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The SS United States was one of the greatest naval assets of the United States. Launched in 1952, it broke speed records and became the fastest ocean liner in history. However, with the advancement of commercial aviation, the ship was retired prematurely and remained abandoned for almost 30 years.
Now, it will have a new destiny: it will be sunk and transformed into a gigantic artificial reef on the seabed. This will be its last mission, ensuring that its history continues and becoming a paradise for divers.
When it was launched, the SS United States impressed the world with its colossal dimensions:
- Length: 301 meters.
- Width: 31 meters.
- Weight: Over 47.000 tons.
Although there are larger ships today, at the time it surpassed even the Titanic in size and technology. His greatest feat was his impressive speed:
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- Cruising speed: 39 knots (about 59 km/h).
- Maximum speed: 38,38 knots (70,97 km/h).
- Autonomy: More than 18.500 km at a speed of 64 km/h.
These features made the SS United States not only the largest, but also the fastest ocean liner in the world, surpassing any other ship of the time.
A Cold War legend that was never used in combat
The SS United States was built with a dual purpose: in addition to carrying passengers, it could be quickly converted to military use if necessary. Its design was funded by the US government, which invested $50 million in its construction, allowing the ship to transport up to 15.000 soldiers if necessary.
Despite this investment, the ship was never used in military operations. Its true highlight came on its maiden voyage in 1952, when it broke the record for crossing the Atlantic, completing the journey in just three days and ten hours.
The SS United States remained in service until 1969, but the growth of transatlantic commercial aviation made it inefficient and expensive to maintain a ship of that size. So he was retired and left aside..
Abandonment and decades of rust at the Port of Philadelphia
After its retirement, the SS United States passed from port to port, with no clear destination. In 1996, it was docked in Philadelphia, where it remained for nearly 30 years, rusting and being forgotten.
There were several attempts to transform it into a floating hotel, museum and even a casino, but none of them came to fruition. For decades, the ship was just a shadow of what it once was, visible to anyone passing through the port.
It was only now, under the care of the SS United States Conservancy, that the ocean liner finally gained a new destiny worthy of its history.
