15 August 1917 with Lieutenant Commander E. C. Jones, United States Naval Reserve Force, in command.

When commissioned, the cargo ship was 403 feet 8 inches in length overall, had an extreme beam of 48 feet, and had a mean draft of 15 feet 8 inches with a standard displacement of 6,075 tons. Fully loaded, the ship displaced approximately 9,000 tons and had a mean draft of 22 feet 4 inches. Acommodations were provided for 23 officers and and 304 enlisted men. Armament consisted of four 4-inch/50 caliber guns, two 3-inch antiaircraft guns, two 1-pounder guns, and four machine guns. Bunkerage existed to carry 975 tons of coal; which fueled the fires that heated water in boilers manufactured by the Boiler Division of the Babcock and Wilcox Company at Barberton, Ohio; that powered the reciprocating steam engine that could develop 2,550 shaft horsepower; that could drive the ship at 12 knots at speed.

Clearing New York City, New York, during September of 1917, USS Camden carried coal between Cardiff, Wales, and various French ports, with one voyage to the United States, until 25 April 1918, when she again sailed for the United States ... to the Delaware River.

The cargo ship was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 3 May 1918, and work commenced to convert the ship into a submarine tender (AS). Prior to completing the conversion work, the shooting portion of the First World War ended when the Armistice went into effect on 11 November 1918.

USS Camden began her many years of important service to submarines on 21 February 1919, when she was recommissioned as a submarine tender...AS-6. Based at the United States Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut, she was flagship for Commander, Submarine Flotilla, Atlantic, and Commander, Submarine Division 9, until 15 September 1920. After repairs at Norfolk, Virginia, the submarine tender followed her submarine division to the Pacific, where she took up tending duties on 24 June 1921 ... while based at San Pedro, California.

USS Camden (AS-6) briefly served as flagship for Commander, Submarine Flotilla, Pacific Fleet, early in 1922.

During March of 1923, USS Camden returned to the Atlantic Fleet for duty. As flagship of Submarine Division 4 at the United States Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut, and later as flagship of Commander, Control Force, she led in large-scale maneuvers and exercises. Highlights of this period included her participation in determined efforts to raise USS S-5 (SS-110) during September and October of 1925, and her presence at the presidential naval review in Hampton Roads, Virginia, during May of 1927.

USS Camden's active career ended on 26 May 1931, when she was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and placed in the Reserve Fleet at that government installation.

The Second World War called the veteran naval vessel back from retirement. On 17 September 1940, the submarine tender was reclassified IX-42, and assigned to the New York Navy Yard (the "Brooklyn Navy Yard") as a barracks (receiving) ship. "IX" is the Navy's classification for "unclassified" vessel.

Towed by tug USS Allegheny (AT-19), the floating barracks arrived at New York City on 18 September 1940, and performed her humble but essential role of berthing the war-swollen complement of that navy yard.

The United States was an active participant in the Second World War from 7 December 1941, when the Japanese attacked military and civilian targets in the Territory of Hawaii, until 2 September 1945, when representatives of the Empire of Japan signed the instruments of surrender on board battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) at Tokyo Bay, Japan.

The former merchantman, cargo ship, and submarine tender served as a receiving ship at the Brooklyn Navy Yard until 23 October 1946 ... then the ship was sold to civilian interests for subsequent disposal.