The Big "U"

            After the end of World War II the United States government realized how valuable large liners were as troopships.  The United States Lines and other American shipping companies had been behind European lines in terms of tonnage, size, luxury, and scope.  Not since the conversion of the German Vaterland (1914) into Leviathan in the 1920s had Americans operated a super liner.  In the late 1940s, with the possibility of another world war and in an attempt to put an American mark on Atlantic travel, plans were made to built an American super liner.  The United States Lines received a generous subsidy (not unlike Cunard in earlier decades) and design directives from the Pentagon to build a vessel that could be rapidly converted into a troopship if needed.

1960s Revell 1:600 model kit, built 2004.  Original c1952 deck plans.

            In secret, naval architect William Francis Gibbs designed the most advanced liner yet built, the United States.  Because of her wartime potential, she was designed to be the fastest liner in the world and also the safest.  All of the machinery had back-up systems if she were to be torpedoed.  New materials such as aluminum and synthetics were used throughout the ship and rendered her fireproof.  It was said the only wood on board were the butcher’s blocks and Steinway piano (supposedly Gibbs asked for a metal coated piano, but Steinway refused).  She was consequently much lighter than any other passenger vessel of the day.

1:1200 Hornby-Minic model with Tri-ang Minic Ocean Terminal and dock accessories.

            In 1952 the United States was floated out of her drydock- rather than launched- after a simple ceremony.  It was clear to onlookers that this was a tremendously modern ship.  She is long and sleek with curved superstructure, single mast, and two raked funnels topped with fins.  In a touch of bitter irony, there is a jet-like quality to her futuristic design.  On her maiden voyage in July 1952, she broke the Queen Mary’s best time with a crossing in 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes at an average speed of 35.59 knots. This was a speed that no liner could match and to this day no passenger liner has beat the United States.  Though top-secret in the 1950s, it was later revealed that the ship reached speeds of 42 knots on her sea trials and an astonishing 20 knots in reverse! 

The sleek lines of the United States imply speed.  She looks fast!

The ship’s interiors were very modern and functional, but opulent for their simplicity.  Passengers in all accommodations welcomed central air conditioning and sophisticated motion stabilizers that helped compensate for rough weather on the North Atlantic.  Passengers also enjoyed, for the first time, an American superliner that served alcohol (unlike Leviathan during Prohibition) and was filled with passengers of all stripes. 

United States passing the Statue of Liberty (one of the less common Tri-ang mimic models).

Unfortunately, United States came to sea at the wrong time.  While passenger lists were solid in the early years, she too lost travelers to jet airliners.  She sailed on longer than the Queens despite the losses, but the end of the government subsidy in 1969 made her uneconomical to operate.  She completed her final voyage in November and was subsequently laid up. Her furnishings were sold at auction and the ship slowly deteriorated in Newport News.  

Side view in harbor with Tri-ang mimic accessories.

From the early 1970s she was in limbo: the Navy briefly considered her for conversion to a hospital ship, ship breakers made offers, and several owners bough her with plans for conversion into a cruise ship.  From Newport News she  was moved to Turkey by one of the owners and again to Philadelphia, where she is docked today.  In 2010-211 ship breakers again tried to buy her from then-owners Norwegian Cruise Line but were blocked by a counter offer from a preservation group.  Today the SS United States Conservancy owns the vessel and is raising money to preserve her.  One plan is for the ship to become part of a larger development to revitalize the Philadelphia waterfront.  New York City may also be the new home for the empty vessel.  Time will tell what will happen to her.

S.S. United States (1952-1969, laid up 1969-present).  Built for United States Lines by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia. 53,329 GRT, 990 feet long, 101 feet wide.  Steam turbines geared to quadruple screw.  Service speed 33 knots. 1,928 total passengers (871 first class, 508 cabin class, 549 tourist class).