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The SS United States.

(USA 1952-1969)_
The United States is today lying stripped bare in Philadelphia, awaiting her fate.  In her 17 years of service she was by far the fastest liner ever built and had a number of very advanced features.  She deserves to be saved.
Picture
Head straight over to the SS United States Conservancy to find out how you can help save this great ship.
Head straight over to the SS United States Conservancy to find out how you can help save this great ship.
Postcard my dad got on board - I think - of her July 22nd 1959 crossing from Southampton to New York via Le Havre.
Postcard my dad got on board - I think - of her July 22nd 1959 crossing from Southampton to New York via Le Havre.
Postcard my dad got on board - I think - of her July 22nd 1959 crossing from Southampton to New York via Le Havre.
Postcard my dad got on board - I think - of her July 22nd 1959 crossing from Southampton to New York via Le Havre. The high speeds shown here would have used half of the ship's power, if that.
Click here to see a satellite view of her today in Philadelphia.

Click here to see her on Street View as if you're driving past.  Do they realise they're passing by one of the greatest ships ever built?


Click here to read a maiden voyage blog


Some Notes about the SS United States

The SS United States was designed with military use in mind. For this reason she was extremely fast for such an enormous ship - over 38 knots - and was easily convertible into a troop ship for 14000. She beat the Queen Mary's Atlantic crossing by 10! hours and still holds the Blue Riband today. Unfortunately she became unprofitable with the advent of Jet travel and was laid up in 1969 after only 17 years service.

She is now the largest abandoned vehicle in the city of Philadelphia.

She is now the exact opposite to the Queen Mary in many ways.  The QM lies with no mechanics, but her interiors on the whole intact, the United States is mechanically sound, but has been internally completely gutted.
SS United States with
SS United States with "the bit between her teeth".
SS United States Internet Links
  • The SS United States Conservancy
  • Big Ship Films - SS United States, Lady in Waiting
  • Ship Geek - SS United States
  • "The Big U" Documentary Film
  • Daily Mail SS United States story with good photos
  • Popular Science 1952 - SS United States, America's new Superliner

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