What was the history and service career of RMS Aquitania?

RMS Aquitania was a grand British ocean liner operated by the Cunard Line from 1914 until 1950. Designed by Leonard Peskett and built in Clydebank, she served as a luxury passenger vessel, an auxiliary cruiser, a hospital ship, and a troop transport during both World Wars. Affectionately nicknamed "the Ship Beautiful" and "Old Reliable," she concluded her career as the last surviving four-funnelled ocean liner.

What we know

• RMS Aquitania was launched on 21 April 1913 and sailed on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on 30 May 1914. [2]
• Aquitania was the third of Cunard Line's grand trio of express liners, following RMS Mauretania and RMS Lusitania. [1, 2]
• During the First World War, Aquitania served as an auxiliary cruiser, troop transport, and hospital ship during the Dardanelles Campaign. [2]
• The outbreak of the Second World War allowed Aquitania to remain in service for an additional decade as a troop transport until 1947, before being retired and scrapped in 1950. [2]

Where to go next

• how it workedWho designed and built RMS Aquitania?
• compared withHow did RMS Mauretania compare in service?
• whenWhat was the Dardanelles Campaign in World War I?
• the bigger pictureHow did ocean liners operate as troop transports?
• what followedWhat was Cunard Line's history in the 20th century?
• an unexpected connectionWhy did it take 75 years for another four-funnelled passenger ship to debut?RMS Aquitania was the last four-funnelled ocean-going passenger vessel until the Disney Adventure was introduced 75 years after her retirement.

Sources

• [1]RMS Aquitania (Wikidata Q35462) · CC0 1.0
• [2]RMS Aquitania · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]RMS Samaria · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]RMS Olympic · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Titanic · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

1. How does the height of Usoi Dam compare to major man-made dams?
2. /What was the history and service career of RMS Aquitania?