Four Aces (passenger liners)

This article is about ocean liners. For other uses, see Four Aces.

The 4 Aces[a] were the quartet of passenger-cargo liners Excalibur, Exochorda, Exeter, and Excambion, originally built for American Export Lines[b] by New York Shipbuilding of Camden, New Jersey between 1929 and 1931. AEL placed the "4 Aces" in service between the US and the Mediterranean, offering cruises of up to 40 days.

During World War II, all four vessels were taken over by the U.S. Navy, renamed, and designated as AP- and APA-class troop transports. Excambion became USS John Penn (APA-23), Excalibur became USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50), Exeter became USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52), and Exochorda became USS Harry Lee.

Excambion, Excalibur, and Exeter were lost to enemy action;[1] after the war Exochorda was sold to Turkish Maritime Lines and renamed Tarsus.[2][3]

During World War II the company's subsidiary American Export Airlines borrowed three of the names (excepting Exochorda) for its Sikorsky VS-44 flying boats, which it used in transatlantic service. Excambion is preserved on display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

  1. ^ "Exochorda ready for maiden voyage" (PDF, fee required). The New York Times. 1948-10-27. p. 55. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  2. ^ Vincent L. Saldutti. "History of the Lee". Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  3. ^ Reuben Goossens. "The First Series of the Much Loved "Four Aces"". ssmaritime.com. Retrieved 2024-03-01.