OT: Sinking of SS United States 1952-2026

[Bueller]

Lots of news articles/clips about SS United States (longer than Titanic) but this one seems the best (cinematic with good music). It was thought the sinking might take an hour but it took over 8 hrs and went into the night. The bow with name lit by lights was last to slip under. Retired in 1969. It sank in 150 ft of water but top of ship will be just 60 ft under surface.

"United States made her maiden voyage from July 3 to 7, 1952, and broke the eastbound-transatlantic speed record that had been held by RMS Queen Mary for the previous 14 years by more than ten hours, making the crossing from the Ambrose lightship at New York Harbor to Bishop Rock off Cornwall, United Kingdom, in three days, ten hours, and 40 minutes at an average speed of 35.59 kn (65.91 km/h; 40.96 mph"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_United_States

 

[newell138]

Imagine the stories that ship could tell.

 

[DJ Spanky]

The SS United States still holds the fastest speed record crossing the Atlantic of any cruise ship.

 

[RUforester72]

I recall seeing the SS United States docked in Manhattan many times growing up in Union City (viewing the busy NY harbor/rail yards/skyline from the NJ side was always interesting). Also alongside sometimes was the Queen Mary. Hope she provides good habitat and that this was not just a cheap way to dispose of a big hunk of metal!

 

[Bueller]

The SS United States still holds the fastest speed record crossing the Atlantic of any cruise ship.

On the last part of its record setting trip in went through a storm with 60 mph winds

 

[Bueller]

I recall seeing the SS United States docked in Manhattan many times growing up in Union City (viewing the busy NY harbor/rail yards/skyline from the NJ side was always interesting). Also alongside sometimes was the Queen Mary. Hope she provides good habitat and that this was not just a cheap way to dispose of a big hunk of metal!

It was sunk in an area with other sunken wrecks including an aircraft carrier (USS Oriskany) a few miles away. FL wants to make area a global diving/fishing site. Apparently fishermen like the area a lot and get tuna, sailfish and others.

 

[RUBob75]

I remember seeing my grandparents off when they went on a number of Trans-Atlantic trips in the late 1950s.

 

[DJ Spanky]

I remember seeing my grandparents off when they went on a number of Trans-Atlantic trips in the late 1950s.

That was the golden age of trans-Atlantic crossings. By the early 60's airplane traffic pretty much killed that.

 

[DJ Spanky]

On the last part of its record setting trip in went through a storm with 60 mph winds

Supposedly the US military told them that they couldn't go at the ship's top speed because they didn't want the rest of the world to be aware of just how fast it was.

 

[Bueller]

First dive video - ship is upright.