United States Lines was an American transatlantic shipping company that operated cargo services from 1921 to 1989, and ocean liners until 1969—most famously, United States.

The company was formed with three ships from the tonnage of the failed United States Mail Steamship Company.[1] Two of the ships, America and George Washington, were originally German vessels that had been seized during World War I

In 1932, Manhattan, at a cost of approximately $21 million, became the first ship actually built for the line, followed the next year by Washington. In 1940, a new America joined them.With a government subsidy for her construction, United States entered service in 1952. She holds the record as the largest ocean liner built in the United States and the fastest ocean liner ever built. She immediately set transatlantic speed records, capturing the Blue Riband from Queen Mary. But competition from airliners brought the glory days to an end