Orans Family

Orans Family

In August, 1927, Dave traveled to Europe on the S.S. Alfred Ballin of the Hamburg America Line.
Here, one of their ships arrives in New York after an Atlantic crossing.

S. S. ALBERT BALLIN
The "Albert Ballin" was built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg in 1922 for the Hamburg America Line. She was a 20,815 gross ton ship, length 602.4ft x beam 78.7ft, two funnels, four masts, twin screw and a speed of 16 knots. Accommodation was provided for 250-1st, 340-2nd and 1,060-3rd class passengers. Launched on December 16, 1922, she sailed from Hamburg on her maiden voyage to Southampton and New York on July 5, 1923. In February 1928 she was refitted to carry 1st, 2nd, tourist and 3rd class passengers and on September 11, 1929 commenced her last Hamburg to Boulogne, Southampton and New York voyage before being re-engined to give a speed of 19 knots. On March 21, 1930 she resumed the Hamburg - Southampton - Cherbourg - New York service, carrying 1st, tourist and 3rd class. On December 21, 1933 she commenced her last voyage on this route and on May 12, 1934 she rammed and sank the North Germen Lloyd vessel "Merkur" with the loss of 7 lives. Later the same year she was rebuilt to 21,131 tons, length 645.8ft,speed 20 knots and renamed "Hansa" under the direction of the Nazi government. (Albert Ballin was Jewish). On October 31, 1935 she resumed the Hamburg - Southampton - Cherbourg - New York run and in March 1936 was refitted to carry cabin, tourist and 3rd class. She commenced her last New York voyage on July 27, 1939 and then became a naval accommodation ship at Gotenhafen. On March 6, 1945 she was sunk by a mine off Warnemunde, initially taken in tow, but failed to reach port. In 1949 she was raised by the Russians, rebuilt at Warnemunde and Antwerp to 23,009 tons and one funnel and in 1953(?) renamed "Sovetsky Sojus" ("Soviet Union").. She was damaged by fire prior to her entry into service but was repaired and used on the Vladivostok - Kamchatka route. Still in service in 1979.

North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1, p.417; Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.4, Hamburg America Line.
Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch , December 13, 1997.

Hamburg American Line Piers in Hoboken, New Jersey


	History of the "Albert Ballin"

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Please write to: Lewis P. Orans