MS Kungsholm Archival Collection
SS Kungsholm of the Swedish American Line, circa 1928. GGA Image ID # 1e0403142b
Kungsholm (1928) Swedish-American Line
Built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, Germany. Tonnage: 20,223. Dimensions: 594' x 78' (609' o.l.). Twin-screw, 17 knots. Motorship. Two masts and two funnels. Passengers: 115 first, 490 second, 970 third. Maiden voyage: Gothenburg-New York, November 24, 1928. Note: Her swimming pool was 44 feet long by 21 feet wide. Sold to United States Government in 1942. Renamed: (a) John Ericsson (1942), (b) Italia (1948). Resold: After being severely burned at New York in 1947, the vessel was sold back to the Swedish-American Line. They promptly resold her to the Home Lines.
About the T.M.S. Kungsholm
(T. M. S.: Twinscrew Motor Ship).
- Built: 1928, Blohm &. Voss, Hamburg
- Material: Steel
- Displacement: 26,720 tons
- Tons Register: 20,000
- Enginepower: 22,500 I. H. K. (I. H. P)
- Length: 608 Feet
- Passenger capacity: 1,574
- Crew: 355
Kungsholm (1953) Swedish-American Line
Built by De Schelde Koninklijke Maatschappij, Flushing, Netherlands. Tonnage: 22,071. Dimensions: 587' x 77'. Twin-screw, 19 knots, Motorship. Two masts and two funnels. Passengers: 176 First and 626 Tourist Class. Service: Entered Gothenburg-New York Service in November 1953. This attractive liner was also designed for cruise service to the tropics. Running Mate: Gripsholm.
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Passenger Lists
1932-10-01 SS Kungsholm Passenger List
First and Tourist Class Passenger List for the SS Kungsholm of the Swedish American Line, Departing 1 October 1932 from Gothenburg to New York, Commanded by Captain Helge A. F. Ellsén.
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Route Maps, Track Charts, Abstract of Logs
Track Chart, SS Kungsholm Passenger List, 1 October 1932. GGA Image ID # 1e027a2ee8
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Photographs
View of First Class Swimming Pool on the TSS Kungsholm. In Addition to Numerous Ordinary Bathrooms, There Is on Board an Up-To-Date Aquasanium with a Swimming Pool, Steam Room, and Electrical Bath. No Charge Is Made for Any of These Baths. The Aquasanium Is Accessible by the First-Class Lifts or the Forward Stairway in the Corridor on C-Deck. SS Kungsholm Passenger List, 1 October 1932. GGA Image ID # 1e02e6736f
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Postcards
SS Kungsholm of the Swedish-American Line Near Port, circa 1928. GGA Image ID # 1e03f079ee
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Timeline for the Motorship Kungsholm (1928)
Motorship Kungsholm Swedish-America Line, Gothenburg
- 1942 John Ericsson
- 1948 Italia
- 1964 Imperial Bahama
Builders: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard no: 477
20,223 GRT; 185.6 x 23.8 m / 609 X 78.1 ft; Burmeister & Wain diesel; Twin screw; 17,000 BHP; 17.5 max 18.5 kn; Passengers: 115 1st class, 490 2nd class, 970 3rd class; Crew: 340.
1928 Mar 17: Launched.
Oct 13: Completed.
Oct 14: Three men killed by an explosion in the engine room during trials.
Nov 24: Maiden voyage Gothenburg-New York.
1932/33 Passenger accommodation reconstructed.
1935 19,955 GRT.
1937 20,067 GRT.
1939 Cruising from New York after outbreak of war.
1942 Jan 2: Sold to the US War Shipping Administration.
Renamed John Ericsson.
Troop transport, managed by United States Lines.
1947. Mar: Badly damaged by fire at New York.
Jul: Bought back by Swedish-America Line.
Dec: Sold to Home Lines (South Atlantic Lines), Panama.
Repaired and refitted by Ansaldo, Genoa. 21,554 GRT.
1948. Apr 8: Renamed Italia.
Jul 27: First voyage Genoa-South America.
1949. Jun 12: First voyage Genoa- New York.
1950. Panama measurement: 16,777 GRT.
1952 Mar: First voyage Hamburg- New York. Managed by Hamburg- America Line.
Passengers: 213 1st class, 1,106 tourist class.
1954 Oct 6: During a docking manoeuvre at Steubenhöft, Cuxhaven, the tug Fairplay 1 got caught under the Italia 's bow and was forced underwater. Two dead.
1958. Refit of passenger accommodation commenced by Howaldt Hamburg, lasting until spring 1959. 140 1st class, 1,150 tourist class.
1959. Mar 24: First voyage Hamburg-Quebec.
1961 New York-Nassau service and cruising.
1964. Sold to Freeport Bahama Enterprises. Renamed Imperial Bahama, and used as floating hotel.
1965. Sep 8: Arrived at Bilbao to be broken up.
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