Launched in 1913, the SS Vaterland of the Hamburg America Line not only became the largest ship to sail, the Vaterland highlighted luxury of the era. Holland America (HAPAG) sailed the SS Deutschland of the previous decade with varying success against the Four Flyers of NGL. Taking a similar course as White Star, HAPAG commissioned three super liners, ships to be the largest and most grand, in lieu of speed. The SS Vaterland was the second ship of Albert Ballin's trio of luxury liners for HAPAG.

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After sailing for a year under the German flag, war broke out and erupted into WWI. The Vaterland was stranded in New York, a neutral port. However, the decision was made to keep the ships in safe harbor until further notice. Upon the United States entry into the war, the US Navy seized the ship and sailed it as a troop ship during the remainder of the war as the USS Leviathan. After the war, the United States lines was awarded the Leviathan as reparations from Germany due to the Treaty of Versailles. The SS Leviathan sailed dry throughout the majority of her career, serving as the flagship of the United States Lines.

SS Vaterland to SS Leviathan in WWI

After only a years time, WWI broke out and ensnared the civilian maritime trade. The seas were a dangerous place. Some ships were able to outrun any enemy threat. Other ships became hospital ships, and others were hunters. As the war continued on, Britain's naval advantage caused the SS Vaterland to stay berthed in Newark, NJ for the majority of the war.

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After the United States entered WWI, the US government seized the Vaterland and renamed the ship the Leviathan. Stripped and fitted for naval use, the ship primarily transported troops. The dazzle paint scheme below made the ships harder to see on the horizon from the periscope of a hunting submarine.