Queen Mary

1936

(Classic Ship Collection CSC-002VR)

Type: Passenger
Displacement: 80,774 tons
Dimensions: 1,019 x 118 x 39 ft.
Machinery: Parsons geared steam turbines, quadruple screw, 200,000 SHP = 30 knots
Passengers: 2,139 (776 cabin class, 784 tourist class, 579 third class)
Crew: 1,101

Builder: John Brown & Company, Limited, Clydebank, Scotland, 1930-36

Service: Built for Cunard-White Star Line. Laid down 27 Dec 1930, but construction halted the following Dec because of the Depression. Work recommenced Apr 1934; launched by HM Queen Mary 26 Sep. Last three-funnel passenger liner. Maiden voyage 27 May 1936 Southampton-Cherbourg-New York. Took the Blue Riband from Normandie in Aug 1936 with a record run of 30.14 knots westbound (Bishops Rock to Ambrose) and 30.63 knots on the return eastbound. In Mar and Jul 1937 the Normandie reclaimed the records, but in Aug 1938 the Queen Mary reclaimed both with a westbound transit at 30.99 knots and eastbound return at 31.69 knots. These records stood until lost to the SS United States in 1952
Laid up at New York in Sep 1939 after outbreak of WW2. Commissioned as a troopship 1 May 1940 and sailed to Sydney, Australia for conversion. Could transport up to 15,000 troops at a time on the North Atlantic crossing. On 2 Oct 1942, while zig-zagging at high speed, she sliced the stern off escorting cruiser HMS Curacao which sank immediately with the loss of 338 lives; Queen Mary continued without significant damage. Final trooping voyage Sep 1946.
Returned to John Brown's for conversion back to passenger liner. After refit she measured 81,237 GRT with passenger accommodations for 711 first class, 707 cabin class, 577 tourist class. First postwar voyage 31 Jul 1947 Southampton-Cherbourg-Plymouth-New York. Fitted with stabilizers 1958. On 27 Sep 1967 she arrived at Southampton at the end of her 1,000th, and final, voyage. Sold to City of Long Beach, California in Nov; refitted as a museum-hotel-convention center, 1968-71. She has resided there now for longer than she sailed the high seas.