<DIV><DIV>The story of the Leviathan, originally called Vaterland, is a fascinating one. A remarkable ship, she is frequently not given the credit she deserves for her contributions to the U.S. Merchant Marine, and has been given short thrift by many writers who describe her only as a failure. Nothing could be farther from the truth. She was the first American superliner and set the stage for future successes with other famous passenger vessels such as the America and United States. Although of German origin, the "Levi" was popular and became a household name across the U.S. and other parts of the world. Her interiors were stunning and she was an engineering marvel. After an extensive refit by U.S. Lines in 1923 she was also the safest and arguably the best of the "Balin trio." Her adventurous career made her seem more a living thing than a hunk of steel.</div></DIV>