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The economic depression of the late
1920s/early 1930s forced the merger of
the Cunard and White Star lines in June
1934. The new company had recovered
enough by 1937 to place an order for
their first ship since the amalgamation.
With Cunards 31,938-ton Mauretania
having been scrapped in 1935, the
decision was taken to use that name for
the new ship. The second
Mauretania set out on her maiden
voyage from Liverpool - New York June
17th 1939. On her second return journey,
she called at Southampton, Le Havre and
London. Mauretania’s arrival
at London saw her become the largest ship
to have navigated the River Thames and
use the Royal Docks.
Just two months after
Mauretania entered service, the
outbreak of World War Two led to the
British Admiralty requisitioning her to
serve as a troopship.
Mauretania’s first
assignments were to transport troops
between Australia, Suez, India and
Singapore. The final year of the war saw
her used to transport US troops to the
war in Europe. After completing her
repatriation duties, Mauretania
was returned to the Cunard/White Star
Line October 2nd 1946. She then had to
have her interiors restored before
returning to the Atlantic run April 26th
1947, two months before Cunard took full
control of the White Star Line. Due to
the ever-decreasing amount of passengers
crossing the Atlantic by liner, in 1962,
Cunard had Mauretania’s hull
painted light green before operating her
as a full time cruise ship. These cruises
were normally out of New York to various
ports throughout the Mediterranean and
Caribbean. Mauretania set out on
her final cruise from New York -
Mediterranean September 15th 1965. She
arrived back at Southampton for the last
time November 10th 1965 and set out for
the scrap yards at Inverkeithing/Scotland
12 days later.
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