Cunard White Star Line Launching of Rms Mauretania Birkenhead, England (1938)

Synopsis

This silent film from 1938 shows the launch of the "new" RMS Mauretania. This second Mauretania was built by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead and was the largest ship built in England at that time. At:48 a crowd assembles for the launching and the hull of the ship is seen at the drydock. The date is 28 July 1938. At 1:21 Sir Percy E. Bates the chairman of Cunard Lines arrives along with Lady Bates, to christen the ship. At 2:47 the blocks are broken out and at 2:57 as the tide rises to over 12', anticipation rises. At 3:30 Lady Bates christens the liner and its name is revealed. At 4:08 the ship slips down the ways. At 5;42 the anchor is dropped for the first time and then the tugs guide the ship into its berth for completion. RMS Mauretania was launched on 28 July 1938 at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, England, and was completed in May 1939. The second Mauretania was the first ship built for the newly formed Cunard White Star company following the merger in April 1934 of the Cunard and White Star Line. On the withdrawal of the first RMS Mauretania in 1934, to prevent a rival company using the name and to keep it available for the new liner, arrangements were made for the Red Funnel paddle steamer Queen to be renamed Mauretania in the interim. The new liner had a tonnage of 35,739 gross, an overall length of 772 feet (235 m) and a beam of 89 feet (27 m) and had a exterior design similar to RMS Queen Elizabeth. The vessel was powered by two sets of Parsons single…

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Details

Running time

7 minutes

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage