"BUILDING NEW SUPERLINER UNITED STATES" 1950s SS UNITED STATES NEWSREEL XD49234

Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit   / periscopefilm   Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com This 1950s black and white newsreel style film produced by William Ganz is titled “Building New Superliner United States” details, as the title suggests, the process behind designing and building the Superliner United States or SS United States as it was also known. The liner was conceived in 1946 as part of a post-war vision for a new, fast transatlantic passenger liner, capable of serving both civilian and military purposes. Designed by Gibbs & Cox and built at Newport News Shipbuilding, the ship—initially known as Hull 488—was engineered to meet U.S. Navy specifications, allowing it to carry 14,000 troops or 2,000 peacetime passengers. Its construction involved over 800 companies, massive prefabricated sections, and unprecedented use of lightweight, fireproof materials—especially aluminum. Advanced features included full air conditioning, global telephone access from cabins, and safety standards previously unseen in maritime design. By the time of its launch in June 1951, the vessel was 70% complete—an industry record. The United States underwent sea trials in 1952, proving to be extremely fast (over 30 knots) and efficient. It soon became both a national symbol of technological achievement and a strategic asset, representing America’s ambition for supremacy on the seas. Opening credits (0:13). Members of the Maritime Commission and General John M. Franklin President of the United States Lines gather around a model of the Superliner United States ship (30:00). Signing of the contract for the building of the ship by General Franklin, Vice Chairman Grenville Mellen and JB Woodward Jr. president of Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company (1:02). Bare bones of the ship known as Hull number 488 (1:17). (2:44) Lower hull details are censored, but the liner includes advanced safety features and structural innovations. Scenes of workers assembling the ship (1:33-6:15). Aluminum is used extensively above the hull, making it the largest aluminum structure ever built at the time (4:27). Strips of Neotex being laid on the ship, used to protect aluminum decks (6:19). Shot of ship near completion, towers 12 stories high (6:32). Production of the beds that would be in all of the ship's sleeping quarters and lab testing of all furnishings to ensure safety requirements (7:12). Electrical engineers at work (7:45). Installation of marinite into the ceilings which is a lightweight incombustible material (8:00). Painting of the ship (8:12) with 200 miles of cable and fire-retardant paint are used throughout.. Men who worked on the ship flooding out of the ship onto the dock as production nears its end (8:29). Workmen smash battering rams against supporting shores (8:54). Waters of the James River in Virginia flood in to touch the keel of the ship for the first time (9:11). Shot of the finishing ship at the dock (9:31). Big reveal of finished ship at Newport News, Virginia (10:10). June 23, 1951: Mrs. Thomas "Tom" Connolly, wife of senior senator from Texas, and other guests look on at the ship in awe (10:14). Large crowd gathered as the finished product is christened (10:25). Superliner United States at first trial launch (10:39). Her top speed is classified, but she exceeds 30 knots, prioritizing power and speed over all.Aerial shot of the streamliner heading for Hampton Roads, the Virginia Capes, then to the open sea of the Atlantic Ocean (10:50). Commodore Harry Manning on the bridge adjusting settings of the ship (11:18). Aerial view of the United States Stream Liner (11:28). American flag and maritime flags featuring the nautical alphabet wave in the wind (12:25). SS United States cost of $79.4 million and still exists today, although it is in desperate need of renovation. It remains the largest ocean liner constructed entirely in the United States and the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction, retaining the Blue Riband for the highest average speed since her maiden voyage in 1952. The ship is currently slated to become the world's largest artificial reef. Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com