| RMS Mauretania |
| Design and Construction |
| Prewar Years |
| Service for Her Country |
| Return to Normalcy |
| A New Generation |
| Mauretania Specifications |
Just like Lusitania, Mauretania was conceived as the British answer to growing German naval and American commercial dominance of the North Atlantic. In 1903, the Cunard Line and British Government came to an agreement where the government would provide a loan of £2,600,000 to build Lusitania and Mauretania with the provision that the ship would have a service speed of no slower than 24 ½ knots and could be requisitioned by the British Admiralty as Armed Merchant Cruisers during times of war. The British Government also agreed to pay Cunard an additional £150,000 per year for the ships to carry royal mail.
Both ships were designed by Leonard Peskett, and the original 1903 plans showed Lusitania and Mauretania as three-funneled ships powered by reciprocating engines. As the sisters’ designs evolved, in 1904 the sisters became four-funneled ships powered by Parsons turbines.
Mauretania’s construction was contracted out to Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richarsdon at Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. To protect the nascent ship from the elements, Mauretania would be constructed under a roof.
Her construction did not proceed as smoothly as Lusitania’s at John Brown and Company in Clydebank, Scotland. Swan Hunter was consistently asking Cunard for more input on construction advice. A March 1906 surveyor’s report to Cunard’s directors wrote that “work on this ship [Mauretania] is satisfactory but not so far advanced as in the Lusitania.”
Cunard decided the names Lusitania and Mauretania on 15 February 1906, but it would take until 23 May for the company to decide whether the spelling “Mauretania” or “Mauritania” would be used, where Cunard opted for the spelling with an “e.”
Mauretania was launched on 20 September 1906, 3 ½ months after Lusitania. Mauretania was christened by the Duchess of Roxburghe. Being slightly larger than Lusitania, Mauretania was the largest ship in the world until the introduction of White Star Line’s Olympic, which was launched in 1910 and entered service in 1911.
Mauretania and Lusitania were distinguishable by their vents, as Mauretania had cowl vents and Lusitania had oil-drum shaped vents. Mauretania was also slightly longer, and the forward end of her superstructure was not stepped, as Lusitania’s was.
As for Mauretania’s machinery, the English sister had two extra stages of turbine blades in her forward turbines that Lusitania did not. Both sisters pioneered Charles Parsons’ steam turbine engine technology for express ships. Mauretania and Lusitania were the only ships with direct-drive steam turbines to hold the Blue Riband. Later ships would use reduction-geared turbines.
Much like Lusitania, Mauretania’s high speed also caused major vibration, requiring interior strengthening and redesigned propellers to fix the problem before entering service.
Mauretania’s saloon interiors were designed by English architect Harold Peto. In contrast to Lusitania’s light and airy feel as designed by Scottish architect James Millar, Peto chose dark, rich woods that gave Mauretania the impression of an exclusive gentlemen’s preserve. Mauretania’s public rooms used 28 different types of wood carved by 300 craftsmen from Palestine. Her public rooms also included marble, tapestries, and other furnishings.
The first class dining saloon, while practically identical in specifications with Lusitania’s, had a completely different personality. Mauretania’s dining room was decorated in Francis I style with rich woods that covered not only the room but also the dome above.
Similar to Lusitania, Mauretania also had two elevators for saloon, around which the grand staircase wrapped. The aft end of the boat deck also featured a verandah café.
Hello,
Its mention were the only ships with direct drive steam turbines? I presume that’s to the propellers. There also must be a thrust bearing block to prevent any side thrust on the turbine blades. So were is the thrust block position? As on Titanic turbine the thrust block is behind the engine between the switchover valve. Is that the same position for Lusitania & Mauretania ships too?
Mike.
First I would like to say the article is a good one. However the financial arrangement needs to be clarified. The America commercial North Atlantic domination did not go quite to plan! The plan driven by Mr JP Morgan properly the most successful America tycoon ever. Morgan was a banker and a very hard headed finical business man and what achieved was quite staggering to the point of nearly spinning a spider web over the America economy. What does he know about the shipping world? Not an awful lot! He realise others giving good advise which has happen in the past with railways companies, tractors, eclectic, and steel companies. Just to mention a few companies as there were others to. But this time he catches a cold with not given the correct advice from Mr Clermont Griscom of America Line who is fighting his own battle to get a foot hold into the Atlantic route. The North Atlantic routes are been dominated by the European shipping companies were one can see changes are happing in Europe to. Britain at one time had over 80% of the market with main competitions coming from France and Germany the 80% is shrinking were Britain still has 50%.Certlainty the two big companies in Germany expanding at a faster rate than the others. Hamburg America and North German Lloyd Lines. Mr Albert Ballin of Hamburg America is the and shrewdest and smartest business man in the shipping world. There are others too who are very smart business men too. In business terms Morgan is stepping into a mine field. We can see frustration is boiler over here as by 1890 America is the largest economy in the world. Yet so little is been shipped on American ships. The deal Ballin struck with Morgan for 20 years subsiding passenger fairs was a smart one for the German Lines and not for Morgan. The problem with Morgan he is starting lose the plot. His age and health is starting going against him and looking at the other deals going on at the same time he is just taking on far to much. Politics will play a major part of this too as Morgan will badly underestimate. He will find out that he is to get no help from Governments like Britain, Germany, France and America too. He is on his own here In forming Internal Mercantile Marine Company and took quite a few years to put together. In fact the longest of all Morgan business plan and lands up by paying far too much for the fleet of 125 ships 20% of Atlantic market. Over valued the company with falling prices in shares stocks and a lack of dividends payments. Lumped with a safe full of unsold share certificates. IMMC would turn out to be the only major serious flop Morgan had to his incredible successful career. Part of the IMMC plan was Cunard Line were British Government took a stand to stop the company falling into the American hands. Which Morgan never saw this coming.The £2.6 million loan given to Cunard for two ships at a 2.75% interest over a 20 year plan was a bargain not to be turn down! A further £70,000 per year was given for Royal Mail service. Followed by £150,000 per year for maintaining of the two ships. The two ships Lusitania & Mauritania were no ordinal ships. Not only the world biggest a ships a float at the time. But a high speed luxury liner with the state of the art of steam turbines with modern steering gear to.The British Government deal in this they can take control of the ships at five minutes notices for war duties. We can see the British Admiralty architects took control of the hull design were two years water tank testing took place to streamline the hull to cut through water. With further improvements to many more water tight bulkhead than a commercial ships would had.The better quality steel was used that commercial ship 36% stronger in tensile strength. The ships were an instant success taking the blue ribbon crossing with ease and holding on to it for 22 years. These are what the well off passengers want to sail on. This a disaster for Morgan and now faces very turf act to follows as White Star answer is the Olympic &Titanic ships which must offer better fetchers. The theme of the two ships is built on grander space and luxury never see before. As for speed is just to much cost for turbines with a bigger ship 50% more you are going to require even bigger turbines! Must remember Cunard have a huge financial gain on White Star through that special loan from the British Government as Morgan was not to get one! The true cost of Lusitania & Mauritania were higher than £2.6 million but at the Government expensive . As mention the Mauritania turbines were more horse power.That’s only due the Parsons factory was near on Swan Hunter shipyard door step were that utter genius of a man Parsons can add his improvements quickly. As John Brown were making there engines under license from Parsons.One step behind. Yes John Brown did build the Lusitania quicker than Swan Hunter that due to John Brown shipyard was more efficient. One can certainty see that when Harland & Wolff built Olympic & Titanic using non a standard gantry for commercial ships! Very costly too as John Brown spent no were as much using the standard practice to build commercial ships like Lusitania and Aquitania. A change of leadership in any company can make a world of different Mr William Pirrie!
Mike.