VATERLAND

Second in the Imperator class of three ships
Followed the Imperator - 52117 GRT , completed 1913 as the largest ship in the world
Built for the Hamburg-Amerika line

Vaterland's Specifications

Built by Bloss & Voss , Hamburg
Displacement 54282 GRT
Dimensions 289.2m x 30.5m (948 x 100 ft)
Turbines Parsons B & V ; Quadruple Screw ; 90400 SHP ; 23.5 , maximum 25.8 knots
Passesngers 752 First Class , 535 Second Class , 850 Third Class , 1772 steerage
Crew 1234

Launched April 3 1913
Completed April 29 1914 - Largest ship in the world until 1922
May 1914 Maiden voyage Cuxhaven to New York
August 1914 Interned at New York
1917 Due to threat of seizure by the U.S.A. the crew damaged the engines and boilers
April 1917 Seized by the U.S.A.
July 1917 After repairs Vaterland served as a U.S. navy transport ,
Sep 1917 She was renamed Leviathan
Sep 1919 Laid up at New York ; handed over to U.S. Shipping Board
Feb 1922 She went to Newport News for reconstruction as a passenger ship
June 1923 Leviathan now measured at 56956 GRT completed her trials with an average speed of 27.48 kn
She was once again the largest ship in the world , her tonnage having surpassed that of her later sister Majestic (ex-Bismarck) during her reconstruction Leviathan remained the largest ship in the world until 1931
July 1923 First voyage New York to Southampton for United States Lines
1931 Due to manipulation of the measuring regulations Leviathan's tonnage was reduced to 48932 GRT to save harbour dues . 1932 Leviathan was laid up
1934 She undertook four more voyages to Southampton before being laid up at New York
Dec 1937 She was sold for breaking up to Metal Industries Ltd , Rosyth and T.W. Ward , Sheffield
Feb 1938 Leviathan arrived at Rosyth on 14th of February

Comparison of the three Imperator class ships

Imperator (later Berengaria) Completed April 1913 Max Speed 24 knots 52117 GRT Sold for breaking up 1938

Vaterland (later Leviathan) Completed April 1914 Max Speed 25.8 knots upon completion 54282 GRT upon completion Sold for breaking up 1938

Bismarck (later Majestic) Launched June 1914 for probable completion around June 1915 Work ceased August 1914 ; ship eventually completed March 1922 Max Speed 24.75 knots 56551 GRT Sold for scrap 1940

The model company Navwar do a 1/3000 scale model of the Vaterland - NL179 for £2
Follow this link to see how to order online
Coming Soon
For more photographs of the Vaterland/Leviathan follow this link