ss United States

[Doc Vernon]

The Final Voyage of an Iconic Liner.

From Iconic Ocean Liner to Artificial Reef: SS United States to Set Sail on Final Journey

[j.sabourn]

A good Bosun for that one then John would be Barnacle Bill. JS

[Bryan Portwig]

i for one cannot wait for her to be sunk - i make no secret of the fact i have never liked her - sure she deserves a place in maritime history - but when you break it down - she had 3.5 days of fame for a speed record - she is certainly not an " icon " as so many folk have proclaimed her to be - for years the conservancy has been banging on at trying to " preserve her " - and all she has to show for herself is a " legacy " of rust and neglect - be gone with her please

[Doc Vernon]

i for one cannot wait for her to be sunk - i make no secret of the fact i have never liked her - sure she deserves a place in maritime history - but when you break it down - she had 3.5 days of fame for a speed record - she is certainly not an " icon " as so many folk have proclaimed her to be - for years the conservancy has been banging on at trying to " preserve her " - and all she has to show for herself is a " legacy " of rust and neglect - be gone with her please

Awe!! Shame the poor Ship@!

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Bryan
I Tend to agree with you, the US didn't compare to British Built, they may have done a one off , the consistency of the British Liner won every time.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

She was what she was.
To enthusiastic yanks she was the best, we may not think so but that is their opinion.

[j.sabourn]

The American cargo ships I was on were very sparse in their living accomodation and if their passenger liners were similar I can imagine the difference.
If you were lucky enough to be in a single berth then it was called a stateroom , but don’t be fooled by the title it consisted of a bunk and a tin locker.
There was no wood or even imitation wood . The excuse for this was in case of fire. The communal toilets , there would be a row of six maybe the stalls all had
Doors which were at least a foot above the deck so there was no privacy , all in all their whole appearance inside the accomodation left a lot to be desired .
JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
Sounds like it wouldn't have come up to the standard of the crew accommodation on the tanker Baron Kilmarnock that I was on for twelve months, single cabins all vaneered wood wardrobes and drawers, lovely varnished wood sette with a banquet on top, cot beds and good lighting and air con.
Des

[j.sabourn]

Des much as people in general think that Americans were all dollar millionaires, such is not the case , at least in my knowledge of their seafarers at least. Australian conditions were way above the USA. I was master on the Dickerson Tide an American offshore vessel and took over command in New Guinea to bring on the coast here.By American Law there had to be an American presence on board so I signed the master on as 2 mate and the Cheng as 3 engineer. So my knowledge of salary’s was first hand. The masters statement to me was that an Australian AB was earning more than himself as master working in the Gulf of Mexico. Cheers JS

[happy daze john in oz]

On the NZ Paproa I had a cabin which said on the door 'Butcher'.
Other cabin said Baker, head chef, cheif steward.
All this on a 10,000 cargo ship that could carry 8 bloods.

But at some time she may have had a need for them, but with only a crew of about 50 and only 6 bloods there was no need.

Had a sink in the cabin but of little use going across the Indian ocean, we were on 2 pints of fresh water per man per day.
Salty water showers!!!!!!!!!!!!