* TIDBIT *
about the R.M.S. Aquitania
about the R.M.S. Aquitania
The AQUITANIA, laid down in 1910 for Cunard by the John Brown and Company yards in Clydebank, Scotland, was the longest serving Cunard ocean liner built in the 20th century. In keeping with Cunard tradition, she was named after a Roman province, this one in southwest France. With the United Kingdom as her Port of Registry, the ship was originally planned to make North Atlantic crossings along with the Lusitania and Mauretania. Launched in April of 1913, it was the first liner equipped with enough lifeboats for every passenger, as the Titanic disaster occurred during her construction. The Aquitania left Liverpool on its maiden voyage on 30 May 1914, bound for New York.
Aquitania Set for Sea Trials
The most exceptional feature of the Aquitania, aside from its size, was the luxury of the interior passenger areas, which were far superior to anything seen on the North Atlantic before. The columned Palladian lounge and the Louis XVI-style first class dining room rose through two decks. The appearance of the large smoking rooms had been copied from the Royal Naval College in London. These fantastic interiors earned the Aquitania the nickname "Ship Beautiful." Some are shown in the postcards that follow.
The ship made only two more voyages to New York before the outbreak of World War One, when it was refitted for military service along with other highly distinguished ships such as Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Normandie and Île de France. After proving too large for use as an armed merchant cruiser, the Aquitania made three voyages as a WWI troop transport and then was converted to a hospital ship for use December 1915-January 1916 as well as November-December of 1916.The entry of the USA into the war in December 1917 brought the ship back into military service to transport the American Expeditionary Force.
Aquitania as Troop Carrier
Aquitania as Hospital Ship in World War I
The Aquitania went on to operate on the Southampton-Cherbourg-New York route, along with the Mauretania and Berengaria, and passenger accommodation was extensively modernized during annual re-fits. With improving times and ocean travel the only means of transportation across the oceans, she became one of the most profitable ocean liners in history.
Postcard of a Painting of the R.M.S. Aquitania
Some of the big money now came in from movie stars and royalty, other aristocracy and politicians, as the 1920s became one of the most profitable ages in ocean travel history. The Aquitania's plush and extravagant interiors remained reminiscent of an era which had been largely diminished by years of war. Even as the Roaring 20's ushered in the era of art deco, Aquitania held fast to the ideals of the early floating palaces throughout all her refits.
Postcard of the Aquitania Leaving New York
In 1932 the Aquitania was used as a pleasure cruise ship for the first time, cruising in the Mediterranean and from New York to Bermuda. Requisitioned as a troop transport on 21 November 1939, at first it was used to transport Canadian troops. During 1940 it underwent a refit in America and was defensively armed with six inch guns. From March onwards it was based in Sydney transporting Australian and New Zealand troops, also making two passages between Pearl Harbour and San Fransisco. For the remainder of the war it was employed on the Atlantic, carrying 10,000 soldiers to war with each Scotland-bound crossing, and carrying the wounded home on her return to New York. The Aquitania then served to bring of Canadian and American troops home after the fall of Germany.
Aquitania painted wartime gray.
On April 1st 1948 the Aquitania was released by the Admiralty and once again wore her Cunard colors. After a quick refit for passenger service, the Canadian government chartered the ship to carry emigrants from Southampton to Halifax. Fleeing the war-torn cities of Europe, thousands of people fled Europe to seek a new life in Canada. By December of 1949 this role had been fulfilled, and later that month Cunard announced that the Aquitania would be withdrawn from service.
Toward the end of her service her funnels were
painted but the wartime gray remained.
She had served ever since 1914, carried out her duties in two major conflicts and steamed over three million miles, completing nearly 450 voyages. In January of 1950 the vessel's furnishings and equipment were auctioned. Later that month the ship was sold to the British Iron & Steel Corporation Ltd for £125,000. The Aquitania then sailed from Southampton to Faslane, in Scotland where it was broken up.
Her four funnels gone forever, the Aquitania is scrapped.
Aquitania Set for Sea Trials
The most exceptional feature of the Aquitania, aside from its size, was the luxury of the interior passenger areas, which were far superior to anything seen on the North Atlantic before. The columned Palladian lounge and the Louis XVI-style first class dining room rose through two decks. The appearance of the large smoking rooms had been copied from the Royal Naval College in London. These fantastic interiors earned the Aquitania the nickname "Ship Beautiful." Some are shown in the postcards that follow.
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
Postcard of Cross Section, 1913
Postcard of Cross Section, 1913
The ship made only two more voyages to New York before the outbreak of World War One, when it was refitted for military service along with other highly distinguished ships such as Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Normandie and Île de France. After proving too large for use as an armed merchant cruiser, the Aquitania made three voyages as a WWI troop transport and then was converted to a hospital ship for use December 1915-January 1916 as well as November-December of 1916.The entry of the USA into the war in December 1917 brought the ship back into military service to transport the American Expeditionary Force.
Aquitania as Troop Carrier
Aquitania as Hospital Ship in World War I
The Aquitania went on to operate on the Southampton-Cherbourg-New York route, along with the Mauretania and Berengaria, and passenger accommodation was extensively modernized during annual re-fits. With improving times and ocean travel the only means of transportation across the oceans, she became one of the most profitable ocean liners in history.
Postcard of a Painting of the R.M.S. Aquitania
Some of the big money now came in from movie stars and royalty, other aristocracy and politicians, as the 1920s became one of the most profitable ages in ocean travel history. The Aquitania's plush and extravagant interiors remained reminiscent of an era which had been largely diminished by years of war. Even as the Roaring 20's ushered in the era of art deco, Aquitania held fast to the ideals of the early floating palaces throughout all her refits.
Postcard of the Aquitania Leaving New York
In 1932 the Aquitania was used as a pleasure cruise ship for the first time, cruising in the Mediterranean and from New York to Bermuda. Requisitioned as a troop transport on 21 November 1939, at first it was used to transport Canadian troops. During 1940 it underwent a refit in America and was defensively armed with six inch guns. From March onwards it was based in Sydney transporting Australian and New Zealand troops, also making two passages between Pearl Harbour and San Fransisco. For the remainder of the war it was employed on the Atlantic, carrying 10,000 soldiers to war with each Scotland-bound crossing, and carrying the wounded home on her return to New York. The Aquitania then served to bring of Canadian and American troops home after the fall of Germany.
Aquitania painted wartime gray.
On April 1st 1948 the Aquitania was released by the Admiralty and once again wore her Cunard colors. After a quick refit for passenger service, the Canadian government chartered the ship to carry emigrants from Southampton to Halifax. Fleeing the war-torn cities of Europe, thousands of people fled Europe to seek a new life in Canada. By December of 1949 this role had been fulfilled, and later that month Cunard announced that the Aquitania would be withdrawn from service.
Toward the end of her service her funnels were
painted but the wartime gray remained.
She had served ever since 1914, carried out her duties in two major conflicts and steamed over three million miles, completing nearly 450 voyages. In January of 1950 the vessel's furnishings and equipment were auctioned. Later that month the ship was sold to the British Iron & Steel Corporation Ltd for £125,000. The Aquitania then sailed from Southampton to Faslane, in Scotland where it was broken up.
R.M.S. AQUITANIA
SPECIFICATIONS
Gross Tonnage - 45,647 tons
Length – 901 Feet (275.2m)
Beam – 97 feet (29.6m)
Draft – 36 feet (11m)
Number of funnels - 4
Number of masts - 2
Construction - Steel
Propulsion – Quadruple-screw (4 shafts, 4 propellers)
Engines - Geared steam turbines; 59,000 shp
Accommodations – 3,230 passengers; 972 crew
Service speed - 23 knots; 6 days across Atlantic
LINKS
Facts and photos here overlapped on many
web sites, but some sites are most worth mentioning.
Victoria and Albert Museum's Inside an Ocean Liner: The Aquitania
A postcard collection at Great Ships - Aquitania
SPECIFICATIONS
Gross Tonnage - 45,647 tons
Length – 901 Feet (275.2m)
Beam – 97 feet (29.6m)
Draft – 36 feet (11m)
Number of funnels - 4
Number of masts - 2
Construction - Steel
Propulsion – Quadruple-screw (4 shafts, 4 propellers)
Engines - Geared steam turbines; 59,000 shp
Accommodations – 3,230 passengers; 972 crew
Service speed - 23 knots; 6 days across Atlantic
LINKS
Facts and photos here overlapped on many
web sites, but some sites are most worth mentioning.
Victoria and Albert Museum's Inside an Ocean Liner: The Aquitania
A postcard collection at Great Ships - Aquitania
