AMERICA (1940, United States Lines) a2

postcard, 5.5" x 3.5", 140mm x 90mm

Product information

official postcard,

posted 1950 New York, stamps removed, minor knocks, some postmark on front, grubby,

5.5" x 3.5", 140mm x 90mm (approx)

our ref: SRM167

AMERICA (United States Lines)

Built in 1940 for United States Lines as America. In 1941 taken over by the US Navy as a troopship USS West Point. She returned to commercial service after the war as America on the transatlantic route she had been intended for. In 1964 she was purchased by Chandris and renamed Australis for use on the Australian migrant service. In 1978 she was sold to Venture Cruises of New York and renamed America. The venture failed miserably, not even completing one cruise and the ship was sold at auction, purchased by Chandris! She was now renamed Italis and had her forward funnel removed, with brief use as both a hotel ship and a cruise ship, before lay up at the end of 1979. More owners, more names, Noga and Alferdoss before sale in 1993 to be a 5 star hotel in Phuket. In January 1994 whilst under tow, and renamed American Star, she was wrecked on the island of Fuerteventura.