She was launched in Germany in 1897 as Coblenz for Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL), who owned and operated her until the United States seized her in 1917.

Ports of call on this route were Antwerp; A Coruña; Vilagarcía de Arousa or Vigo; Havana; and Cienfuegos.

On her first voyage on the route, she left Hong Kong on 13 August, and reached Sydney on 5 September.

[7] On 6 April 1917 the USA declared war on Germany, and the US Government seized all the German ships that had been detained since February.

In September 1917 it was reported that the Pacific Mail Steamship Company had chartered three of the German ships seized in Manila: NDL's Coblenz, Princess Alice; and Tübingen.

[10] By 1919 she was registered in San Francisco, her code letters were NFKJ, and she was equipped with wireless telegraphy.

[12] Pacific Mail put her on its route between San Francisco and Havana via the Panama Canal.

Her Master, Purser, and eight seamen remained aboard to guard her cargo, which included $2.5 million in silver bullion.

[14] Despite the fog, a squadron of United States Navy destroyers was in the area undertaking a speed trial.

However, a Standard Oil of California tanker, W. S. Miller, happened to find them, and landed them at Los Angeles.

[17] Cuba's wreck forms an artificial reef, and supports marine life including the California sheephead.

[18] Media related to Cuba (ship, 1897) at Wikimedia Commons Cave dive sites: