MS Augustus
Encyclopedia
MS Augustus was a combined ocean liner and cruise ship built in 1927 for Navigazione Generale Italiana
. The ship was later transferred to the new Italian Line
after the merger of Navigazione Generale Italiana. Her sister ship was SS Roma
, many shipping companies were planning to build new liners once they had enough money. Navigazione Generale Italiana
decided to build two new liners of over 30,000 gross registered tons for post war service. The first ship was Roma
which was launched in 1926. The second ship was launched in December 1926 at the Ansaldo Shipyard and was christened Augustus by Edda Mussolini
(daughter of dictator Benito Mussolini
). She was fitted out and made her maiden voyage on November 10, 1927. Her interior was decorated in the Baroque
style. She was the largest diesel-engined passenger ship of her time, whereas her sister was equipped with geared steam turbines. The Augustus was c. 215 meters long and was designed to carry 1,675 passengers.
She operated on the South American service while her sister ran the North Atlantic service. The Augustus could reportedly reach South America from Italy in five days at an average speed of 22 knots. In 1932, Navigazione Generale Italiana was forced by Mussolini to merge with other Italian shipping companies to form the Italia Line. Because of this, the funnels of the Augustus were repainted in Italia Line colours. In 1933, she began to carry out 129-day world cruises after the Wall Street Crash of 1929
. She carried many passengers from New York
to a number of ports around the world and back to New York in 129 days.
At the outbreak of World War II
the Augustus and the Roma were laid up but both ships were subsequently taken over by the Italian Navy
. Like her sister, the Augustus was converted into an aircraft carrier and renamed Falco and later Sparviero
. In 1944, both ships were taken over by the German troops but on September 25 of that year she was scuttled, in order to blockade Genoa
habour from the Allies. After the war she was raised and scrapped in 1946.
Navigazione Generale Italiana
Navigazione Generale Italiana was an Italian shipping company formed in 1881 by the merger of I & V. Florio of Palermo and Raffaele Rubattino of Genoa...
. The ship was later transferred to the new Italian Line
Italian Line
The Italian Line or Italia Line, also known as the Italia di Navigazione S.p.A., was a passenger shipping line that operated regular transatlantic services between Italy and the United States, and Italy and South America...
after the merger of Navigazione Generale Italiana. Her sister ship was SS Roma
SS Roma (1926)
SS Roma was a 30,000 gross register ton ocean liner built for the Italian shipping company Navigazione Generale Italiana of Genoa by Ansaldo shipyard in Sestri Ponente. She was the sister ship to MS Augustus...
History
Following the end of World War IWorld 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...
, many shipping companies were planning to build new liners once they had enough money. Navigazione Generale Italiana
Navigazione Generale Italiana
Navigazione Generale Italiana was an Italian shipping company formed in 1881 by the merger of I & V. Florio of Palermo and Raffaele Rubattino of Genoa...
decided to build two new liners of over 30,000 gross registered tons for post war service. The first ship was Roma
SS Roma (1926)
SS Roma was a 30,000 gross register ton ocean liner built for the Italian shipping company Navigazione Generale Italiana of Genoa by Ansaldo shipyard in Sestri Ponente. She was the sister ship to MS Augustus...
which was launched in 1926. The second ship was launched in December 1926 at the Ansaldo Shipyard and was christened Augustus by Edda Mussolini
Edda Mussolini
Edda Mussolini was the eldest child of Benito Mussolini, Italy's fascist dictator from 1922 to 1943. Upon her marriage to fascist propagandist and foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano she became Edda Ciano, Countess of Cortellazzo and Buccari.She strongly denied her involvement in the National Fascist...
(daughter of dictator Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
). She was fitted out and made her maiden voyage on November 10, 1927. Her interior was decorated in the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style. She was the largest diesel-engined passenger ship of her time, whereas her sister was equipped with geared steam turbines. The Augustus was c. 215 meters long and was designed to carry 1,675 passengers.
She operated on the South American service while her sister ran the North Atlantic service. The Augustus could reportedly reach South America from Italy in five days at an average speed of 22 knots. In 1932, Navigazione Generale Italiana was forced by Mussolini to merge with other Italian shipping companies to form the Italia Line. Because of this, the funnels of the Augustus were repainted in Italia Line colours. In 1933, she began to carry out 129-day world cruises after the Wall Street Crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
. She carried many passengers from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to a number of ports around the world and back to New York in 129 days.
At the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Augustus and the Roma were laid up but both ships were subsequently taken over by the Italian Navy
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
. Like her sister, the Augustus was converted into an aircraft carrier and renamed Falco and later Sparviero
Italian aircraft carrier Sparviero
Sparviero was an Italian aircraft carrier designed and built during World War II. She was originally the ocean liner MS Augustus. The conversion was started in 1942 and was almost completed, but the ship was never delivered to the Regia Marina...
. In 1944, both ships were taken over by the German troops but on September 25 of that year she was scuttled, in order to blockade Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
habour from the Allies. After the war she was raised and scrapped in 1946.