Episode 17: A Return To The S.S. United States

The audio companion to our latest YouTube video!In February of 2026, Peter Knego traveled to Mobile, Alabama to bid farewell to the SS UNITED STATES, which has been undergoing preparation to become the world's largest artificial reef.  Scheduled to be sunk some 22 miles off the coast of Destin, Florida in mid-April of 2026, the famed ocean liner has been cut down to allow clearance once she is on the sea floor.  Her massive funnels and radio mast were carefully removed and are now resting at a secured site some 20 minutes away, hopefully to be part of a museum dedicated to the ship's legacy.  The UNITED STATES at 990 feet was the world's fastest ocean liner, capturing the Blue Ribband on her maiden voyage in July of 1952 at an average speed of 35.59 knots or 40.96 MPH.  She was an engineering marvel, a breathtaking slice of marine architecture and a legend during her 17 years of service.  Laid up ever since, she has been stripped of all interior fittings and after her arrival in Mobile, all of her windows and portholes, hatch covers and various bits of machinery to facilitate her next role under water.  Filmed from outside the yard where the work is being done and from the decks of the Mobile harbor cruise boat PERDIDO QUEEN, this is a touching look at one of America's greatest achievements in her final days.  #ssunitedstates #perdidoqueen #mobile #oceanliner #oldships #classicshipsWatch the full video on YouTube!https://youtu.be/a_lREFHyxRw?si=CiU5liuzsJOA3BBXFollow us on all our socials and YouTube!⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/midshipcentury⁠⁠⁠