shipchristening

Launched 05-23-1912, Vulcan Shipyards, Hamburg Gross Tonnage - 52,226 Dimensions - 269.09 x 29.96m Number of funnels - 3 Number of masts - 2 Builder - A.G.Vulcan, Hamburg Commisioned 05-24-1913 Size: 52.117 gross tons (European); 15,000 tons. Length over all: 277.06 m (269.07 registered) Width: 29.87 m Depth: 19.20 m Machines: 4 turbines AEG-Vulcan Speed: 23 knots normal, 24 knots maximum Capacity: 714+194 first class, 401+205 second class, 962+1772 third class passengers, 1180 crew. Source: SS Imperator / RMS Berengaria -- From the Monsters of the Sea: Great Ocean Liners of Time website

"The launch of the Imperator took place on May 23, 1912. The German Kaiser Wilhelm II had taken enormous interest in Ballin’s new trio, and now he was the one to lead the ceremony. Just below where the Imperator’s giant bow towered an ornamented platform had been built for the Kaiser and his staff. The Kaiser himself had dressed in his Admiral suite and he ascended the platform together with Albert Ballin [the ship's creator]. After the Kaiser’s speech when he was just to christen the ship, a piece of lumber fell from the ship’s bow and nearly hit the sovereign. This was seen as a bad omen by many, but the ceremony ended happily, at least." From Imperator/Berengaria: 1913 - 1938 from the Great Ocean Liners website.

The Kaiser loved the military and he loved his uniforms (article above mentions him dressing in his admiral's uniform). He would lead Germany and the entire world into the disastrous World War One in which many millions of soldiers and civilians were killed. Most European countries lost more soldiers in WW1 than in WW2. Imperator Im`pe*ra"tor\, n. [L. See Emperor.] (Rom. Antiq.) A commander; a leader; an emperor; -- originally an appellation of honor by which Roman soldiers saluted their general after an important victory. Subsequently the title was conferred as a recognition of great military achievements by the senate, whence it carried wiht it some special privileges. After the downfall of the Republic it was assumed by Augustus and his successors, and came to have the meaning now attached to the word emperor. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

On March 17, 1915, the 15,000 ton superdreadnaught USS Pensylvania was launched at the Newport News (Virginia) Shipbuilding Drydock Company. It was the largest battleship ever launched anywhere in the world, Miss Elizabeth Ludoff Kolb (1896-1979) of Germantown, Pennsylvania, daughter of Louis J. Kolb of Philadelphia and a senior at National Park Seminary in Forest Glen, Maryland, had been invited to the launching ceremonies by Pennsylvania Governor Brumbaugh (term 1915-1919), who called her "the most beautiful and sweetest girl in Pennsylvania". Elizabeth was the official "sponsor" of the ship, which, as far as I can tell, means she offered the name for the ship. Nineteen years young, Elizabeth arrived with her maids of honor, fellow classmates Miss Katherine Kolb (1900–1979) (who was also her younger sister), Miss Katherine Martin and Miss Mildred Harold. Following the prayer and with the words "I Christen thee Pennsylvania", Miss Kolb broke a bottle of champagne on the bow and set in motion one of the greatest battleships of all time.

Before the launch:

"Sturtevant was laid down on 23 November 1918 and launched on 29 July 1920 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation; sponsored by Mrs. Curtis Ripley Smith; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 21 September 1920. Lieutenant Commander Ewart G. Haas assumed command of Sturtevant on 4 November 1920." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sturtevant_(DD-240)

I fixed the link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sturtevant_(DD-240)

A cropped version of this photo ran in the Evening public ledger., July 30, 1920, NIGHT EXTRA, Image 20 chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045211/1920-07-30/ed-... The launch of the USS Sturtevant: www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/40800028952/

She was Ruth Sturtevant Smith (1898-1978) www.findagrave.com/memorial/23780900/ruth-smith, a sister of Albert Dillon Sturtevant, namesake of the destroyer.

Thanks Art Siegel for figuring out when this photo was taken. B-59, thank you determining Ms. Smith's name. I always like when we can add a name to these women who are identified by their husband's name.