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SS United States Spiral-Bound |

James K. Rindfleisch F. Samuel Bauer Stanton R. Daywalt

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An insiderΓÇÖs view of the most detailed technical history of one of the world's greatest ocean liners ΓÇô the SS United States!

The most detailed technical history of one of the world's greatest ocean liners.

SS United States set the record for fastest transatlantic journey by a surface vessel on her first voyage in 1952, a record that stood until 1986. It was the flagship of the United States Lines and represented the apex of steam engineering technology. Designed by William Francis Gibbs, the ship was fast, safe, and luxurious.

This work chronicles the design, construction, and operation of the liner. Coauthor Jim Rindfleisch spent significant time aboard the ship in the late 1980s and early 1990s, serving as the owner's agent and unofficial caretaker. He is one of the few people outside of the ship's crew who learned to navigate the entire ship without a map.

The book is richly illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs and diagrams, including those sourced from the ship's onboard archives. Also included are personnel lists, performance and engineering data, transcripts of ship's logs, and other documents that illustrate the massive undertaking and attention to detail that made this "America's Flagship."
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Original Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 216 pages
ISBN-10: 0764366556
Item Weight: 3.0 lbs
Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.65 x 11.0 inches
Customer Reviews: No Rating out of 5 stars Up to 30 ratings
The title of the book, SS United States: An Operational Guide to America's Flagship is a most appropriate title of this fascinating book. Unlike other books which address the life and times of the ship's career, the three authors document the design, building, and day-to-day operations of the Big U, as well as her current status and possible future. The book is "chock-a-block" with never before seen photos, diagrams, and artifacts of the ship. Of particular interest is Chapter 4: A Grant Hotel and Chapter 6: Special Features, Amenities, and Safety. Chapter 7: Running a Tight Ship, details the brig, kennels, and the care of corpses and servants. Chapter 8: The Engineering Department addresses ballast, fuel oil, stability and trim, and discusses whether the Big U shook. Throughout the 10 chapters and 5 appendixes, many little known facts about the ship are revealed. It should be noted that the three authors have been long members of the SS United States Conservancy, where efforts are being made to preserve the ship. The book is a good read for anyone interested in the SS United States. -Captain James McNamara, Board of Directors' Chairman of the SUNY Maritime Museum at Fort Schuyler
Jim Rindfleisch's first steps aboard SS United States were in 1984, when the ship was opened for tours. With repeated visits and an eventual ascension to ship's caretaker, he gained a detailed knowledge of the general workings of the ship.