SS Conte Biancamano Conte Biancamano was an Italian liner launched in 1925 . The name was chosen in honor of Humbert I Biancamano , founder of the Savoy . She was built in the Scottish shipyard William Beardmore & Co . in Dalmuir , near Glasgow . She was built for the Genovese shipping company Lloyd Sabaudo , operator of the " Conte Rosso " and " Conte Verde " . The engine , equipped with two steam turbines double reduction unit and two propellers , allowed her to reach a speed of 20 knots , and vented in two funnels . She housed 180 passengers in first class , 220 in second class , 390 in economic class and 2 , 660 in third class . " Conte Biancamano " was the first of two sister ships , her sister " Conte Grande " not seeing completion until 1927 . First years of service . " Conte Biancamano " was launched 23 April 1925 , and made her maiden voyage on 20 November 1925 from Genoa to New York , sailing , as expected , on a direct route to North America . The ship , provided with all the most innovative amenities of its time , was intended primarily as a luxury liner . The last trip for the Lloyd Sabaudo departed from Genoa to New York on 25 November 1932 . In 1932 , Lloyd Sabaudo , together with other Italian shipping companies , merged to form the famous Italian Line . The Conte Biancamano was then used for direct routes to South America . This was continued for six trips , the last of which began on 1 July 1932 . In 1934 , she was used for military purposes . She carried troops and military equipment on behalf of the Ministry of the Navy in preparation for the war in Ethiopia . In 1936 , she was transferred to Lloyd Triestino , one of the companies in the group , which took a direct route to the Middle East . In March 1939 , the ship carried the first team of climbers ( led by the mountaineer Fritz Wiessner ) to attempt the summit of the Himalayan peak K2 . Scenes of the team on board feature in a BBC documentary titled ' Mountain Men : The Ghosts of K2 ' . In 1940 , she returned to Italian Line and was used for a trip from Genoa – Naples – Panama – Valparaiso – Panama . USS Hermitage ( AP - 54 ) . At the start of the Second World War , she was seized and interned in the Panamanian port of Cristóbal , where she was moored . In December 1941 , with the entry of the United States into the war , she was seized by the United States . She was converted into a troop transport and commissioned into the United States Navy as USS " Hermitage " ( AP - 54 ) in 1942 . The conversion work was carried out in Philadelphia and when completed the ship could accommodate up to seven thousand men . The ship was armed with one 127 / 38mm gun and six 76 / 50mm guns . On 8 November the allies began the invasion of North Africa , called Operation Torch . USS " Hermitage " departed from New York on 2 November carrying 5600 and transported troops that landed in Casablanca on 10 and 25 November . Later , on 11 December , she returned to the United States and was then used in the Pacific during 1943 . Following the Normandy Landings , she made several trips between Europe and the U . S . to transport troops and return wounded prisoners , the first of which was on 16 June 1944 . She was at Le Havre on 8 May 1945 , the day of Germany ' s surrender . After the end of hostilities , she was used for the repatriation of thousands of American veterans of war , first from Europe and then the Pacific . She was withdrawn from service on 20 August 1946 . During her service with the U . S . Navy , she traveled over 230 , 000 miles and carried 129 , 695 soldiers from different nations . A return to Italy . In 1947 , the ship was returned to Italy and underwent refit and modernization at a shipyard in Monfalcone in 1948 . Structural changes saw her bow replaced with a sleeker design , as well as an increase in length overall . Interior changes included more passenger accommodations , increasing her capacity to 252 first - class passengers , 455 in cabin class , and 893 in economy class . The refit also saw her name " Conte Biancamano " restored . With her structural and interior refit and modernization completed , she became the premiere ocean liner of the renewed Italian merchant fleet . Her interior refit was made possible through the collaboration of painters such as Massimo Campigli , Mario Sironi , and Roberto Crippa , as well as decorative design work by Gustavo Pulitzer and Giò Ponti . Art work including sculptures made by Marcello Mascherini were placed on the ceiling of the grand hall depicting the myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece . On 14 July 1949 , " Conte Biancamano " was placed on the Genoa – Buenos Aires route until 21 March 1950 when she was moved to the Genoa – Naples – Cannes – New York route . On 26 March 1960 , she began her last voyage on the Genoa – Naples – Barcelona – Lisbon – Halifax – New York route and on her return voyage . After 364 crossings of the line , during which she had carried 353 , 836 passengers which were put up for disarmament , and started off the demolition , which took place in La Spezia the following year . In 1964 , during the ship ' s scrapping , the bridge , some first - class cabins and the large ballroom were dismantled and reassembled in the ' Leanardo daç Vinci ' pavillion at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan .