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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --
S.S. Leviathan (American Passenger Liner, 1914).
Originally the German S.S. Vaterland
S.S. Vaterland, a 54,282 gross ton passenger liner,
was built at Hamburg, Germany, as the second of a trio of very
large ships for the Hamburg-America Line's trans-Atlantic route.
When completed in the spring of 1914 she surpassed her slightly
older near-sister, S.S. Imperator,
as the World's largest ship. Vaterland held this honor
until 1922, when the last of the three big German liners, the
56,551 gross ton Bismarck, was delivered after a long delay
and almost immediately became the British liner Majestic.
The three ships' design emphasized luxury and comfort over speed,
though their 23-knot service speed was fast enough for the North
Atlantic trade. Vaterland had made only a few trips when,
in late July 1914, she arrived at New York just as World War I
broke out. With a safe return to Germany rendered virtually impossible
by British dominance of the seas, she was laid up at her Hoboken,
New Jersey, terminal, and remained immobile for nearly three
years.
In April 1917, when the United States entered the war, Vaterland
was seized and turned over to the U.S. Navy, which placed her
in service later in the year as USS Leviathan.
In October 1919, she was transferred to the U.S. Shipping Board
and again laid up at Hoboken until plans for her future employment
could be determined. These finally materialized and, in April
1922 the ship steamed to Newport News, Virginia, where she was
completely renovated to suit American tastes and post-World War
I standards. As S.S. Leviathan, she was the "queen"
of the United States' merchant fleet, and operated in the trans-Atlantic
trade into the early 1930s. She was not profitable, however, and,
with the execption of several months of additional service in
1934, Leviathan was inactive until early 1938, when she
made a final Atlantic crossing to Scotland, where she was broken
up. No U.S. flag commercial ship approached her size until 1952,
when the S.S. United States was completed.
This page features, and provides links to, all the views
we have concerning S.S. Leviathan and S.S. Vaterland.
For other images related to this ship, see:
S.S. Leviathan -- Refitting
for Commercial Service, 1922-1923;
S.S. Leviathan -- Drydocking
at Boston during the 1920s;
S.S. Leviathan -- On Board
and Miscellaneous Views; and
USS Leviathan
(ID # 1326), 1917-1919.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 103156
S.S. Vaterland (German Passenger Liner, 1914)
Arriving at New York City on 29 July 1914, three days before
Germany's declaration of war on Russia began World War I.
In 1917, following nearly three years of war-enforced inactivity,
this ship became USS Leviathan (ID # 1326).
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Collection of Captain Cyrus R. Miller, USN.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 495 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 54700
German Passenger Liners and Freighters
Interned at their piers at Hoboken, New Jersey, on 4 April 1917,
two days before the United States declared war on Germany. In
the foreground is the stern of a U.S. Navy destroyer, which is
keeping watch on the ships.
The piers are those of the Hamburg-America Line (left center)
and the North German Lloyd Line (right center). The large ship
at left is S.S. Vaterland (later USS Leviathan).
The four-funneled liner in right center is probably S.S. Kaiser
Wilhelm II (later USS Agamemnon).
Note the 3"/50 gun on the destroyer's after deck.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 565 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 43553
S.S. Leviathan
(American Passenger Liner, formerly German S.S. Vaterland
of 1914)
Steaming out of New York Harbor, circa the mid-1920s.
The Manhattan skyline is in the background.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 550 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 103130
S.S. Leviathan (American Passenger Liner. Originally
the German Vaterland of 1914)
Underway during the 1920s or 1930s, probably in French waters.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 535 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 103129
S.S. Leviathan (American Passenger Liner. Originally
the German Vaterland of 1914)
Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken during the 1920s
or 1930s.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 490 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 41867
S.S. Leviathan
(American Passenger Liner, formerly German S.S. Vaterland
of 1914)
Photographed from an aircraft, while underway at sea during the
1920s or 1930s.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 65023
S.S. Leviathan (American Passenger Liner, formerly
the German Vaterland of 1914)
Leaving New York Harbor, 21 July 1934.
Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 65024
S.S. Leviathan (American Passenger Liner, formerly
the German Vaterland of 1914)
Steaming out of New York Harbor on 21 July 1934.
Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 51399
S.S. Leviathan (American Passenger Liner, formerly
the German S.S. Vaterland, 1914)
Halftone reproduction from a contemporary newspaper, showing
the ship steaming down the Hudson River, off Hoboken, New Jersey,
in 1938, bound for Scotland to be scrapped. Its title, "They'll
Tear Her Tattered Ensign Down" is a reference to Oliver
Wendell Holmes' poem opposing the proposed scrapping of USS Constitution
in 1830.
This ship was USS Leviathan (ID # 1326) in 1917-1919.
Courtesy of CWO2 John A. Steel, USN.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Note: Photo
# NH 94 was originally identified as showing Leviathan.
However, it actually is a photograph of her slightly older near-sister
ship, Imperator,
as a close examination of both ships' superstructures will reveal.
For other images related to this ship, see:
S.S. Leviathan -- Refitting
for Commercial Service, 1922-1923;
S.S. Leviathan -- Drydocking
at Boston during the 1920s;
S.S. Leviathan -- On Board
and Miscellaneous Views; and
USS Leviathan
(ID # 1326), 1917-1919.
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Historical Center home page.
Page made 30 October 2005