To America – under the American Flag – UNITED STATES LINES – SS Leviathan

About this poster

The ship, built in Hamburg in 1914 and originally named "Vaterland", was confiscated by the United States when the war broke out and the US Navy renamed it the U.S.S. Leviathan. The "Leviathan" was in fact the largest liner in the world with almost 60,000 gross register tonnes, having been converted for the U.S. Lines after the First World War, having served as a troopship for the U.S. Shipping Board. However, her capacity was only between 3,400 and 3,600 passengers and 1,100 crew members. By the time of her maiden voyage in 1924, the US Congress had passed laws restricting immigration. Therefore, there was no longer a need for a "steerage cabin", and the former immigrant quarters were replaced by still austere but slightly more upscale "tourist cabins". During its time as a troopship under the U.S. Shipping Board, the "Leviathan" had transported up to 10,000 returning soldiers back to America. The liner which was later used as a passenger ship, became a classic luxury and emigration ship and was considered the "largest passenger ship in the world" with a capacity of 15,000 passengers.