USS Aroostook (ID-1256/CM-3/AK-44) was the Eastern Steamship Company's Bunker Hill converted for planting the World War I North Sea Mine Barrage. Bunker Hill was built in 1907 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for passenger service between Boston and New York City. Bunker Hill was one of three sister ships, the others being Massachusetts and , delivered as passenger/cargo ships by William Cramp & Sons in 1907. They were among the eight ships acquired by the U.S. Navy in November 1917. Bunker Hill and Massachusetts were converted to minelayers at the Boston Navy Yard. Old Colony was used as a district scout until sent across the Atlantic and turned over to the British in 1919. Design and Construction Three new ships for the New England Navigation Company, controlled by the New Haven railroad interests, were designed to compete with the Metropolitan Line vessels and Harvard using the outside, offshore passage yet be capable of using the inside passage through sounds. The three vessels were designed by the Quintard Iron Works Company of New York with heavy construction for offshore operation and characteristics necessary for inshore operation. The main deck, with the exception of machinery was designed for 1,500 tons of cargo. The second deck had officers quarters and a few passenger staterooms with more officers quarters on the upper deck. Massachusetts and Bunker Hill had reciprocating engines driving twin screws while the later Old Colony, otherwise identical, was designed with Parsons turbines driving triple screws. Bunker Hill was laid down as hull number 343 by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and launched 26 March 1907. The proposed name Commonwealth had been changed to Bunker Hill at the request of Boston's mayor whose daughter christened the ship. The ship was registered with U.S. Official Number 204264, signal KWDT and home port of New London, Connecticut. Bunker Hill and Massachusetts underwent conversion in 1911 from primarily freight to passenger service. The conversion changed registered tonnage from , to , and depth of hold from to . Registered crew size went from 38 to 167. Service history On 2 October 1907 the tug was sunk while assisting Bunker Hill when Bunker Hills propeller slashed her hull, in the New York City area. World War I for USS Aroostook–1918 After a brief shakedown cruise in mid-June 1918, Aroostook took on board a load of mines and then began a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in the