The Second Mauretania

When the first Mauretania was scrapped in 1935, Cunard arranged for a Red Funnel paddle steamer, the soon to be retired Queen to be renamed Mauretania in order to prevent a rival company using the name and to keep it available for a new liner.   The second RMS Mauretania was launched on 28 July 1938 at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, England and was completed in May 1939. 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 lines.

1:1250 model of Mauretania by Carlo Marquardt.

Mauretania debuted in between the Queen Mary (1936) and Queen Elizabeth (1940) but her exterior was much like Elizabeth’s.  Her lines were study and rounded and she lacked the number of exposed ventilators and the open well deck of the Mary.  She cut a fine figure with two oval funnels, a slightly raked bow, and cruiser stern. 

Mauretania at Ocean Terminal.  

The new Mauretania's smart and stylish accommodation marked a further enhancement to the standards of cabins, public rooms and general facilities provided for passengers of all grades by Cunard White Star Line.  Her interiors were a subdued art deco style and she was designed to take leisurely Atlantic crossings from Liverpool, to fill in for the Queens on the Southampton run, and to sail on extended cruises in the off-season. 

Mauretania was in service when the Second World War began.  She was armed, painted grey and spent time in limbo before conversion to a troop transport. 

Mauretania as a troop transport.  This is photograph FL 10026 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

After a complete overhaul and refurbishment of the interior, Mauretania made her first post-war Atlantic crossing to New York, departing on 26 April 1947. After using Liverpool as her home port for the first two voyages she was thereafter based at Southampton.

Docking the Mauretania.  

During the next decade she served on the Southampton to New York route during the summer months and operated on cruises from New York during the winter months. When Mauretania was taken in for her annual overhaul at Liverpool in December 1957 the opportunity was taken to fit air conditioning throughout the ship.

By 1962, however, she was facing competition from much more modern ships and was beginning to lose money for Cunard Line. In October 1962 the ship was painted pale green, like Caronia (the famed Green Goddess), but she could not compete with newer ships designed exclusively for cruising.  Like the Queens, she lost out to travelers who chose to fly rather than sail.

Souvenir "jolly boy" sailor doll, ca. 1960 and 1:1250 model of Mauretania.

In 1965 Mauretania was withdrawn from service and sold. She was scrapped at Ward's shipbreaking yard in Inverkeithing, Fife in Scotland. She was never as popular, profitable or as well remembered as the first Mauretania but was a fine ship in her own right.  She served proudly in war, carried thousands of passengers on pleasant voyages, but was lost to a changing economy. 

RMS Mauretania (1939-1965).  Built by Cammell Laird & Company, Birkenhead, England.  35, 665 GRT.  772 feet long, 89 feet wide.  Steam turbines geared to twin screw. Service speed 23 knots.  1,140 Total Passengers (470 first class, 370 cabin class, 300 tourist class).