SS America (1940)

The SS "America" was an ocean liner built in 1940 for the United States Lines. 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.

Construction (1936–1939)

"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 stodginess and overwrought decor from liners of the past was jettisoned to create a comfortable and friendly ship. Interior design and furniture were installed to provide an atmosphere of cheerfulness and sophisticated charm. [http://books.google.com/books?id=0nxzw0wdIREC&printsec=frontcover#PPA315,M1] ] "America" was launched on 31 August 1939 and was sponsored by Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the President of the United States. "America" entered service as the flagship of the United States Lines on 22 August 1940, when she commenced her maiden voyage.

Early career (1939–1941)

As originally designed, the 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.

Due to the European progress of World War II, in which the United States was still neutral, the ship's name, "United States Lines", and two American flags were painted in large size on both sides of her hull. At night, she sailed while fully illuminated. In addition, she did not immediately take to her intended North Atlantic service, instead sailing in safer waters. She was, however, quietly fitted with a degaussing cable for protection against naval mines on 3 January 1941.

On 28 May 1941, the "America" was called up to service by the United States Navy, while the ship was at Saint Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. She was ordered to return to Newport News to be handed over to the Navy. [http://www.ss-australis.com/america1.htm America pre war] , [http://www.ss-australis.com/ ss-australis.com] ]

Duquesne Spy Ring

Two Nazi spies, Franz Joseph Stigler and Erwin Wilheim Siegler, were members of her crew in 1941. While on the SS "America", they obtained information about the movement of ships and military defense preparations at the Panama Canal, observed and reported defense preparations in the Canal Zone, and met with other German agents to advise them in their espionage pursuits. They operated as couriers transmitting information between the United States and German agents aboard. Stigler worked undercover as chief butcher. Both remained on the SS "America" until the U.S. Navy converted that ship into the USS "West Point".

Stigler and Siegler, along with the 31 other German agents of the Duquesne Spy Ring, were later uncovered by the FBI in the largest espionage conviction in U.S. history. Upon conviction, Stigler was sentenced to serve 16 years in prison on espionage charges with 2 concurrent years for registration violations; Siegler was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on espionage charges and a concurrent 2-year term for violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

World War II (1941–1946)

SS "America" moored at Norfolk, Virginia, and acquired by the Navy on 1 June 1941 to be used as a troop transport. The ship was renamed the USS "West Point" (AP-23). She entered the Norfolk Ship Yards on 6 June 1941 for conversion and on 15 June 1941, she was commissioned for service under the command of Captain Frank H. Kelley, Jr.cite news | date = 1941-07-28 | title = Outward Bound | work = Time | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,795396,00.html | accessdate = 2008-01-10 ] By the time the conversion was completed, life-rafts covered the promenade deck windows, "standee" bunks could be found everywhere, several anti-aircraft weapons were installed, all of her windows were covered, she was painted in a camouflage gray color, and her troop-carrying capacity was increased to 7,678.

The USS "West Point" soon proceeded to New York City and, while anchored off the Staten Island quarantine station on 16 July, took on board 137 Italian citizens and 327 German citizens from the consulates of those nations in the United States which had been closed. "West Point" got underway at 1455 on that afternoon, bound for Portugal, and arrived at Lisbon on 23 July. While there, the ship was visited by Portuguese naval and diplomatic dignitaries; and she transferred supplies to the Coast Guard cutter USCGC|Ingham|WHEC-35|2, the "station ship" at Lisbon, Portugal. After her final Italian passenger had been debarked on 23 July and the last German on 24 July, "West Point" commenced taking on 321 American citizens and 67 Chinese—consular staffs and their families — on 26 July.

Returning to New York on 1 August, "West Point" discharged her passengers and headed south for an overhaul at Portsmouth, Virginia. She then participated in tactical exercises off the Virginia Capes from 26 August to 29 August in company with USS|Wakefield|AP-21|2 and USS|Mount Vernon|AP-22|2.

On 3 November, she sailed from Carolina waters and arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 5 November. There, on 8 November and 9 November, she embarked 241 officers and 5,202 men of the 55th Brigade, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Battalions, and 100 men of an American Army Field Service company. On 10 November, "West Point" — in company with five other transports: "Wakefield", "Mount Vernon", USS|Orizaba|ID-1536|2, USS|Leonard Wood|APA-12|2, and USS|Joseph T. Dickman|AP-26|2 — got underway for India as Convoy HS-124. En route, they were joined by USS|Ranger|CV-4|2, USS|Vincennes|CA-44|2, USS|Quincy|CA-39|2, and a division of destroyers.

Reaching Cape Town, South Africa, on 9 December, "West Point" and "Wakefield" were detached on 23 December to form Task Group (TG) 14.1, while "Leonard Wood" and "Joseph T. Dickman" formed TG 14.2. Escorted by the British heavy cruiser HMS|Dorsetshire|40|6, the convoy proceeded uneventfully toward India until 0700 on the 27th, when TG 14.1 was detached to speed up and arrive at Bombay ahead of the other ships.

"Wakefield" commenced discharging her embarked troops at 1900 at the Ballard Piers, completed her unloading, and shifted berths the next morning. "West Point" took "Wakefield"'s former berth while "Joseph T. Dickman" moored to unload her equipment and troops. Having completed her discharge by 31 December 1941, "West Point" anchored in the stream on the morning of 2 January 1942 and awaited further orders until 4 January, when British authorities asked Capt. Kelley, of "West Point", if his ship and "Wakefield" could be brought under convert|30|ft|m|sing=on draught to make passage for Singapore. Kelley responded that it could be done, but this would entail discharging ballast and expanding some of the ship's fresh water supply—thus endangering the ship's stability.

Due to prevailing low-water conditions at Bombay at this point, neither "West Point" nor "Wakefield" could go alongside piers in the harbor to either load equipment or troops. Thus, the embarkation and loading procedures had to be carried out by the tedious process of embarking troops and loading supplies from smaller ships and lighters brought alongside. "Wakefield" embarked — almost to a man — the troops which she had brought from Halifax, a total of 4,506, while "West Point" embarked two-thirds of the troops which she had transported, in addition to some which had come out in other ships. All told, she carried some 5,272 men.

"West Point" sailed for Singapore at 1300 on 9 January, in a "15-knot" convoy, with Capt. Kelley as the convoy's commodore. In addition to the two American ships, three British transports — "Duchess of Bedford", "Empress of Japan", and "Empire Star" — made up the remainder of the van. Escorted by British light cruiser HMS|Caledon|D53|6 until this ship was relieved by light cruiser HMS|Glasgow|C21|6 at 1630 on 22 January, the convoy's escort soon swelled to three cruisers and four destroyers as the convoy neared Java. Japanese submarine activities near the Indonesian archipelago prompted concern for the safe arrival of the valuable ships, hence a convert|200|mi|km|sing=on detour through the shallow, coral-studded Sunda Strait.

Led by British cruiser HMS|Exeter|68|6, the ships slowed to convert|10|kn|km/h, and streaming paravane gear, began the passage. An escorting destroyer steamed between each transport, as they steamed in single-column order. It was a dangerous passing, a small divergence from the charted course could mean a disastrous grounding.

During the passage, Dutch Consolidated PBY Catalinas patrolled overhead. No enemy aircraft were spotted until 1152, when a lone Japanese plane passed over at six to eight thousand feet. It dropped a stick of bombs which straddled the ships at the rear of the column. Although the ships opened fire, the range had soon opened enough to make this return fire ineffective.

The screen's commander, Captain Oliver L. Gordon, R.N., commanding "Exeter", desired to arrive at Singapore with as many ships as possible by dawn on 29 January, and thus split the convoy up, sending the faster vessels—"West Point", "Wakefield", and "Empress of Japan"—ahead at increased speed under escort of cruisers HMS "Exeter", HMS "Durban", HMS|Dragon|D46|6, and destroyers HMS|Express|H61|6 and HMS|Electra|H27|6. Proceeding to Singapore via Berhala Strait, Durian Strait, and Philips Channel, the group steamed through these bodies of water in bright moonlight which made navigational aids unnecessary. Upon their arrival off Singapore, the ships lay to in an exposed position, beyond the range of shore-based antiaircraft guns, until pilots could be obtained to bring the ships in. Since the naval base came under daily heavy air raids, the transports proceeded to Keppel Harbor, the commercial basin at Singapore, where they could discharge their troops and cargo.

Securing abreast godowns (warehouses) 52, 53, and 54, "West Point" commenced off-loading equipment and disembarking her troops. All but 670 engineer troops, who had been ordered retained on board, were ashore before nightfall. Air raids, meanwhile, continued until midnight as the Japanese steadily pounded Singapore from the air. At each alert, the local workers working dockside would vanish, taking to the shelters and leaving the vital cargo still unloaded. As a result, the unloading was carried out by the crew of "West Point", her embarked troops, and 22 local workers who were brought aboard to assist.

At about 0940 on 30 January, seven Japanese bombers appeared over the city and were engaged by British Brewster Buffalo fighters. As the alert continued, 30 more Japanese planes appeared overhead, on course over Keppel Harbor. Several bombs fell on shore, eastward of "West Point's" moorings, while another stick fell in the water to the southward. In the interim, bombs hit other targets. A small tanker moored near "Wakefield" was sunk at dockside; bombs fell abreast "Empress of Japan"; and "Wakefield" took a direct hit forward which destroyed her sick bay, killed five men, and wounded nine. The last bombs in this stick straddled "West Point" and showered her with shrapnel. As the raid lifted, "West Point" sent two medical officers and 11 corpsmen on board "Wakefield", at the latter's request, to render medical assistance.

Later that morning, Capt. Kelley attended a conference with British authorities, who informed him that his ship was to be used to carry a contingent of Australian troops from Suez to Singapore and to transport refugees and evacuees to Ceylon. With the emergency "acute", Kelley agreed to take on board up to one thousand women and children and such additional men as the British desired to send. With the abandonment of the naval dockyard, untenable in the face of increasingly heavier Japanese bombardments from artillery and aircraft, several dockyard naval and civilian personnel and their families were assigned to "West Point" for evacuation. Most carried only hand baggage; had little, if any, money; but were all fortunate enough to escape the doomed city before its fall to the onrushing Japanese troops of General Yamashita. All told, some 1,276 naval officers, their families, dockyard civilians, civilian evacuees, a 16-man Royal Air Force (RAF) contingent, and 225 naval ratings made up the 1,276 people embarked by 1800 on 30 January.

Clearing Singapore, "West Point" and "Wakefield" headed due west, escorted by HMS "Durban". Overcast and squally weather covered their departure and permitted them to transit the Banka Strait unmolested by the seemingly omnipresent Japanese aircraft. Routed to Batavia, Java, to embark more refugees, "West Point" led "Wakefield" and "Durban" through the minefields and anchored in Batavia Roads at 0305 on 31 January. HMS "Electra"—which would be lost in the Battle of the Java Sea at the end of the month—came alongside eight hours later and transferred 20 naval dockyard personnel, three women, five naval officers' wives, one Free French officer, and an RAF officer to "West Point" for passage to Ceylon.

At 1240 on 1 February, "West Point"—in company with "Wakefield" and under escort of "Exeter", HMS "Encounter", and HMAS|Vampire|D68|6—got underway. The destroyers eventually went off to perform other duties, and "Exeter" as well soon dropped away to escort another convoy, leaving the two big troopships on their own. While they were en route, disconcerting news came over the radio. Japanese I-boats (identified after the war as I-162 and I-153) had been active in the vicinity, sinking six ships between them.

On the other hand, heavy seas and rain squalls aided the ships. "West Point" acquired an extra passenger while en route; for, at 1325 on 4 February, a baby boy was born on board.

Colombo Harbor, Ceylon, where they arrived on 6 January, was so crowded that British authorities could not permit "Wakefield" to repair her damage there. The passengers, in turn, experienced much difficulty in arranging for suitable transportation ashore. In addition, neither transport could fully provision.

British authorities requested the American ships to evacuate personnel to Bombay. Accordingly, "West Point" took on board eight men, 55 women, and 53 children, as well as 670 troops, for passage to India. "Wakefield", despite her weakened condition caused by the direct hit on 29 January, embarked two naval ratings, six RAF personnel, and 25 men and one officer of a British Bofors gun detachment. The two ships departed Colombo on 8 February and, escorted by the Greek destroyer "Queen Olga", proceeded at convert|20|kn|km/h. Capt. Kelley later highly praised the operations of this sole escort. Although heavy weather was encountered en route, the elderly Greek destroyer acquitted herself well, continuing to patrol her station "at all times at high speed ahead of our zig-zag."

After discharging her evacuees at Bombay, "West Point" parted company with "Wakefield" and proceeded to Suez where she picked up Australian troops who were being withdrawn from the North African Campaign to fight the Japanese in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, one disaster after another had plagued the Allied forces. Singapore fell on 15 February; Java on 4 March. "West Point" carried her embarked troops to Australia and disembarked them at Adelaide and Melbourne before heading across the Pacific toward San Francisco.

As the Allies built up for the long road back, "West Point" participated in the effort to aid America's allies in the southwest Pacific with massive contingents of troops. Accordingly, the transport carried men to Wellington, New Zealand, and arrived on 30 May. There, she received orders to return to New York; and she got underway from Melbourne on 8 June, bound for the Panama Canal. She entered the Atlantic on 26 June and arrived at New York on 2 July.

After two voyages to the United Kingdom, "West Point" sailed for India, via the South Atlantic route, and arrived at Bombay on 29 November, before pushing on for Auckland, New Zealand, the following month. The transport returned via Nouméa, New Caledonia, to San Francisco on 31 January 1943. She remained on the West Coast until 16 February, when she got underway for the South Pacific and retraced her route to Wellington, New Zealand, and Australian ports. She then continued west—calling at Bombay, Massawa, Aden, and Suez—and stopped briefly at Cape Town en route to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Eventually arriving at New York on 4 May, the ship subsequently made two voyages to Casablanca, French Morocco before sailing for Bombay via the southern Atlantic route. Calling at Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town en route, the big transport continued, via Bombay and Melbourne, on for the West Coast of the United States.

Soon thereafter, "West Point" began transporting troops to Australia and continued making voyages there and to Allied bases in the Central and South Pacific through the end of 1943.

In 1944, the transport continued her vital workhorse duties, departing San Francisco on 12 January, bound for Nouméa and Guadalcanal; and from San Pedro, California on 22 February, bound for Nouméa and Milne Bay. She sailed from the latter port and steamed via the Panama Canal to Boston, Massachusetts, where she arrived on 12 June. She conducted five successive voyages to the United Kingdom before departing Boston on 6 December 1944 for Oran, Algeria; Casablanca, French Morocco; and Marseille, France. The transport left the Mediterranean on December 26 and proceeded to Norfolk, Virginia.

In 1945, "West Point" voyaged to Italian and French ports, via Oran or Gibraltar, staging from Hampton Roads, Virginia, Boston, or New York. After Germany surrendered, she took part in some of the initial "Magic Carpet" voyages, bringing home American troops from the European battlefronts. Following her last European voyage—to Le Havre, France—"West Point" was transferred to the Pacific Fleet. She departed Boston on 10 December 1945, transited the Panama Canal, and proceeded to Manila, Philippines via Pearl Harbor. Retracing the same route, she docked at pier 88 in New York on 7 February 1946 and soon got underway for Hampton Roads, where she was released from troop-carrying service on 22 February. Her last voyage under the name "West Point" was a short trip from Portsmouth to Newport News for re-conversion to a passenger liner. There, six days later, she was officially decommissioned, and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 12 March and transferred to the Maritime Commission's War Shipping Administration.

During her naval service she carried a total of over 350,000 troops of which was the largest capacity of any Navy troopship in service during World War II. On one voyage in 1944 she was able to transport 9,305 people. Additionally the troop transport carried, Red Cross workers, United Nations officials, children, civilians, prisoners of war, and U.S.O. entertainers.

Postwar career (1946–1964)

The "America"'s postwar career was successful, if uneventful. Finally, she was able to sail her New York-Le Havre-Bremerhaven-Cobh route that had been delayed by World War II. To many ship lovers, she was the most beautifully decorated liner to fly the American flag, less rigid and not as menacing-looking as her soon-to-debut fleetmate, the SS|United States. Many American tourists preferred to travel on an American-built and owned ship, as some considered them safer and cleaner.

With the introduction of the larger and faster "United States" in 1952, "America"'s reign as queen of the US merchant marine was taken away from her. Their disparity in size and speed prevented them from becoming true running mates like the RMS|Queen Mary and RMS|Queen Elizabeth of the Cunard Line. But she still was a favorite of many.

Chandris career (1964–1978)

The "America" was sold to the Greek-owned Chandris Group in 1964. At twenty-four, she was getting older and facing competition from newer, faster ships as well as the airplane. The postwar emigrant run from Europe to Australia had become a lucrative market for passenger ships in spite of the growing popularity of air travel.

The "America", now renamed "Australis" (Greek for Australian MaidenFact|date=January 2008) was refitted extensively. This increased her passenger capacity from less than 1,200 to 2,258. Some 350 additional cabins were installed and many existing cabins were given extra berths. Her maiden voyage was from Piraeus on August 21 1965 to Australia and New Zealand via Suez, returning to Southampton via the Pacific and Panama and Miami. Thereafter she sailed regularly from Southampton, occasionally Rotterdam, on this round-the-world route. On the closure of the Suez Canal in 1967, Piraeus was dropped as a port-of-call and she sailed southbound via Cape Town.

On July 11, 1974, "Australis" was involved in a minor collision with the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS "Melbourne" while in Sydney Harbour.cite book |last=Hall |first=Timothy |title=HMAS Melbourne |year=1982 |publisher=George Allen & Unwin |location=North Sydney, NSW |pages=p. 217 |isbn=0-86861-284-7 |oclc=9753221] Both ships were slightly damaged, but there were no casualties.

She was the last liner providing a regular service to Australia and New Zealand from Southampton until her final voyage which left on November 18 1977. After arriving at Auckland, she was laid up at Timaru on December 23 1977.

The "Australis" was also popular as a cruise ship in Europe and out of Australia and New Zealand, although her primary purpose was the transfer of immigrants. She continued this trade for fourteen years. But rising fuel costs, aging infrastructure, and the creation of long-range jetliners caused Chandris to pull the "Australis" off the Australian run in 1978.

Venture Cruises career (June 1978 – August 1978)

Following a period of layup in Timaru, New Zealand, [http://www.homepages.paradise.net.nz/dgriff/australis.html S.S. AUSTRALIS 1967 - 1978] , [http://www.homepages.paradise.net.nz/dgriff/ Cabin 111] ] the "Australis" was sold to Venture Cruises of New York. Under Venture Cruises ownership, the ship was renamed "America" once again in an attempt to capitalize on the ship's heritage, [http://www.ssaustralishomepage.co.uk/history1.html The history of the America-West Point-Australis-American Star] , [http://www.ssaustralishomepage.co.uk/ SS Australis Homepage] ] despite her Greek flag. The ship was repainted in a blue and white color scheme.

"America" set sail on her first cruise on 30 June 1978. [http://www.ss-australis.com/america3.htm SS America Venture Cruises New York 1978] , [http://www.ss-australis.com/ ss-australis.com] Her refit, however, had not been completed by the time of the sailing. The ship was filthy, with piles of soiled linens and worn mattresses, scattered piles of trash, and a scent of kitchen odors, engine oil, and plumbing backups. In addition, water in overhead pipes leaked. Along with maintenance issues, attempts to spruce the ship up led to other problems, with too many layers of paint visible on the outer bulkheads, as well as the lifeboat davits and lifeboat gear. Additionally, the public rooms were carelessly repainted, with the "America"'s stainless steel trims now scarred with brush strokes.

Due to overbooking and her state of incompletion, a number of passengers "mutinied", forcing the captain to return to New York, having only barely passed the Statue of Liberty. 960 passengers were offloaded upon the ship's arrival. On a second sailing that day, an additional 200 passengers left via tender at Staten Island.

The "America" left for a five-day cruise to Nova Scotia on 3 July 1978. Upon arrival, she was met with $2.5 million in claims from passengers. Further issues saw the cancellation of all further sailings, and the "America" was arrested on 18 July 1978 for non-payment of debts. The "America" also received an inspection score of 6 out of a possible 100 points by the US Public Health Service.

On 28 August 1978, the "America" was ordered to be sold at auction by the United States district court.

econd Chandris career (1978–1980)

Chandris Lines repurchased "America" for $1,000,000 and renamed her "Italis". Her forward funnel was removed as part of an ambitious plan to modernize her silhouette by principally adding streamlined superstructure above the bridge, but this 'new look' was never finally approved. She retained the dark blue hull adopted by Venture Cruises.

"Italis" first operated under Chandris as a hotel ship from 23 June to 20 July 1979 when she was chartered for the OAU Conference held in Monrovia, Liberia. She then carried out three 14-night cruises from Genoa and Barcelona to Egypt, Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean beginning on 28 July 1979. At the end of this series of cruises she was finally laid up in Elefsina Bay, Piraeus on 12 September 1979.

Uncertain future at Piraeus (1980–1994)

The ship was then sold to Intercommerce Corporation in 1980, and was renamed the "Noga". Intercommerce's intention was to convert the ship to a prison ship, to be anchored in Beirut. This would never happen.

In September 1984, the ship was sold to Silver Moon Ferries, and she was once again renamed, now carrying the name "Alferdoss", which means "paradise" in Arabic. However, only the name on the port bow was changed. The name on the stern and starboard bow was not changed, and continued to show "Noga".

While under the ownership of Silver Moon Ferries, a bilge pipe burst, which caused flooding in the engine room and some crew quarters. Due to the quickly-occurring list, her starboard anchor was raised and her port anchor was cut away, and she was quickly beached to prevent her from sinking. After being pumped out and repaired, she was returned to her original location.

In the late 1980s, the ship was sold for $2 million for scrapping. The scrap merchant made an initial deposit of $1 million, and began work. Following the demolition of the lifeboats and lifeboat davits, the scrappers defaulted on payments, and pulled out.

The "Alferdoss" would continue in this state until 1993. [http://www.ss-australis.com/alferdoss.htm Alferdoss] , [http://www.ss-australis.com/ ss-australis.com] ]

Wrecked at Fuerteventura (1994–2008)

In February 1993, the ship was sold yet again, with the intention of being refitted to become a five-star hotel ship off Phuket, in Thailand. Drydocking at that time revealed that despite the years of neglect, her hull was still in remarkably good condition. In August she was renamed "American Star", Her propellers were removed and placed on the deck, the funnel and bridge were painted red, and ladders were welded to starboard. She left Greece on December 22, 1993 under tow, but the tow proved impossible due to the weather. She then returned to Greece for a few days until the weather calmed down. On New Year's Eve 1993, the "American Star" left Greece for the last time by Ukrainian tug "Neftegaz" 67.

The one hundred day tow began; The American Star and Neftegaz 67 entered a thunder storm in the Atlantic. The tow lines broke and six or more men were sent aboard the American Star to reattach the emergency tow lines. This proved unsuccessful. Two other towboats were called to assist Neftegaz 67. On January 17, the crew aboard the "American Star" was rescued by helicopter. The "American Star" was left drifting. On January 18 The "American Star" ran aground off the west coast of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.

While discussions between the ship's owners, the towing firm, and the companies insuring the ship were going on, the ship was left to nature, with the forward part of the ship running aground on a sandbar. Within the first 48 hours of pounding surf of the Atlantic, the "American Star" broke in two just past the second funnel. The ship was declared a total loss on July 6, 1994. The stern section soon collapsed completely to port and sank, while the bow continued to remain intact. [http://www.ss-australis.com/americanstar.htm American Star] , [http://www.ss-australis.com/ ss-australis.com] ] [http://www.lostliners.com/Liners/US_Lines/America/ashore.html SS America] , [http://www.lostliners.com/ LostLiners.com] ]

In November 2005, the port side of the bow section collapsed, which caused the liner's remains to assume a much sharper list and the remaining funnel to detach and fall into the ocean. [http://www.ss-australis.com/latestwreck.htm Latest wreck photo] , [http://www.ss-australis.com/ ss-australis.com] ] The collapse of the port side also caused the hull to begin to break up and by October 2006, the wreck had almost completely collapsed onto its port side. [http://www.ss-australis.com/ ss-australis.com] ]

In April 2007 the starboard side finally collapsed causing the wreck to break in half and fall into the sea. Throughout 2007 what little remained had been slowly disappearing beneath the waves. As of June 2008, only a small tip of the bow remains above the water.Fact|date=June 2008

ee also

*, "America"'s post-war running mate
* Shipwreck

References

Notes

External links

* [http://www.ss-australis.com/ Darren Byrne's SS "Australis" site]
* [http://www.ssaustralishomepage.co.uk/ The S. S. Australis Homepage]
* [http://www.greatoceanliners.net/america.html The Great Ocean Liners on SS "America"]
* [http://www.lostliners.com/Liners/US_Lines/America/index.html LostLiners.com on the SS "America"]
* [http://www.sunnyfuerteventura.com/american-star/index.html Original article on how to get to the wreck of the "American Star". Also in German and Spanish]
* [http://www.fuerteventura.uk.com/americanstar.html How to get to the wreck of the "American Star"]
* [http://www.american-star.de American-Star.de > German and English page, extensive coverage and pictures of the wreck]

Photos

* [http://www.mariner.org/chesapeakebay/photos/lg_shipsandthesea-ssamerica.jpgPostwar service]
* [http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/ChandrisJPEGS/Australis/ChanAustralis06Simplon.jpg"America" during its short period with Venture Cruises]
* [http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/ChandrisJPEGS/Australis/ChanItalis03.jpgManipulated postcard photo of "Australis" to illustrate the ship as the "Italis"]
* [http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/ChandrisJPEGS/Australis/ChanItalis02.jpgDocked at Piraeus]
* [http://www.flare.net/users/e9ee52a/American38.1.jpgThe "American Star"' shortly after breaking in two]
* [http://www.kilroywashere.org/07-Images/WestPointAug984.jpgThe stern has collapsed and sunk, leaving the bow section alone]
* [http://www.flare.net/users/e9ee52a/Fuerteventura_Jan2006_031.jpgFollowing the collapse of the port side and funnel]
* [http://www.phooto.co.uk/galleries/20060628_americanstar/index.htm Collection of photos taken late June 2006]
* [http://www.flickr.com/search/?z=t&w=all&q=%22american+star%22&m=tags American Star photos posted on Flickr]
* [http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs109&d=06483&f=fv_MG_7852.jpgLate November 2006]
* [http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/australis/americanstar.html April 2007]