RMS Mauretania

RMS Mauretania was the English-built sister of the Scottish-built Lusitania.  Also designed by Leonard Peskett for the Cunard Line, Mauretania was built by Wigham Richardson and Swan Hunter and launched on 20 September 1906.

Entering service on 16 November 1907, she was the Cunard Line flagship before the First World War.  One of the most famous and most popular Atlantic liners, Mauretania was also the fastest ship on the North Atlantic. She won the Eastbound Blue Riband on the return leg of her maiden voyage in December 1907 and engaged in a period of friendly rivalry for the title of world’s fastest ship with Lusitania, until Mauretania captured the westbound speed record in 1909 and held it for 20 years until 1929.

Mauretania remained in service until 1934 when the newly-merged Cunard White Star retired her. She was scrapped in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1935.

Contributors:
Eric Longo, USA

References:
Ballard, Robert D. and Spencer Dunmore.  Exploring the Lusitania.  Warner Books, 1995.

Braynard, Frank O. and William H. Miller.  Fifty Famous Liners, Volume I.  W. W. Norton & Company, 1982.

Kludas, Arnold.  Great Passenger Ships of the World, Volume I.  Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1975.

“Mauretania I.”  Cunard Heritage.  Web.  28 April 2011.  <http://www.cunard.com/About-Cunard-Line/Cunard-Heritage/The-Fleet/Mauretania-I/>.

“Queen with a Fighting Heart” by Franklin D. Roosevelt.  World Ship Society.  Web. 29 April 2011.  <http://www.worldshipny.com/mauretania100.shtml>.

“RMS Mauretania.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 July 2004. Web. 28 April 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Mauretania>

Sauder, Eric.  RMS Lusitania:  The Ship & Her Record.  Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2005.