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The Hamburg Amerika Line designed
Deutschland to be larger and
faster than the North German Lloyd
Line’s 14,349-ton Kaiser Wilhelm
Der Grosse. On July 6th 1900,
Deutschland set out on her maiden
voyage from Hamburg - Plymouth/England
and New York. After completing the
crossing in six days, she took the Blue
Riband from Kaiser Wilhelm Der
Grosse by averaging 22.42 knots. Many
passengers soon avoided traveling on
Deutschland as she became infamous
for her serious vibration problems.
Deutschland held the Blue Riband
in both directions until the North German
Lloyd Line’s Kronprinz
Wilhelm took the westbound record in
1902. The following year,
Deutschland regained the westbound
record, an honor she held until
Cunard’s Lusitania entered
service in 1907. Deutschland held
the eastbound record until the North
German Lloyd Line’s Kaiser
Wilhelm took that title in 1904.
Deutschland was returned to
her builders in 1910 to undergo a major
refit. Although less powerful engines
were installed at that time in an attempt
to cure the vibration problems, the main
reason for the refit was to convert her
to a cruise ship. She reappeared from the
shipyard in 1911 under the name
Victoria Louise. The success of
the conversion saw her credited with
being finest cruise ship in the world.
That new role normally consisted of
cruises to the West Indies, Mediterranean
and Scandinavia. Severe mechanical
problems arising in 1914 led to
Victoria Louise being laid
up throughout World War One. These
problems turned out to be a savior for
the Hamburg Amerika Line as when the war
came to an end in 1918, Victoria
Louise was the only large German
liner not to be confiscated by the
Allies. The completion of repairs in 1921
saw the Hamburg Amerika Line return her
to the Hamburg - New York run under the
name Hansa. The arrival of
new larger post war liners led to
Hansa being taken out of service
in 1924 and scrapped at Hamburg in
1925.
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