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EXCALIBUR (II)
Last updated June 2009
General Specifications
| Type | Cargo Liner, single funnel (American Export) |
| Displacement | 7,970 tons (lt) |
| Length | 473 ft, 1 in |
| Beam | 66 ft |
| Draft | 25 ft |
| Propulsion | Single Screw Steam turbine |
| Speed | 17 kt |
| Cargo Capacity | 150,000 cu. ft, 1600 tons |
| Propulsion | 2 Babcock & Wilcox steam turbines, 8,800shp, 6.473KW |
SS Excalibur (II)
In 1948 the US Navy sold the USS Dutchess to American Export Lines, who renamed her the SS Excalibur (II), and refurbished her as a combo passenger-cargo ship. From 1948 to 1959 Excalibur sailed from New York to the Mediterranean as one of the second-generation "4 Aces". The second-generation 4 Aces -- Exochorda (II), Excambion (II), Excalibur (II), and Exeter (II) -- were nearly identical ships.
In 1958/1959, American Export Lines discontinued the Mediterranean sailings due to competitive pressures from air transportation and due to increased political tensions in the Middle East.
The SS Excalibur (II) was sold to C.Y. Tung's Oriental Overseas Line in 1965, reflagged in the Republic of China, and renamed SS Oriental Jade. The Oriental Jade was scrapped in 1974.