SS America (1939)

	SS America in 1954
History
Name	SS America (1940–41); USS West Point (1941–46); SS America (1946–64); SS Australis (1964–78); SS America (1978); SS Italis (1978–80); SS Noga (1980–84/93); SS Alferdoss (1984–93); SS American Star (1993–94);
Owner	United States Maritime Commission (1940–63); United States Lines (1940–41; 1946–64); United States Navy (1941–46); Chandris Group (1964–78; 1978–80); Venture Cruise Lines (1978); Intercommerce Corporation (1980–84); Silver Moon Ferries (1984–92); Chaophraya Transport Co (1992–94);
Operator	United States Lines (1940–41; 1946–64); United States Navy (1941–46); Chandris Lines (1964–78; 1978–80); Venture Cruise Lines (1978); Intercommerce Corporation (1980–84); Silver Moon Ferries;
Port of registry	New York (1940–41; 1946–64); United States Navy (1941–46); Piraeus (1964–67); Panama City (1967–94);
Route	Cruising (1940–41; 1965-79); New York – Le Havre – Southampton (1946–64);
Ordered	1936
Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.
Cost	$1.2 million ($20 million in 2023)
Yard number	369
Laid down	22 August 1938
Launched	31 August 1939
Christened	31 August 1939 by Eleanor Roosevelt
Completed	16 April 1940
Acquired	1 June 1946
Commissioned	16 June 1941
Decommissioned	12 March 1946
Maiden voyage	22 August 1940
In service	1940–1979
Out of service	1979
Identification	Code Letters WEDI (1940–41); ; Code Letters NWGB (1941–46); ; Code Letters WEDI (1946–64); ; United States Official Number 239728 (1940–64); IMO number: 5014123 ( -1996);
Fate	Wrecked at Playa de Garcey on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in 1994
Notes	Declared a total loss
General characteristics
Tonnage	26,454 GRT (1940–65); 14,320 NRT (1940–65); 33,961 GT (1965–94);
Displacement	21,079 light,; 35,440 full load;
Length	723 ft (220 m)
Beam	93 ft (28 m)
Draft	33 ft (10 m)
Decks	11
Installed power	2 x steam turbines, double reduction geared
Propulsion	Twin screw propellers
Speed	22.5 kn (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)
Capacity	1,202 (passengers) as originally designed; 7,678 when reconfigured as West Point; 2,258 when rebuilt as Australis;
Crew	643 (originally); 750 (World War II);
Armament	(World War II only); 4 × 5 in AA guns; 4 × 3 in/50 naval guns; 8 × .50-cal. machine guns.;

SS America was an ocean liner and cruise ship built in the United States in 1940 for the United States Lines and designed by the noted American naval architect William Francis Gibbs. It carried many names in the 54 years between its construction and its 1994 wreck: SS America (carrying this name three different times during its career); troop transport USS West Point; and SS Australis, Italis, Noga, Alferdoss, and American Star. It served most notably in passenger service as America and the Greek-flagged Australis.

It was wrecked as American Star at Playa de Garcey on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands on 18 January 1994. The wreck deteriorated and completely collapsed into the sea. In 2024 it was no longer visible on the ocean surface and had become an artificial reef.

^ The Noga's port bow was renamed Alferdoss in 1984, but the starboard bow and the stern continued to show Noga until 1993 when the vessel was renamed American Star.
^ The Noga's port bow was renamed Alferdoss in 1984, but the starboard bow and the stern continued to show Noga until 1993 when the vessel was renamed American Star.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "USS West Point (AP-23)". Navsource. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "West Point II (AP-23)". DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY – NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER. history.navy.mil. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs 1940-1941" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
^ "International List of Selected and Supplementary Ships / Liste Internationale de Navires Sélectionnés et Supplémentaires" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Australis". New Zealand Maritime Index. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
^ "America". thegreatoceanliners.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
^ Cite error: The named reference TIME was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] The Noga's port bow was renamed Alferdoss in 1984, but the starboard bow and the stern continued to show Noga until 1993 when the vessel was renamed American Star.

[2] The Noga's port bow was renamed Alferdoss in 1984, but the starboard bow and the stern continued to show Noga until 1993 when the vessel was renamed American Star.

[Navsource-3] "USS West Point (AP-23)". Navsource. Retrieved 10 August 2018.

[navy-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "West Point II (AP-23)". DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY – NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER. history.navy.mil. Retrieved 10 August 2018.

[America40-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs 1940-1941" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 10 August 2018.

[NOAA-6] "International List of Selected and Supplementary Ships / Liste Internationale de Navires Sélectionnés et Supplémentaires" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 9 June 2010.

[NZMI-7] "Australis". New Zealand Maritime Index. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2010.

[8] "America". thegreatoceanliners.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2010.

[TIME-9] Cite error: The named reference TIME was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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History
SS America in 1954
Name	SS America (1940–41) USS West Point (1941–46) SS America (1946–64) SS Australis (1964–78) SS America (1978) SS Italis (1978–80) SS Noga (1980–84/93)^[1] SS Alferdoss (1984–93)^[2] SS American Star (1993–94)
Owner	United States Maritime Commission (1940–63) United States Lines (1940–41; 1946–64) United States Navy (1941–46) Chandris Group (1964–78; 1978–80) Venture Cruise Lines (1978) Intercommerce Corporation (1980–84) Silver Moon Ferries (1984–92) Chaophraya Transport Co (1992–94)^[3]
Operator	United States Lines (1940–41; 1946–64) United States Navy (1941–46) Chandris Lines (1964–78; 1978–80) Venture Cruise Lines (1978) Intercommerce Corporation (1980–84) Silver Moon Ferries
Port of registry	New York (1940–41; 1946–64) United States Navy (1941–46) Piraeus (1964–67) Panama City (1967–94)
Route	Cruising (1940–41; 1965-79) New York – Le Havre – Southampton (1946–64)
Ordered	1936
Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.^[4]
Cost	$1.2 million ($20 million in 2023)
Yard number	369
Laid down	22 August 1938^[4]
Launched	31 August 1939^[4]
Christened	31 August 1939 by Eleanor Roosevelt
Completed	16 April 1940
Acquired	1 June 1946^[3]
Commissioned	16 June 1941^[3]
Decommissioned	12 March 1946^[3]
Maiden voyage	22 August 1940^[4]
In service	1940–1979
Out of service	1979
Identification	Code Letters WEDI (1940–41)^[5] Code Letters NWGB (1941–46)^[3] Code Letters WEDI (1946–64)^[6] United States Official Number 239728 (1940–64) IMO number: 5014123 ( -1996)^[7]
Fate	Wrecked at Playa de Garcey on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in 1994
Notes	Declared a total loss
General characteristics
Tonnage	26,454 GRT (1940–65)^[5]^[7] 14,320 NRT (1940–65)^[5]^[7] 33,961 GT (1965–94)^[7]
Displacement	21,079 light, 35,440 full load^[4]
Length	723 ft (220 m)^[5]
Beam	93 ft (28 m)^[5]
Draft	33 ft (10 m)^[5]
Decks	11^[5]
Installed power	2 x steam turbines, double reduction geared^[5]
Propulsion	Twin screw propellers
Speed	22.5 kn (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)^[8]
Capacity	1,202 (passengers) as originally designed 7,678 when reconfigured as West Point^[4] 2,258 when rebuilt as Australis
Crew	643 (originally) 750 (World War II)^[9]
Armament	(World War II only)^[4] 4 × 5 in AA guns 4 × 3 in/50 naval guns 8 × .50-cal. machine guns.