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32 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2014 MR’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY The Big Ship the Big U, the one that didn’t sink. The S.S. United States, still the fastest pas- senger liner ever and enduring symbol for many of American post-war indus- trial might and ingenuity, is today more aptly called “the Lady in Waiting.” She is waiting for a rescue that may never come from an appointment with the scrap yard looming large on her summer schedule. And that would be a shame according to her many supporters, not the least of which was the late news- man and sailor, Walter Cronkite. “It [current state] is a crime against ship building, a crime against history,” said Cronkite, himself an American legend, in the 2008 documentary, SS United States, Lady in Waiting. “It was tear-jerking to see it just laying up there in that yard and gouging to pieces and nobody caring. Its restoration would be a restoration in American pride, in some- thing America should be very proud of,” he lamented, over footage of the once proud liner. To some, the ship, which was once the standard to which other express lin- ers aspired – is today a rusting, gutted hulk, a mere shadow of her former self. On some level that is true, but the ship retains her sleek lines, trademark hull profi le and famous stacks, and more im- portantly, her place in not just maritime history, but American history. Everything about this ship, considered a technological wonder in its day, incited awe. It was, in many ways, larger than life – from its famous architect, William Francis Gibbs, to the outrageous size of its naval subsidy, to its compact, high- octane propulsion system, to its ultra light aluminum superstructure, propeller strategy, size, unparalleled attention to safety and the greatest power-to-weight ratio ever produced in a commercial pas- senger ship. Capturing the Blue Riband Overshadowing all that is its great- est claim to fame - its record-breaking speed. On its maiden voyage in July 1952, the United States shattered speed records crossing the Atlantic and back (see related story on page 35), ripping the fabled Blue Riband prize from the holder of 14 years, the R.M.S. Queen Mary, and holding onto it for life – 62 years and counting. “The great mystique was her power and speed,” notes Greg Norris, treasurer of the U.S. United States Conservancy, a non-profi t group spearheading the campaign to save the ship, and a one-time passenger on the ship. “Essentially what Gibbs did was to shoehorn an aircraft carrier power plant From Leading Lady to Damsel in Distress SS United StatesSS United States To celebrate Maritime Reporter & Engineering News’ 75th Anniversary, each edition in 2014 will offer a specially commissioned feature article which examines a historical topic. This month we look at the arguably the most famous American ship: SS United States Don’t miss the special 75th anniversary edition to publish in June 2014, made possible in part by our 75th Anniversary sponsors seen on pages 33 & 35. Once queen of the express liners, and the fastest, safest and biggest passen- ger liner in history, the SS United States today quietly awaits rescue from a pend- ing cruise to the scrapyard. By Patricia Keefe Photo cour tesy of Charles Anderson and the SS United States Conser vancy . SS United States on her sea trials, June 10, 1952. Here she reached her highest recorded speed ever, 38.32 knots (44.1 mph). This is the greatest speed ever achieved by an ocean liner before or since. MR #2 (32-41).indd 32 2/3/2014 10:23:32 AM
