MV Saturnia was an Italian ocean liner named after Saturnia, Tuscany, the first of two sister ships built in Trieste for Cosulich Soc. Triestina di Nav. of Trieste and launched in 1925. Sister ship MS Vulcania was launched the next year. Saturnia served into World War II for Italy and upon the Italian armistice with the Allies was delivered to the U.S. War Shipping Administration (WSA) in an arrangement made between Italy and Admiral Cunningham of the Royal Navy, approved by General Eisenhower.
Saturnia sailed from Italy to New York with an Italian crew and was delivered to WSA on 18 November 1943. The ship first served under a WSA agent after conversion into a troop ship allocated to U.S. Army requirements but in January 1945 began conversion into a hospital ship under U.S. Army bareboat charter from WSA. After conversion into USAHS Frances Y. Slanger, the ship departed New York in July 1945 for France to embark patients. In December 1945 the hospital ship was retired and converted from 24 January to 21 February 1946 into a dependent transport as USAT Saturnia.
In November 1946 Saturnia was delivered to the Italian government to return to commercial service until March 1965. The ship was scrapped in October 1965.
Construction and characteristics
Saturnia was laid down by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone, Trieste as hull number 160 on 5 March 1925 for Cosulich Soc. Triestina di Nav. (Cosulich Line), Trieste. The ship was launched 29 December 1925 with a maiden voyage from Trieste to the River Plate ports on 21 September 1927.
The ship's registered characteristics were for a ship with four full decks, a shade deck and fifth deck in number one hold, of , , registry length, beam, hold depth and molded depth and draught. Saturnia was assigned signal ICGZ and was equipped with Sperry Gyro-Compass and Sperry Gyro-Pilot, radio direction finder, and submarine signals for navigation. Original propulsion was by two 8 cylinder Burmeister & Wain diesel engines developing 8,379 n.h.p. driving the two screws. Serious engine vibration problems in Saturnia required modifications. Extensive modifications to the engine mountings, propellers and other alterations caused a delay in operation of sister ship Vulcania.
Original configuration was for 370 first class, 412 second class, 319 third class and 564 fourth class passengers with a crew of 502. The ship introduced private verandahs for the more luxurious cabins. After conversion to a troop ship Saturnia had a capacity for 3,714 passengers with a cargo capacity of . As a hospital ship capacity was 1,618 patients. On conversion to a dependent transport the ship was equipped to transport 1,131 women and 371 children for a total of 1,502.
History
Cosulich engaged in an intense publicity campaign to advertise the two new ships, which incorporated new artistic movements of the time, by employing period artist Argio Orell, Augusto Cernigoj and Filippo Romoli. As part of the advertising for the new ship, associated with Italian nationalist sentiment, was the name, evoking Saturn as ruler of the universe, and associations with the Catholic Church. Cosulich was among the companies emphasizing service to the Holy Land and its advertising for Saturnia and Vulcania emphasized a chapel as "a central feature of the ship" and the '"only vessels in the world authorized to carry the Blessed Sacrament on board at all times."
Italian passenger service
On 21 September 1927 Saturnia left Trieste on her maiden voyage to the River Plate port. On 1 February 1928, she left for her first North Atlantic crossing to New York. On 16 February the ship arrived to be welcomed by harbor craft, the Mayor's Committee and celebrated by a luncheon.
On 2 January 1932 Cosulich became part of the new line Italia Flotte Riunite but maintains its separate administrative office in Trieste. The ships assumed the new colors of Italia Flotte Riunite. On 8 May 1935 Saturnia was taken over to serve as a troop ship supporting the Abyssinian war. In December 1935 the ship's original engines are replaced by the builder with Sulzer diesels having a total of 41,000 b.h.p. for a top speed of . During this period the baroque interior design was replaced by a more contemporary style including Art Déco and minimalism. Steerage was converted to make more comfortable third class and new tourist class accommodations with advertising targeting the U.S. public. The ship returned to regular service in August 1936. On 2 January 1937 Italia Flotte Riunite is assumed by Società Anonima di Navigazione Italia (Italian Line), Genoa with the Cosulich ships transferred and that company placed in liquidation.