Bremen
1940
(Carlo Marquardt P-21)
- Type: Passenger
- Displacement: 51,656 tons
- Dimensions: 938 x 102 x 34 ft.
- Machinery: Geared steam turbines, quadruple screw, 135,000 SHP = 27 knots
- Passengers: 2200 (800 first class, 500 second class, 300 tourist
class, 600 third class)
- Crew: 990
- Builder: A/G Weser Shipbuilders, Bremen, Germany, 1929
- Service: Bremen built for North German Lloyd's Bremerhaven-New York service. Launched 16 Aug 1928, one day after Europa, but completed 8 months earlier on 24 Jun 1929. Departing on her maiden voyage 16 Jul 1929, she immediately captured the Blue Riband, crossing the Atlantic from Cherbourg to Ambrose at an average speed of 27.83 knots. Her return voyage averaged 27.92 knots from Ambrose to Eddystone. She lost the Blue Riband to Europa in 1930, but after improvements to the engines and the elimination of vibrations in the after section, Bremen regained it in 1933 with a westward crossing of 28.51 knots. However in Aug she surrendered it to the new Italian liner Rex
She entered New York for the last time 28 Aug 1939, but with the outbreak of WW2 imminent, departed two days later without passengers, diverting to Murmansk where she arrived 6 Sep. She returned safely to Bremerhaven 13 Dec 1939. She became a naval accommodation ship in 1940, then transferred to Hamburg to be fitted out as a transport for Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of Britain. When the plans were canceled she returned to Bremerhaven. On 16 Mar 1941, a cabin-boy started a fire in one of the ship's storerooms as revenge for a 'box on the ears'; the ship was completely burnt out. The wreck was scrapped and the last remains sunk in the Weser River.
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