Upon conviction, Stigler was sentenced to serve 16 years in prison on espionage charges with two concurrent years for registration violations Siegler was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on espionage charges and a concurrent two-year term for violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Stigler and Siegler, along with the 31 other German agents of the Duquesne Spy Ring, were later uncovered by the FBI in the largest espionage conviction in U.S. Both remained on the America until its conversion by the Navy into a troop transport and its commission into the U.S. Stigler worked undercover as chief butcher. They operated as couriers transmitting information between the United States and German agents aboard. While on the America, they obtained information about the movement of ships and military defense preparations at the Panama Canal, observed and reported defense preparations in the Canal Zone, and met with other German agents to advise them in their espionage efforts. Two German spies, Franz Joseph Stigler and Erwin Wilhelm Siegler, were members of its crew in 1941. It was ordered to return to Newport News to be handed over to the Navy. On, America was called up to service by the United States Navy, while the ship was at Saint Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. It was, however, quietly fitted with a degaussing cable for protection against naval mines on 3 January 1941. Additionally, it did not immediately take to its intended North Atlantic service route, instead sailing in safer waters. The forward funnel was in actuality a dummy, housing the horn and certain ventilation uptakes.ĭue to conflict having begun in Europe in World War II, in which the United States was still neutral, the ship's name, along with "United States Lines" and two American flags were painted in large size to be clearly visible on both sides of the hull.Īt night, it sailed while fully illuminated, as further precaution. Very early in its career, however, the height of the funnels was increased by 16 feet, due to heavy soot deposits on the decks. The interior accommodations were styled by architects Eggers & Higgins to be the utmost in contemporary American design, making use of stainless steel, ceramics, and synthetics.Īmerica was originally constructed with low funnels in order to give the ship a modern, streamlined appearance. Early career (1939–1941) Īs originally designed, America could carry 543 in cabin class, 418 in tourist class, 241 in third class, and 643 crew. The liner entered service on 10 August 1940, undertaking its maiden voyage as the flagship of the United States Lines. Her cousin, Kermit Roosevelt, was one of the founders of United States Lines. Īmerica was launched on 31 August 1939 and was sponsored by Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of then-president of the United States Franklin D. The aim was to provide an atmosphere of cheerfulness and sophisticated charm. The ornate decor typical of liners of the past was forgone, in favor of a more contemporary and informal design. It was one of only a few ocean liners, American or otherwise, to have had its interiors designed by women-the New York firm Smyth, Urquhart & Marckwald. As of 2022, it is no longer visible on the ocean surface and has become an artificial reef.Īmerica was laid down under the first Maritime Commission contract on 22 August 1938, at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. The wreck deteriorated and completely collapsed into the sea. It was wrecked as the American Star at Playa de Garcey on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands on 18 January 1994. It served most notably in passenger service as America and the Greek-flagged Australis. It carried many names in the 54 years between its construction and its 1994 wreck: SS America (carrying this name three different times during its career) troop transport USS West Point and SS Australis, Italis, Noga, Alferdoss, and American Star. SS America was an ocean liner and cruise ship built in the United States in 1940, for the United States Lines and designed by the noted American naval architect William Francis Gibbs. 7,678 when reconfigured as West Point.1,202 (passengers) as originally designed.Wrecked at Playa de Garcey on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in 1994Ģ x steam turbines, double reduction geared Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. United States Maritime Commission (1940–63).For other ships named for America, see SS America and USS America. For other ships named USS West Point, see USS West Point.