Welcome to our page on the Bismarck/RMS Majestic.
Stats:
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| The Bismarck at sea. |
| Captain |
Unknown |
| Passenger Accommodation |
1st class-700
2nd class-545
3rd class-850 |
| Service Speed |
23 knots |
| Gross Tonnage |
56,551 tons |
| Launch Date |
June 20, 1914 |
| Date of Demise |
September 29, 1939 |
History of the Ship
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| The Bismarck spewing smoke. |
The construction on the Bismarck began in 1907. It was originally built for the Hamburg America Line by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as the Bismarck. At that time , it was the world’s largest ship. It’s keel plate was laid by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1913. It sisters ships were the Imperator, which later became the Cunard vessel Berengaria, and the Vaterland. Her launching on June 20, 1914 was one of the most celebrated maritime events of the time, but only eight days later the gunshots at Sarajevo kileed the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand, leading to war within a month. The outbreak of the First World War, in August 1914, meant that work on the ship was suspended.
The Hamburg America Line hoped to enjoy its third and largest of its supertrio but the Allies had other plans. After Germany defeat in World War I, Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles. It ordered Germany to complete the ship (Bismarck) and hand it over to the British Government. Construction was delayed deliberately by the slowness of the workers and shortages of steel. In 1919, the ship was handed over to the British Government and bought jointly by the White Star and Cunard. In 1920, work on the ship was further delayed as it was badly damaged by a fire, suspected sabotage by the German workers as they had no intention of giving up the ship. Work was finally finished at Hamburg in March 1922. When the White Star members, the Bismarck’s new owner, arrived in Hamburg to look at the ship they found the funnels in Hamburg-America colors and the name Bismarck on the bow. The shipyard workers also converted the captain’s cabin in a garbage closet. The ship was finally delivered to Liverpool in 1922 at the end of March. Her trials were held in the Irish Sea.
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| The Bismarck as the RMS Majestic. |
On April 12 she was renamed as the Majestic. On its maiden voyage for White Star on May 10 on the Southampton to New York route. In September 1923, the ship broke two records. Firstly it made the fastest crossing, in 5 days, 5 hours and 21 minutes, and secondly on one voyage it carried a total of 2,625 passengers, one of the company’s highest. In 1925 it went on to make a crossing in 5 days at an average speed of 25 knots.
In 1928, the Majestic went to Boston Navy Dockyard to be refitted. During the early 1930’s it ran summer cruises between New York and Halifax, along with the Olympic. In July 1934 the ship became part of the newly formed Cunard-White Star company and replaced the Mauretania on the Southampton-New York service. In 1935 the Normandie replaced it as the world’s largest ship. In February 1936 it made its last voyage for Cunard and was replaced by the Queen Mary.
After this the ship was laid up at Southampton and was then sold on May 15 for scrapping. The Admiralty, however, purchased the ship in July to be converted into a Cadets’ Training ship. Conversion work was carried out at at Southampton, including the shortening of the masts and funnels so that it could under the Forth Bridge. Afetr this it was renamed HMS Caledonia. On 8 April 1937 it left Southampton for its base in Rosyth and it was set sail on 23 April with a capacity for 1,500 boys and 500 artificer apprentices. The outbreak of World War II, in September 1939, meant that the cadets were withdrawn to shore accommodation and the ship was vacated for Naval use. It was temporarily anchored in the Firth of Forth whilst its future role was considered.
On 29 September 1939 the Caledonia caught fire, burnt out and sank in Rosyth. In march 1940 it was sold to Thomas W. Ward for demolition and salvage work was commenced. It was not until 17 July 1943 that the ship was raised and towed five miles to the scrap yard.
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