RMS Queen Mary Timeline

(1934 - Present)

The RMS Queen Mary was a British ocean liner built by John Brown & Company in Clydebank, Scotland, for the Cunard Line. Launched in 1934, she was one of the largest and fastest passenger ships of her era, holding the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing. During World War II she served as a troopship, nicknamed the 'Grey Ghost.' Retired in 1967, she is now permanently moored in Long Beach, California, as a floating hotel and museum. More Less

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Design and Construction

Cunard announces plans for two new superliners

1930

The Cunard Line announced plans to build two new ocean liners, later named Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, to replace the aging Mauretania and maintain British dominance in transatlantic passenger service.

Construction of hull 534 begins at John Brown & Company

Dec 1, 1930

Construction of the ship known as Hull 534 began at the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland. The Great Depression soon halted work, leaving the unfinished hull standing for years.

British government loan rescues the liner project

Apr 1934

Work resumed after the British government agreed to lend Cunard money to complete Hull 534, on condition that Cunard merge with its rival White Star Line, forming Cunard-White Star Line.

Hull 534 is launched as RMS Queen Mary

Sep 26, 1934

The massive hull was launched on the River Clyde and christened RMS Queen Mary by Her Majesty Queen Mary, wife of King George V, in a ceremony attended by huge crowds.

Queen Mary completes sea trials

Mar 1936

Queen Mary underwent sea trials off the coast of Scotland, demonstrating her power and handling before being handed over to Cunard-White Star Line for commercial service.

Image source: RMS Queen Mary

Service Years

Maiden voyage from Southampton to New York

May 27, 1936

Queen Mary departed Southampton on her maiden voyage under Captain Edgar Britten, carrying over 1,800 passengers to New York amid great fanfare.

Queen Mary wins the Blue Riband from Normandie

Aug 1936

Queen Mary captured the Blue Riband for the fastest westbound Atlantic crossing, averaging nearly 30 knots and wresting the honor from the French liner Normandie.

Image source: Blue Riband

Blue Riband lost briefly to Normandie

Aug 1937

The French liner Normandie reclaimed the Blue Riband with a record crossing, setting up a friendly rivalry between the two great liners.

Image source: SS Normandie

Queen Mary regains the Blue Riband

Aug 1938

Queen Mary won back the Blue Riband with a record westbound crossing at an average speed exceeding 30 knots, records she held until 1952.

Two-ship weekly transatlantic express service

1947

Together with Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary enabled a reliable weekly two-ship express service between Southampton and New York, the height of the golden age of ocean travel.

Refitted and returned to passenger service

Jul 31, 1947

Following a refit at Southampton restoring her luxurious interiors, Queen Mary re-entered transatlantic passenger service alongside her sister ship RMS Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Mary carries record passenger load

1957

In the peak postwar years, Queen Mary routinely crossed the Atlantic near capacity, carrying over 2,000 passengers per voyage across all classes.

Jet airliners begin eroding transatlantic liner traffic

Oct 1958

The introduction of commercial jet airliners across the Atlantic dramatically cut travel times, causing a steep decline in demand for ocean liner crossings and dooming the great ships' profitability.

Image source: De Havilland Comet

Queen Mary runs aground near Cherbourg

Jan 8, 1965

On approach to Cherbourg in heavy weather, Queen Mary ran aground on a sandbank but was successfully refloated without major damage and completed her voyage.

World War II

Final peacetime passenger crossing

Aug 30, 1939

With war looming, Queen Mary completed her last civilian passenger voyage, arriving in New York days before Germany invaded Poland.

Queen Mary ordered to remain in New York

Sep 1939

At the outbreak of World War II, Queen Mary was ordered to stay in New York harbor, where she lay idle alongside other stranded liners.

Conversion into a troopship begins in Sydney

Mar 1940

Queen Mary sailed to Sydney, Australia, where she was stripped of her luxurious fittings, repainted grey, and converted to carry thousands of Allied troops as a troopship.

Nicknamed the 'Grey Ghost'

May 1940

Painted naval grey and sailing swiftly without lights or radio signals, Queen Mary earned the nickname 'Grey Ghost' for her elusive wartime passages.

Accidental collision sinks HMS Curacoa

Oct 2, 1942

While carrying American troops off the Irish coast, Queen Mary accidentally rammed and sank her escort cruiser HMS Curacoa, killing 337 men. She could not stop due to U-boat threat and continued on.

Image source: HMS Curacoa (D41)

Churchill travels aboard Queen Mary

1943

Prime Minister Winston Churchill crossed the Atlantic aboard Queen Mary several times during the war, reportedly stating that the ship helped shorten the war by a year.

Image source: Winston Churchill

Record-setting troop transport voyages

Jul 1943

Queen Mary carried up to about 16,000 troops per crossing during the buildup for D-Day; Winston Churchill credited her with shortening the war by transporting soldiers so rapidly.

War bride and veteran repatriation voyages

Sep 1945

After the war, Queen Mary carried thousands of American war brides and their children to the United States, and ferried returning servicemen home across the Atlantic.

Image source: War bride

Retirement and Legacy

Cunard announces Queen Mary's retirement plans

1963

Facing mounting losses, Cunard began planning the retirement of Queen Mary, considering offers from cities around the world to preserve the legendary liner.

Long Beach selected as Queen Mary's final home

1967

After bids from multiple cities, Long Beach, California purchased Queen Mary for preservation as a hotel and museum, outbidding rivals including New York and Tokyo.

Final transatlantic crossing

Oct 27, 1967

Queen Mary completed her last transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York, concluding more than three decades of scheduled liner service.

Last voyage to Long Beach via Panama Canal

Nov 9, 1967 - Dec 9, 1967

Queen Mary departed New York on her final voyage, passing through the Panama Canal — which required partial dredging to accommodate her beam — and arriving at Long Beach to a hero's welcome.

Image source: Panama Canal

Queen Mary opens as a hotel and museum in Long Beach

1971

After conversion, Queen Mary opened permanently berthed at Long Beach as a floating hotel, restaurant, and maritime museum, welcoming visitors from around the world.

Image source: Queen Mary Land

Spruce Goose dome added to Queen Mary attraction

1983

Howard Hughes' enormous Spruce Goose flying boat was displayed beside Queen Mary in a geodesic dome until it was relocated in the early 1990s.

Image source: Hughes H-4 Hercules

Queen Mary listed on National Register of Historic Places

1993

The historic liner received recognition on the National Register of Historic Places, cementing her status as an important piece of American and maritime heritage.

Ongoing restoration efforts preserve the ship

2015

Facing structural deterioration, the city of Long Beach undertook extensive critical repairs and long-term restoration projects to preserve Queen Mary for future generations.

Key Facts

The RMS Queen Mary was launched on September 26, 1934, at Clydebank, Scotland, with King George V's consort Queen Mary attending the ceremony.
In August 1936, she won the Blue Riband by crossing the Atlantic from Bishop Rock to Ambrose Light in 3 days, 23 hours, and 57 minutes.
During World War II, painted grey and nicknamed the 'Grey Ghost,' she carried up to 16,000 troops per voyage and Winston Churchill credited her with shortening the war.
On October 2, 1942, while carrying Allied troops, she accidentally sank the British cruiser HMS Curacoa, killing over 300 sailors.
Retired from Cunard service in December 1967 after over 1,000 Atlantic crossings, the Queen Mary was sold to Long Beach, California, where she opened as a hotel and tourist attraction in 1971.

Source

This RMS Queen Mary timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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