Reliance and Resolute: the White Cruising Yachts

On the eve of the Great War, HAPAG (Hamburg-America Line) began construction on two 20,000 ton liners, the William O’Swald and Johann Heinrich Burchard.  When the war ended the two ships were completed and given as reparations to Holland. 

Reliance and Resolute embody a classic steamship design with three funnels, two masts, and a graceful counter stern.  1:1250 model by Mercator.

The ships were renamed and sailed on the South America run until 1922 when they were sold to United American Lines in New York.  The sister ships were renamed again Resolute and Reliance and sailed on the transatlantic run between New York and Hamburg.

Reliance at sea.

In 1926 the ships were sold back to HAPAG and alternated between the Atlantic run and cruise service.  Reliance and Resolute were popular cruise ships of the 1920s and 1930s.  The “white cruising yachts” took passengers on a range of getaways from weekends in the West Indies to four-month around the world voyages.  Wintertime cruises were among Reliance’s most exclusive.  An all first-class, 27-day amble in the Caribbean cost a minimum of $250 in 1926.

Reliance leaving port.

On August 7, 1938, Reliance caught fire at her Hamburg berth and was declared a total loss.  Her remains were scrapped by the Krupp Company at Bremerhaven and no doubt became shot and shell during the Second World War.  Resolute was sold to the Italians in 1935 and became a troopship, Lombardia.  She was damaged in an allied attack on Naples and scrapped in 1947 in Spezia.

Reliance built by J.C. Tecklenborg Shipyard, Geestemunde, Germany for HAPAG, 1920.  19,582 GRT, 615 feet long, 71 feet wide.  Triple expansion engines and one steam turbine geared to triple screw.  Service speed 16 knots.  As completed, 1,010 total passengers (290 first class, 320 second class, 400 third class).