S.S. Berlin

The S.S. Berlin was built in 1908 for Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd) by A.G. Weser of Bremen. She was launched on November 7th, 1908 and made her maiden voyage May 1st 1909 sailing from Bremen to Southampton - Cherbourg - New York. In August of 1914, she was converted to a minelayer and later that October one of her mines sank the British battleship H.M.S Audacious. In November 1914, she was interned at Trondhiem, Norway and in 1919 surrendered to Britain and was used as a troopship to India under P&O management. In 1920, she was sold to White Star Line, refitted and renamed S.S. Arabic. In October of 1923, she was then refitted to carry 500-cabin class and 1,200-3rd class passengers and in August of 1924 commenced the Hamburg - Southampton - Cherbourg - Halifax - New York service. In 1926, she was sold to the Red Star Line. In January of 1930 she was sold back to the White Star Line and refitted to carry 177-cabin, 319-tourist and 823-3rd class passengers. She made five round voyages on this service, commencing the last one on July 16th,1930 and was then laid up. She was scrapped in 1931 at Genoa.

• Length: 179.89 m (590 ft 2 in)
• Beam: 21.24 m (69 ft 7 in)
• Propulsion: Steam quadruple expansion engines, twin screw,
• Speed: 17 knots (19-20 Mph)
• Capacity: 17,324 tons
• Occupancy: 266 1st class passengers, 246 2nd class passengers, and 2,700 3rd class passengers

Francesco Leonetti (Born: 1885) was on board this vessel in November of 1909 traveling from Naples to America with his wife and daughter to start their new life in Providence, Rhode Island.