SS Conte Biancamano
SS Conte Biancamano in 1950s
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| History | |
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| Name: | SS Conte Biancamano |
| Namesake: | Humbert I, Count of Savoy |
| Operator: |
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| Port of registry: |
.svg){kind=small} Genoa, Italy |
| Builder: | William Beardmore & Co. of Glasgow, Scotland |
| Launched: | 23 April 1925 |
| Maiden voyage: | 20 November 1925 |
| Fate: | Seized by the United States in December 1941 |
 United States
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| Name: | USS Hermitage (AP-54) |
| Christened: | 1942 |
| Completed: | 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 14 August 1942 |
| Decommissioned: | 20 August 1946 |
| Fate: | Returned to the Italian Line in 1947 |
 Italy
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| Name: | SS Conte Biancamano |
| Operator: | 1947–1960: Italian Line |
| Port of registry: |
 Genoa, Italy |
| Builder: | Shipyards of Monfalcone |
| Completed: | 1948 |
| Out of service: | 26 March 1960 |
| Fate: | Completed as National Museum of Science and Technology named Leonardo da Vinci |
| Status: | Partially saved as a museum |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: |
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| Tonnage: |
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| Length: | 203.56 m (667.8 feet) |
| Beam: | 23.24 m (76.25 feet) |
| Height: | 8.36 m (27.4 feet) |
| Propulsion: | steam turbines double reduction unit and two propellers |
| Speed: | 20 knots |
| Capacity: | 180 1st class, 220 2nd class, 390 2nd class (economy), 2660 3rd class |
Conte Biancamano was an Italian liner launched in 1925. The name was chosen in honor of Humbert I Biancamano, founder of the Savoy dynasty. She was built in the Scottish shipyard William Beardmore & Co. in Dalmuir, near Glasgow. She was built for the Genovese shipping company Lloyd Sabaudo, operator of the Conte Rosso and Conte Verde. The engine, equipped with two steam turbines double reduction unit and two propellers, allowed her to reach a speed of 20 knots, and vented in two funnels. She housed 180 passengers in first class, 220 in second class, 390 in economic class and 2,660 in third class.
Conte Biancamano was the first of two sister ships, her sister Conte Grande not seeing completion until 1927.
Conte Biancamano was launched 23 April 1925, and made her maiden voyage on 20 November 1925 from Genoa to New York, sailing, as expected, on a direct route to North America. The ship, provided with all the most innovative amenities of its time, was intended primarily as a luxury liner.
The last trip for the Lloyd Sabaudo departed from Genoa to New York on 25 November 1932.
In 1932, Lloyd Sabaudo, together with other Italian shipping companies, merged to form the famous Italian Line. The Conte Biancamano was then used for direct routes to South America. This was continued for six trips, the last of which began on 1 July 1932.
In 1934, she was used for military purposes. She carried troops and military equipment on behalf of the Ministry of the Navy in preparation for the war in Ethiopia.
In 1936, she was transferred to Lloyd Triestino, one of the companies in the group, which took a direct route to the Middle East.
In March 1939, the ship carried the first team of climbers (led by the mountaineer Fritz Wiessner) to attempt the summit of the Himalayan peak K2. Scenes of the team on board feature in a BBC documentary titled 'Mountain Men: The Ghosts of K2'.
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Wikipedia