Which ocean liner was designed by William Francis Gibbs and entered service in 1952?

SS United States was designed by American naval architect William Francis Gibbs and entered service in 1952.

Gibbs worked for the firm Gibbs & Cox and became one of the most influential American ship designers of the twentieth century. His design for SS United States combined a streamlined hull with powerful machinery, producing a vessel capable of very high speeds.

The ship was built at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia for United States Lines. Its construction received support from the United States government because the vessel could be converted for military transport if necessary. That dual-purpose design influenced its layout, materials, and safety features.

Gibbs is sometimes associated with other American liners because he worked on several major projects, including earlier United States Lines vessels. SS United States, however, is the signature passenger liner most closely connected with his name.