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USS Zeppelin (1914)
Encyclopedia
USS Zeppelin was a passenger liner launched in 1914 as SS Zeppelin by Bremer Vulkan
, Bremen-Vegesack
, Germany
, for Norddeutscher Lloyd
(NDL). Due to the First World War
she never entered NDL service. She had a career after the war first under White Star Line
control, then briefly as the troop ship USS Zeppelin, next as the Orient SN Co
liner SS Ormuz and finally back with NDL as SS Dresden.
of the First World War
was under way so NDL laid her up at Bremen until the end of hostilities.
On 28 March 1919 she was surrendered as war reparations to the UK Government, who placed her under the management of the White Star Line
. She was then handed over to the United States Navy
, who commissioned her as USS Zeppelin and assigned to the New York Division of the Transport Force with Commander
William W. Galbraith as her master.
USS Zeppelin made two round-trip voyages between the United States and Europe
, returning 15,800 American soldiers
back home. She then returned to Europe, was decommissioned on 25 November 1919 and returned to United Kingdom
control on 27 December 1919.
in 1920, who renamed her SS Ormuz and had her refitted as a passenger liner. Orient line placed her in service on the route between Great Britain and Australia, on which she began her first sailing from Britain on 12 November 1921.
In 1927 NDL bought Ormuz back and had her refitted to upgrade much of the third class accommodation to first class or tourist class. NDL renamed her SS Dresden and placed her in service on the Bremen - New York route for which she had originally been built.
on the Norwegian island of Karmøy
. She was refloated but as a precaution was beached near Blikshavn. In the early hours of 21 June she listed to port and a Danish cargo steamer, DFDS
's 1,775 ton Kong Haakon, took off her passengers. One life was lost in an accident during the transfer to the freighter.
A firm of shipbreakers from Stavanger
broke up the ship where she lay. Remnants of the wreck remain near the shore, between 4 m (13.1 ft) and 10 m (32.8 ft) depth.
Bremer Vulkan
Bremer Vulkan AG was a great German shipbuilding company located at the Weser river in Bremen-Vegesack. It was founded in 1893 and closed in 1997 because of financial problems and mismanagement....
, Bremen-Vegesack
Bremen-Vegesack
-Geography:Vegesack is located at the mouth of the river Lesum, beside the Weser River . Abutting the district of Vegesack to the northwest is the district of Blumenthal, in the southeast the district of Burglesum...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, for Norddeutscher Lloyd
Norddeutscher Lloyd
Norddeutsche Lloyd was a German shipping company. It was founded by Hermann Henrich Meier and Eduard Crüsemann in Bremen on February 20, 1857. It developed into one of the most important German shipping companies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and was instrumental in the economic...
(NDL). Due to the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
she never entered NDL service. She had a career after the war first under White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
control, then briefly as the troop ship USS Zeppelin, next as the Orient SN Co
Orient Steam Navigation Company
The Orient Steam Navigation Company, also known as the Orient Line, was a British shipping company with roots going back to the late 18th century...
liner SS Ormuz and finally back with NDL as SS Dresden.
Troop ship
SS Zeppelin was launched on 9 June 1914, and on completion she was handed over to NDL on 21 January 1915. By then the First Battle of the AtlanticU-boat Campaign (World War I)
The U-boat Campaign from 1914 to 1918 was the World War I naval campaign fought by German U-boats against the trade routes of the Entente Powers...
of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was under way so NDL laid her up at Bremen until the end of hostilities.
On 28 March 1919 she was surrendered as war reparations to the UK Government, who placed her under the management of the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
. She was then handed over to the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, who commissioned her as USS Zeppelin and assigned to the New York Division of the Transport Force with Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
William W. Galbraith as her master.
USS Zeppelin made two round-trip voyages between the United States and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, returning 15,800 American soldiers
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
back home. She then returned to Europe, was decommissioned on 25 November 1919 and returned to United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
control on 27 December 1919.
Civilian liner
The UK Government sold her to the Orient Steam Navigation CompanyOrient Steam Navigation Company
The Orient Steam Navigation Company, also known as the Orient Line, was a British shipping company with roots going back to the late 18th century...
in 1920, who renamed her SS Ormuz and had her refitted as a passenger liner. Orient line placed her in service on the route between Great Britain and Australia, on which she began her first sailing from Britain on 12 November 1921.
In 1927 NDL bought Ormuz back and had her refitted to upgrade much of the third class accommodation to first class or tourist class. NDL renamed her SS Dresden and placed her in service on the Bremen - New York route for which she had originally been built.
KdF cruise and loss
In 1934 the Nazi Kraft durch Freude organization started operating tourist cruises. KdF chartered Dresden and she sailed on her first KdF cruise on 11 June 1934. On 20 June she struck a rock off KopervikKopervik
Kopervik is the largest city on the island of Karmøy in the county of Rogaland, Norway and is the administrative centre of the municipality of Karmøy, and Kopervik have 8,192 inhabitants. It is part of the traditional district of Haugaland. -Population:...
on the Norwegian island of Karmøy
Karmøy
Karmøy is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located southwest of the city of Haugesund in the traditional district of Haugaland....
. She was refloated but as a precaution was beached near Blikshavn. In the early hours of 21 June she listed to port and a Danish cargo steamer, DFDS
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
's 1,775 ton Kong Haakon, took off her passengers. One life was lost in an accident during the transfer to the freighter.
A firm of shipbreakers from Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
broke up the ship where she lay. Remnants of the wreck remain near the shore, between 4 m (13.1 ft) and 10 m (32.8 ft) depth.