Four Aces

:"For the pop singing group, see The Four Aces"

=4 Aces=

The 4 AcesCref|a is the quartet of passenger-cargo liners "Excalibur", "Exochorda", "Exeter", and "Excambion", originally built for American Export LinesCref|a by New York Shipbuilding of Camden, New Jersey between 1929 and 1931. AEL placed the "4 Aces" in service between the US and the Mediterranean, offering cruises of up to 40 days. During World War II, all four vessels were taken over by the U.S. Navy, renamed, and designated as AP- and APA-class troop transports. Three of the original 4 Aces ("Exochorda" being the exception) were ultimately lost to enemy action.cite news
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title = Exochorda ready for maiden voyage
url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30615F8385A157B93C5AB178BD95F4C8485F9
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work = New York Times
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page = 55
date = 1948-10-27
accessdate = 2008-05-29
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quote = ] The pre-war "Exochorda" was converted to military transport USS "Harry Lee", later sold to Turkish Maritime Lines and renamed Tarsus.cite web
url= http://www.ussharrylee.com/
title= History of the Lee
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author= Vincent L. Saldutti
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After World War II, American Export Lines purchased four C3-class transports built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. at Sparrow's Point, Maryland, had them refitted as passenger-cargo liners, and placed them in service as the new "4 Aces."cite news
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title = Export lines plan new '4 Aces' fleet
url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70813FC3F5A147B93C1AB1788D85F438485F9
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work = New York Times
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page = S11
date = 1947-03-23
accessdate = 2008-05-26
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quote = ] Carrying the names of the original quartet, the new "4 Aces" sailed under the AEL flag until the 1960s.

In 1968, the post-war "Exochorda" was purchased by Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey to alleviate a shortage of on-campus student housing. It was refurbished at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Hoboken, renamed SS "Stevens" and anchored on the Hudson River adjacent to the campus were it served a dormitory. SS "Stevens" remained in service until 1975, when its continued operation became prohibitive due to skyrocketing utility costs. Before it was towed away and sold for scrap, one of "Stevens"' anchors was removed and permanently displayed [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
] on campus as a memento of the institute's most popular dormitory.

The company's subsidiary American Export Airlines borrowed 3 of the names (excepting Exochorda) for its Sikorsky VS-44 flying boats, which it used in transatlantic service. "Excambian" is preserved on display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. [http://www.landings.com/_landings/pacflyer/feb4-2002/Fn-21-Sikorsky-VS-44.html]

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