America-class steamship facts for kids

Europa of 1848 at Boston. This is one of the earliest known photos of an Atlantic steamship
Quick facts for kids Class overview
Builders:	Clyde (Steele), Clyde (J. Wood),
Operators:	Cunard Line
Preceded by:	Britannia class
Succeeded by:	Arabia
Subclasses:	Asia class
Built:	1848–1850
Completed:	6
General characteristics : America, Niagara, Europa & Canada
Tonnage	1,850 GRT
Length	251 ft (77 m)
Beam	38 ft (12 m)
Propulsion	Napier two-cylinder side-lever steam engine, 1,400 ihp (1,000 kW), paddle wheels
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
General characteristics : Asia & Africa
Tonnage	2,250 GRT
Length	266 ft (81 m)
Beam	40 ft (12 m)
Propulsion	Napier two-cylinder side-lever steam engine, 2,000 ihp (1,500 kW), paddle wheels
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)

The America class was a group of six amazing steamships built for the Cunard Line. These ships were designed to replace an older fleet called the Britannia class class. Starting in 1848, the America class ships helped Cunard offer weekly trips across the Atlantic Ocean. They sailed from Liverpool in England, with some trips going to Halifax and others to New York. These new ships were also built to compete with new American shipping companies.

The first four ships of the America class were bigger and more powerful than the Britannia ships. They were very reliable. In 1849, they took about 13 days to reach New York via Halifax and 12 days to return home. Two even larger and more powerful ships, the Asia and Africa, joined the fleet in 1850. However, these new Cunard ships were soon outdone in luxury and speed by the Collins Line's Atlantic class ships.

All six America class ships had long and successful careers with Cunard. The first four ships each completed around 100 round trips across the Atlantic. The Europa stayed in the fleet for 19 years! The last two ships, Asia and Africa, made an incredible 120 round trips. This was a record for wooden steamships on the Atlantic route. They were finally sold in 1868.

Building the America Class Ships

A drawing of the back deck of the Asia ship in 1850.

By 1845, steamships were very popular for carrying passengers across the Atlantic. Cunard was a leader in this business. The United States government decided to support a new American steamship line. They offered a large amount of money to help it start. At this time, Cunard was getting money from the British government to run five steamers every two weeks from Liverpool to Halifax and then to Boston.

Cunard argued that to compete with the new American line, they needed to offer weekly service. This meant building four new ships that were larger than their existing Britannia class. The British government agreed and gave Cunard more money to help pay for these new, bigger ships.

The first four America class ships were much larger and more powerful than the original Britannias. They used a lot of coal, about 60 tons per day. The engines and machinery for each ship cost a lot of money. Each ship could carry 140 passengers, but the rooms were still quite simple. The America and Niagara were new additions to the fleet. The Europa and Canada replaced older ships, which were then sold to the North German Confederation Navy.

The last two ships, Asia and Africa, were launched in 1850. They were even bigger than the first four and had more power. They could carry 10 more passengers. The Asia replaced the Caledonia, and the Africa replaced the Hibernia.

Ship Journeys and Records

The America Ship

The America was a very fast ship. On her second trip in 1848, she set a record for the fastest westbound journey. She traveled from Liverpool to Halifax in just 9 days and 16 minutes, averaging about 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 mph). During the Crimean War, when many ships were used for military purposes, the America continued to sail on Cunard's Halifax route. In 1859, she made news for breaking through thick ice in Halifax Harbour, which was usually ice-free. The America was later rented to another shipping company in 1863. She was then sold and changed into a sailing ship. The old America was taken apart in 1875.

The Niagara Ship

The Niagara was used as a troop carrier during the Crimean War. She stayed in the Cunard fleet until 1866. At that time, she was sold and changed into a sailing ship.

The Europa Ship

The Europa was the fastest of the first four ships. In October 1848, she won the Blue Riband for the fastest westbound trip. She sailed from Liverpool to Halifax in 8 days and 23 hours, averaging about 11.79 knots (21.84 km/h; 13.57 mph). The next year, the Europa crashed into another ship, the Charles Bartlett, near New York. No one on the Europa was hurt, but sadly, 88 people out of 130 on the Bartlett died. The Europa was also used as a troopship during the Crimean War. She continued to serve Cunard until 1867, when she was sold and became a sailing ship. In 1858, the Europa had another collision with a different Cunard ship, the Arabia, in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Canada Ship

The Canada set the record for the fastest eastbound journey in 1849. She traveled from Halifax to Liverpool in 8 days, 12 hours, and 44 minutes, averaging about 12.38 knots (22.93 km/h; 14.25 mph). During the Crimean War, she continued to sail on the Halifax route. She was sold in 1866 and changed into a sailing ship.

The Asia Ship

The Asia won the Blue Riband in May 1850. She made the trip from Liverpool to Halifax in 8 days, 14 hours, and 50 minutes, averaging about 12.25 knots (22.69 km/h; 14.10 mph). The Asia also stayed on the Halifax route during the Crimean War. There are reports that she might have run aground near Cape Race and had to be brought to shore at St Johns because she was sinking. The Asia was sold in 1868 and changed to a sailing ship. She was finally taken apart in 1883.

The Africa Ship

In October 1851, the Africa hit Copeland Rock in Ireland and was badly damaged. She continued to sail on the Halifax route during the Crimean War. Her trip in January 1856 to New York reopened that service. The Africa was sold in 1868 to be changed into a sailing ship.