The thrill of speed has always fascinated thrill-seekers and adventurers, and the fastest ocean liner in history is no exception. For decades, the world’s finest shipbuilders have been competing to create the fastest and most luxurious ocean liner, and thousands of ocean liners have been launched in the process. But, which ocean liner holds the record of being the fastest in the world? Let’s find out.
In the early 20th century, the quest for the fastest ocean liner was in full swing, and the Cunard Line and White Star Line were the two main competitors in the race. However, in 1907, the Cunard Line launched their flagship vessel – the Lusitania – and it immediately set out to break all speed records.
The Lusitania was a magnificent, 787-foot long ship with four immense funnels, which made her the driving force of Cunard’s fleet. The ship was designed with a maximum speed of 25 knots, making her one of the fastest ships of her era. However, the Lusitania wasn’t the fastest ocean liner for long.
In 1911, White Star Line launched their flagship, the Titanic, and she was immediately hailed as the most luxurious and modern ship of the time. However, she wasn’t the fastest. White Star Line had another ace up their sleeve – the RMS Adriatic.
The RMS Adriatic was launched in 1907, just before the Lusitania. She was designed to be the largest and fastest ship of the White Star Line, with a top speed of 17 knots. However, as it often happens, the Adriatic’s speed was outmatched by her sister ship, the RMS Oceanic in 1914.
The RMS Oceanic was launched in 1899 as the largest ship in the world at that time. She was designed with a top speed of 19 knots, and she held this record until 1914, when the Mauretania, the sister ship of Lusitania, was launched. The Mauretania was the first ship to have steam turbine engines and was designed to reach speeds of over 27 knots.
The Mauretania held the record for the fastest ship in the world until 1929 when it was finally broken by the German ship, the Bremen. The Bremen had an incredible top speed of 27.9 knots, breaking the Mauretania’s record by a mere 0.1 knots. However, the Bremen’s time as the fastest ship in the world was also short-lived, as she was surpassed by the Italian liner, the Rex in 1933.
The Rex was designed with a top speed of 28.9 knots, and she held the record for almost a decade. However, in 1940, she was overshadowed by the German liner, the Blue Riband, which had a top speed of 30 knots.
The quest for the fastest ocean liner is a never-ending one. For over a century, different ships have held the title, with each one being bigger, faster, and more luxurious than the one before. The modern-day ocean liner is now more about luxury than speed, but the history of the fastest ocean liner remains an exciting and fascinating part of maritime history.