SS Washington was a 24,189-ton luxury liner of the United States Lines, named after the US capital city. On 6 June 1941, the Washington was commissioned as the troopship USS Mount Vernon (AP-22). In 1947 one deck was restored to prewar condition and the ship resumed commercial service. In 1951 the ship was again used by the U.S. Government transporting soldiers and their families. The ship was laid up in 1953 and scrapped in 1965.
Construction
The Washington was ordered by Transatlantic Steamship Company and laid down on 20 January 1931 in Shipway O at New York Shipbuilding in Camden, New Jersey. By the time the vessel was launched on 20 August 1932, Transatlantic Steamship's assets had been acquired by International Mercantile Marine, and the Washington went into service for the United States Lines following delivery on 2 May 1933.
At the time of their construction, Washington and her sister ship SS Manhattan (1931), also built by New York Shipbuilding, were the largest liners ever built in the United States, a status they held until the 1939 launch of SS America (1940). Washington and Manhattan were two of the few pure ocean liners built by New York Shipbuilding, which had previously built a large number of cargo liners. Accommodations were 580 in Cabin class, 400 in Tourist, and 150 Third class. Both ships were to garner a reputation for a very high standard of service and luxury.
United States Lines signed contracts in 1931 for the Manhattan and Washington for approximately $21 million each.[1]