RMS Queen Mary

The Queen Mary, one of the grandest passenger ships ever built in the "golden age" of ship construction, sailed for the Cunard Lines of Britain after completion in 1936. It had a varied life of service; transportation of the rich and famous and refugees from Europe's Great Depression, troop transport for the 750,000 soldiers crossing the Atlantic both ways during World War II, and prestigious Atlantic travel in the late 1940s to the mid-1960s.

The availability of international jet travel in the 1960s made its 4-day crossing too long for business use, and its bumpy ride inadequate as a cruise ship.

It was refurbished as a hotel and now attracts guests and tourists in Long Beach, California.

Statistics

• Overall Length: 1,019.5 ft. (310.74 m.)
• Overall Length: 1,019.5 ft. (310.74 m.)
• Gross Tonnage: 81,237 gross tons (230,039 cu. m.)
• Constructed by: John Brown & Co., LTD., Clydebank, Scotland
• Commissioned by: Cunard Steamship Co., LTD.
• Keel Laid: December 1, 1930
• Date Launched: September 26, 1934
• Maiden Voyage: May 27, 1936
• Portholes: Over 2,000
• Rivets: Over 10 million
• Hull Plates: 8 ft. (2.44 m) to 30 ft. (9.14 m.) in length; up to 1.25 in. (3.2 cm.) thick
• Moulded Breadth: 118 ft. (35.97 m.)
• Height from Keel to Forward Smokestack Top: 181 ft. (55.17 m.)
• Height from Keel to Promenade Deck: 92.5 ft. (28.19 m.)
• Height from Keel to Top of Foremast: 237 ft. (72.24 m.)
• Number of Decks: 12
• Height from Keel to Top of Foremast: 237 ft. (72.24 m.)
• Passenger Capacity: 1,957
• Officers and Crew: 1,174
• Horsepower: 160,000
• Cruising Speed: 28.5 knots (55.17 km./hr.)
• Rudder: 140 tons
• Whistles: 3 - Steam type. Two on forward funnel, one on middle funnel. Each over 6 ft,. (1.83 m.) long, weighing 2,205 LB. (1,002 kg.)
• Lifeboat Capacity: 145 persons
• Smokestacks: 3 - Elliptical in shape; 36 ft. (10.97 m.) fore and aft, 23.3 ft. (7.1 m.) wide
• Smokestack Height: Forward: 70.5 ft. (21.49 m.) Middle: 67.5 ft. (20.57 m.) Aft: 62.25 ft. (18.97 m.)
• Boilers: 27
• Fuel Consumption: 13 ft./gal (1 m./l.)
• Draft: 39 ft. 4-9/16 in. (12.00 m.)
• Bow Anchors: 2 @ 16 tons (16,291 kg.)
• Anchor Height: 18 ft. (5.48 m.)
• Length of Promenade Deck: 724 ft. (220.68 m.)
• Length of Anchor Chain: 990 ft.
• Weight of Anchor Chain: 45 tons (45.818 kg.)
• Anchor Chain Link: 2 ft. (61 cm.) long, weighing 224 LB. (101.8 kg.)

Service

• War Service: March 1940 - September 1946
• War History: Carried a total of 765,429 military personnel. Sailed a total of 569,429 miles (916,407 km). Carried up to 15,000 troops at one time. Carried wounded returning to the United States. Transported Winston Churchill three times to conferences. Carried 12,886 G.I. brides and children.
• Resumed Peacetime Passenger Service: July 31, 1947
• Retired from Regular Passenger Service: September 19, 1967 (after completing 1,001 crossings of the Atlantic)
• Departed on "Last Great Cruise": 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 31, 1967
• Arrived in Long Beach, California: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 9, 1967
• Change of Ownership: Removed from British registry and officially turned over ownership to the City of Long Beach at 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 11, 1967