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SS America (1939)
Ocean liner and cruise ship / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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SS America was an ocean liner and cruise ship built in the United States in 1940 for the United States Lines and designed by the noted American naval architect William Francis Gibbs. It carried many names in the 54 years between its construction and its 1994 wreck: SS America (carrying this name three different times during its career); troop transport USS West Point; and SS Australis, Italis, Noga, Alferdoss, and American Star. It served most notably in passenger service as America and the Greek-flagged Australis.
![]() SS America in 1954 | |
History | |
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Name | |
Owner |
|
Operator |
|
Port of registry | |
Route |
|
Ordered | 1936 |
Builder | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.[4] |
Cost | $1.2 million ($20 million in 2023) |
Yard number | 369 |
Laid down | 22 August 1938[4] |
Launched | 31 August 1939[4] |
Christened | 31 August 1939 by Eleanor Roosevelt |
Completed | 16 April 1940 |
Acquired | 1 June 1946[3] |
Commissioned | 16 June 1941[3] |
Decommissioned | 12 March 1946[3] |
Maiden voyage | 22 August 1940[4] |
In service | 1940–1979 |
Out of service | 1979 |
Identification | |
Fate | Wrecked at Playa de Garcey on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in 1994 |
Notes | Declared a total loss |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | |
Displacement |
|
Length | 723 ft (220 m)[5] |
Beam | 93 ft (28 m)[5] |
Draft | 33 ft (10 m)[5] |
Decks | 11[5] |
Installed power | 2 x steam turbines, double reduction geared[5] |
Propulsion | Twin screw propellors |
Speed | 22.5 kn (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)[8] |
Capacity |
|
Crew |
|
Armament |
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It was wrecked as the American Star at Playa de Garcey on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands on 18 January 1994. The wreck deteriorated and completely collapsed into the sea. As of 2022, it is no longer visible on the ocean surface and has become an artificial reef.