SS America (1939)

USS West Point (SS America before World War II)
History
Name:	SS America (1940–41) USS West Point (1941–46) SS America (1946–64) SS Australis (1964–78) SS America (1978) SS Italis (1978–80) SS Noga (1980–84) SS Alferdoss (1984–93) SS American Star (1994)
Owner:	United States Lines (1940–41) United States Maritime Commission (1941–46) United States Lines (1946–64) Chandris Group (1964–78) Venture Cruises (1978) Chandris Group (1978–80) Intercommerce Corporation (1980–84) Silver Moon Ferries (1984–92) Chaophraya Transport Co (1992–96)
Operator:	United States Lines (1940–41) United States Navy (1941–46) United States Lines (1946–64) Chandris Group (1964–78) Venture Cruises (1978) Chandris Group (1978–80) Intercommerce Corporation (1980–84) Silver Moon Ferries
Port of registry:	New York (1940–41) United States Navy (1941–46) New York (1946–64) Piraeus (1964–67) Panama City (1967–68) Piraeus (1968–96)
Builder:	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.
Cost:	1.2 Million
Laid down:	22 August 1938
Launched:	31 August 1939
Completed:	16 April 1940
Acquired:	1 June 1946
Commissioned:	16 June 1941
Decommissioned:	12 March 1946
Maiden voyage:	22 August 1940
In service:	1940
Out of service:	1964
Identification:	Code Letters WEDI (1940–41) Code Letters NWGB (1941–46) Code Letters WEDI (1946–64) United States Official Number 239728 (1940–64) IMO number: 5014123 ( -1996)
Fate:	Wrecked on a beach at Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in 1994
General characteristics
Class and type:	America Class
Tonnage:	26,454 GRT (1940–65) 14,320 NRT (1940–65) 33,961 GT (1965–96)
Displacement:	21,079 light, 35,440 full load
Length:	722 ft 3 in (220.14 m)
Beam:	93 ft 5 in (28.47 m)
Height:	95.4 Feet
Draft:	32.9 ft (10 m)
Decks:	10
Installed power:	4 x steam turbines, double reduction geared
Propulsion:	Twin screw propellors
Speed:	22.5 kn (41.7 km/h)
Capacity:	1,202 (passengers) as originally designed 7,678 when reconfigured as West Point 2,258 when rebuilt as Australis
Crew:	643 (originally) 750 (World War II)
Armament:	(World War II only) 4 × 5 in AA guns 4 × 3 in/50 naval guns 8 × .50-cal. machine guns.

SS America was an ocean liner built in 1940 for the United States Lines and designed by the noted American naval architect William Francis Gibbs. She carried many names in the 54 years between her construction and her 1994 wrecking, as she served as the SS America (carrying this name three different times during her career), the USS West Point, the SS Australis, the SS Italis, the SS Noga, the SS Alferdoss, and the SS American Star. She served most notably in passenger service as the SS America, and as the Greek-flagged SS Australis for Chandris. In 1941, she carried two Nazi spies from the Duquesne Spy Ring in her crew: Erwin Wilhelm Siegler and Franz Joseph Stigler. Both men were charged by the FBI with espionage and sentenced to 10 years' and 16 years' imprisonment, respectively.

America was laid down under the first Maritime Commission contract on 22 August 1938, at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. She was one of the few ocean liners, American or otherwise, that had her interiors designed by women – the New York firm Smyth, Urquhart & Marckwald. The stodginess and overwrought decor from liners of the past was foregone to create a comfortable and friendly ship. Interior design and furniture were installed to provide an atmosphere of cheerfulness and sophisticated charm.America was launched on 31 August 1939 and was sponsored by Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of then-President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt.America entered service as the flagship of the United States Lines on 10 August 1940, when she commenced her maiden voyage.

As originally designed, SS America could carry 543 in cabin class, 418 in tourist class, 241 in third class, and 643 crew. The interior accommodations were designed by architects Eggers & Higgins to be the utmost in contemporary American design, making use of stainless steel, ceramics, and synthetics.