Between 1952 and 1969 the SS United States served the trans-Atlantic passenger trade as the flagship of the United States Lines. Moreso, she served her country as flagship to the nation. Our "First Lady of the Sea", the SS United States represented American ingenuity, industry, achievement and hospitality wherever she sailed around the world. And there was great reason for the sense of awe, inspiration and national pride she elicited.

The SS United States is the only ship to have ever carried the name of our nation. She is unlike any other ship before or since in numerous facets of her fascinating history - before, during and after her years at sea. Below are just a few reasons why the SS United States was as to be known as America's "Ship of State".

The SS United States is probably best known as the fastest ocean liner in history.

In the days before jets carried passengers over the ocean great ships raced for a symbolic "Blue Riband" - the Atlantic speed record. Being the fastest ship at sea, if only by a few minutes, placed a ship in a special place of honor, winning prestige and attracting passengers.

On her maiden voyage in July, 1952 the SS United States smashed the standing record by more than ten hours when she arrived at the finish line in just 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes. She had averaged 35.59 knots (imagine a nearly one thousand foot steel ten-story building moving at 41 mph!). She would capture the westbound record on her return voyage and continue to hold the Blue Riband to this day.

The top speed of the SS United States is a matter of some debate. Many claim she never operated at full power, but that she achieved 38.3 knots (44.1 mph) during her sea trials. The photo above (click to enlarge) was taken during those trials as the ship achieved 20 knots - in reverse.

The secret behind the United States' incredible speed was the classified military technology made available to her thanks to her relationship with the U.S. Navy. In return for technology and a sizable subsidy the SS United States was designed to serve as a 15,000 man troopship in times of war. With an ability to steam non-stop for over 10,000 nautical miles and dimensions allowing her to traverse the Panama Canal, the Big U could land troop anywhere in the world in under ten days.

During both World Wars the role of great ocean liners such as the RMS Queen Mary & RMS Queen Elizabeth as troop transports proved invaluable. During WWII, the United States' sister ship, SS America, was drafted and became USS West Point. The image above (click to enlarge) shows America as USS West Point arriving in New York with troops returning from Europe in July of 1945. The America, like the United States was deigned by naval architect William Francis Gibbs.

Fortunately, the SS United States was never called into action. She was, however, placed on standby by President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. She was considered for conversion into a hospital ship in the 1980's.

The greatest danger to ships at sea to this day remains the threat of fire. The architect of the United States, William Francis Gibbs, having witnessed a tragic shipboard fire in his youth was said to have been obsessed with fire safety. Unlike the lavishly paneled liners of the past Gibbs' plan called for the total elimination of wood. It was said the only wood onboard was the butcher's block, a favorite rolling pin secreted aboard by one of the chefs, and the pianos.

A popular tale of Gibbs' obsession with fire safety was his request to Steinway & Sons to build an aluminum piano as had been done for the fire-conscious zeppelin Hindenburg. Steinway refused and instead convinced Gibbs there was no risk by dowsing a piano in gasoline and setting it ablaze. When the piano itself did not ignite, Gibbs relented.

The lack of wood and extensive use of fire retardant materials within the Big U created an interior some passengers described as "sterile", but most would eventually perceived is as ultra-modern, sleek and even futuristic. The radical departure from the traditional interiors of ocean liners further set the United States apart as a one of a kind, a trendsetter and uniquely American.

The use of aluminum in lieu of wood had another advantage beyond fire resistance. Much lighter than wood, the alloy gave the Big U a never before seen power to weight ratio that helped her achieve her record setting speeds.

The SS United States was built over two years starting in 1950 by American workers at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Newport News, Virginia (today Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News). She remains the largest passenger vessel ever built entirely in the U.S.

In addition to the thousands of workers employed at the shipyard, hundreds more artisans and craftsman from around the country contributed to the construction. Materials used to create the ship would come from every State in the nation. This alone instilled a great deal of national pride in the creation of the ship even before the name United States was revealed.

With the christening of the ship in June, 1951, she was at once America's flagship. But it was her record-breaking maiden voyage in 1952 that won the hearts and minds of Americans as well as bringing the ship global celebrity. Over the years, her onboard hospitality, perfect safety and engineering records, and reliability solidified her reputation. She is said to have been late only twice during her seventeen years of service and never suffered a mechanical failure.

Sometimes called America's "First Lady of the Sea", the SS United States quickly became a symbol of America and a floating ambassador to the world. The image of her enormous red, white and blue funnels, silver mast and raked hull was enough to fill Americans with a sense of national pride and liberty that was readily shared with all who came aboard or witnessed her steaming into port.