SS America (1939) From Construction to Legacy

The SS America was a ship like no other, built in 1939 with a unique blend of luxury and functionality. It was designed to be a floating resort, offering its passengers a taste of the high life.

The America was built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey, with a hull length of 763 feet and a gross tonnage of 24,900 tons. Its sleek design and modern amenities made it a standout in the shipping industry.

The SS America was a massive vessel, capable of carrying over 1,500 passengers and 800 crew members. Its spacious decks and elegant public rooms made it a popular choice for transatlantic cruises.

SS America was laid down under its first Maritime Commission contract on August 22, 1938, at Newport News, Virginia by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.

The ship was designed with a more contemporary and informal style, a departure from the ornate decor typical of its time. This approach aimed to provide an atmosphere of cheerfulness and sophisticated charm.

America was launched on August 31, 1939, and was sponsored by Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of then-president Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The ship's keel was laid on August 22nd, 1938, and it was launched on August 31st, 1939, sponsored by Eleanor Roosevelt.

America's maiden voyage began on August 10th, 1940, when it departed New York for the Caribbean.

The SS America started its early career in 1940, just a year after World War II began in Europe. It entered service on August 10th of that year, undertaking its maiden voyage as a cruise to San Juan.

The ship's name, along with "United States Lines" and two American flags, were painted in large size on both sides of the hull to be clearly visible. This was a precautionary measure to avoid any confusion or misidentification.

As designed, the America could carry 543 passengers in cabin class, 418 in tourist class, 241 in third class, and 643 crew members. The interior accommodations were styled by architects Eggers & Higgins to be the utmost in contemporary American design.

The ship's original funnels were low and designed to give it a modern, streamlined appearance. However, due to heavy soot deposits on the decks, the height of the funnels was increased by 16 feet early in its career.

On January 3rd, 1941, the America was quietly fitted with a degaussing cable for protection against naval mines. This was a crucial safety measure to prevent any potential damage.

The America's early years were marked by a series of precautions to ensure its safety. On May 28th, 1941, while at Saint Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands on a cruise, the ship was called up to service by the United States Navy.

The SS America's United States Lines career was marked by a cautious approach to safety. The ship was painted with its name and two American flags in large size to be clearly visible on both sides of the hull.

At the time, the United States was still neutral in the war, but the ship took precautions by sailing in safer waters close to the US and fully illuminated at night.

The America entered service on August 10, 1940, and its maiden voyage was a cruise to San Juan.

Between 1946 and 1964, United States Lines Career saw significant growth and expansion. The company's fleet was modernized with the introduction of new ships, including the SS United States and the SS America.

The SS United States was launched in 1952 and was the largest passenger liner in the world at the time, measuring over 1,000 feet in length. It was designed to be a symbol of American strength and freedom.

The SS America was launched in 1940 but was refitted and updated in the 1950s to compete with the newer SS United States. It was known for its luxurious amenities and high-speed service.

The company's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction paid off, with United States Lines Career becoming one of the most popular and respected shipping lines in the world.

The S.S. America was a behemoth of a ship, measuring 723 feet in length and 93 feet 3 inches in beam. It was built for the United States Lines by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.

The S.S. America had a remarkable 11 decks, with a load draft of 32 feet 8 7/8 inches and a displacement of 35,440 tons. Its gross tonnage was 33,532 (British) and 26,454 tons (USA).

The ship's cargo capacity was an impressive 259,982 cubic feet, with a capacity to serve 6,000 meals per day in its galleys. It was powered by two sets of triple expansion turbines, producing 34,000 shaft horsepower.

At full draft, the S.S. America could reach speeds of over 25 knots, with a cruising radius of 11,000 miles at 22 knots. Its fuel capacity was 4,938 tons, and it carried 4,733 tons of fresh water.

The S.S. America had a total of 950 rooms and spaces, including 23 public spaces. It was designed to carry a total of 1,202 passengers, with 543 in Cabin Class, 418 in Tourist Class, and 241 in Third Class.

The S.S. America's interiors were a game-changer in ocean liner design. The ship's design team, led by Dorothy Marckwald and Anne Urquhart, made a conscious decision to avoid the opulent Art Deco style found on other ships.

The team chose a simple, comfortable American style for the ship's interiors. This meant incorporating contemporary art and "Hollywood Modern" interiors.

The cream-colored walls, recessed lighting, and black linoleum floors with white inlaid swirls created a sleek and elegant atmosphere. The design was so on-trend that it even resembled the stage sets of a Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire film.

The S.S. America's interiors were a huge hit with passengers. The ship continued to have a loyal following well into the 1970s, a testament to the design team's vision and creativity.

The SS America was truly the Queen of the Merchant Marine from 1946 to 1964.

Her clean uncluttered superstructure topped off by those big wing-tipped teardrop-shaped smoke stacks gave her a modern contemporary appearance.

She was well proportioned, except for a short bow which gave her a sturdy powerful look that projected confidence without pretension.

Her interior combined warmth and sophistication without being stuffy, making her a welcoming space for passengers.

The ship possessed beauty and grace without the glitz and glitter found on European liners, which made her stand out in a crowd.

Ship Historian Peter Kholer captured the spirit of the ship in the summer 1990 issue of Steamboat Bill, describing her as a happy ship without faults or annoying quirks.

She was the sort of unpretentious vessel that regular travelers were devoted to, and they enjoyed the warm friendly ship, pleasant atmosphere, good food, good service, and comfortable accommodations.

Her 18 years of peacetime service with United States Lines ended in November 1964.

In peacetime, she transported over 500,000 passengers safely, and elegantly while steaming over 2.8 million nautical miles in the process.

The SS America's history is a long and fascinating one, spanning several decades. It was originally launched in 1939 as the S.S. America for the United States Lines.

The ship had a brief stint as a naval transport, serving as the USS West Point from 1941. It was later returned to its civilian service.

Here's a breakdown of the ship's various owners and names over the years:

The S.S. America had a remarkable career, spanning over 40 years. It was originally built in 1939 for the United States Lines.

The ship's first life was as the S.S. America, serving the United States Lines from 1939 to 1941. It was later converted into a troop ship and renamed USS West Point.

The USS West Point served the Naval Transport Service in 1941, and then the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946. After the war, the ship was returned to the United States Lines and resumed its original name.

The S.S. America continued to serve the United States Lines from 1946 to 1964, making it a staple of the company's fleet. The ship was then sold to Okeania, S.A., a subsidiary of Chandris Lines, and was renamed S.S. Australis.

Here's a breakdown of the ship's many lives:

The ship's final lives were as the S.S. Noga, S.S. Alferdoss, and S.S. American Star, serving various companies in the 1980s and 1990s. Despite its many changes, the S.S. America's legacy as a historic ship remains.

The S.S. America's career was marked by a mix of luxury and utility.

The ship operated from 1939 to 1994, a period spanning nearly six decades.

The S.S. America was launched on August 31, 1939, at the Newport News shipyard in Virginia, in front of a crowd of over 30,000 spectators.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt christened the ship with the words "I Christen Thee America", smashing a bottle of Ohio Champagne against the bow.

The ship's speed was its most valuable asset, and it spent many years delivering troops around the globe during World War II.

The S.S. America was converted to the troopship USS West Point after the brief cruising career, and it played a significant role in the war effort.

The ship's history is a testament to its versatility and importance in times of peace and war.