Did crossings used to be shorter?

[AstroExeter]

Just curious - how fast does a battleship, cruiser or sub go?

 

The fastest battleship was the USS New Jersey with a top speed of 35.2 Knts

 

Older cruisers were capable of 35 plus knts but current US war ships can do around 45 knts.

 

Modern Nuclear Subs can do in excess of 25 knts sumberged and it is surmised they can do around 35 knts for short periods. Subs are designed to go faster underwater than on the surface.

[Welsh son]

In 1962, as a ten year old, I traveled on the Queen Elizabeth from New York to Southampton with my mother. The voyage was 4 and a half days. As a kid I was able to slip into first class and make may way forward to the open deck below the bridge. You knew you were moving pretty quickly, but elsewhere on the ship the wind was not an issue. The ocean liners were feeling the competition of Trans Atlantic jet travel by then, but my mom didn't like flying and really liked Cunard.

 

My parents traveled to Britain and back on the Queen Mary in 1950 and described the trip home as very rough. The stewards soaked the table cloths with water to keep the dishes from moving around and the tables had rails that could be raised around the edge as well. They said fewer and fewer people showed up for meals as the voyage progressed.

 

Mom had been on the Queen Mary once before, coming to America with 5,000 other war brides right after the war. The Queen was still fitted out as a troop ship and could handle a lot of people!

[dave_k63]

The fastest battleship was the USS New Jersey with a top speed of 35.2 Knts

 

Older cruisers were capable of 35 plus knts but current US war ships can do around 45 knts.

 

Modern Nuclear Subs can do in excess of 25 knts sumberged and it is surmised they can do around 35 knts for short periods. Subs are designed to go faster underwater than on the surface.

Thanks very much for the information.

[bepsf]

Also, it seems that a 7 day crossing makes scheduling easier when the ship just goes back and forth for a stretch. It always arrives and departs on the same day of the week when doing a 7 night crossing.

 

The original Queens, as well as the French and German liners were on a 7-day schedule despite their shorter crossing times - and bear in mind that those Blue Riband crossing times were not pier-to-pier, but from Queenstown, Cherbourg, or Bishop's Rock to Sandy hook, or later the Ambrose Lightship. (Gibraltar to Ambrose for the Italian Liners)

 

Turnarounds also didn't occur the same day - The lines leased their own piers, so there was no rush due to port fees, cargo took longer to unload, and the crews had nights off in New York, Le Havre and Liverpool/Southampton to see their families and enjoy the city.

 

The Italian liners had somewhat longer schedules due to their longer routes into the Med and onward to Genoa.

[jsmeeker]

Thanks for all the information and history lessons. Very informative. I think the most intereesting thing I learned was that they didn't always do turnarounds within one day.

[Austcruiser84]

The original Queens, as well as the French and German liners were on a 7-day schedule despite their shorter crossing times - and bear in mind that those Blue Riband crossing times were not pier-to-pier, but from Queenstown, Cherbourg, or Bishop's Rock to Sandy hook, or later the Ambrose Lightship. (Gibraltar to Ambrose for the Italian Liners)

 

Turnarounds also didn't occur the same day - The lines leased their own piers, so there was no rush due to port fees, cargo took longer to unload, and the crews had nights off in New York, Le Havre and Liverpool/Southampton to see their families and enjoy the city.

 

The Italian liners had somewhat longer schedules due to their longer routes into the Med and onward to Genoa.

 

Hence the need for a three ship weekly service between NYC and Southampton.

[guernseyguy]

bear in mind that those Blue Riband crossing times were not pier-to-pier, but from Queenstown, Cherbourg, or Bishop's Rock to Sandy hook, or later the Ambrose Lightship.

 

I read a wonderfully sniffy review of an early record-breaking Mauretania sailing from a Times correspondent in Second Class wondering what was the point of knocking 15 minutes off the crossing time if disembarkation delays meant most of the Second Class passengers missed the Express Boat Trains from Liverpool to London....

[3rdGenCunarder]

I read a wonderfully sniffy review of an early record-breaking Mauretania sailing from a Times correspondent in Second Class wondering what was the point of knocking 15 minutes off the crossing time if disembarkation delays meant most of the Second Class passengers missed the Express Boat Trains from Liverpool to London....

 

There's just no pleasing some people! :rolleyes:

[turquoise 6]

Jim,

 

Nowadays with all the hassle at the airport it almost takes 3 days 10 hours to fly to Europe!

In August,2012 , I flew from JFK to Dublin,Ireland

5 hours 35 min

[bepsf]

Hence the need for a three ship weekly service between NYC and Southampton.

 

Weekly service required three ships before WW1:

Mauretania, Lusitania & Aquitania vs France, Paris & Ile de France vs Imperator, Vaterland & Bismarck vs Olympic, Titanic & Gigantic/Brittanic.

 

After WW1 it became a two-ship weekly service

The Queens vs Normandie & Ile de France (or Ile paired with Liberte post-WW2) and later, France & United States

[Q-step]

My parents traveled to Britain and back on the Queen Mary in 1950 and described the trip home as very rough. The stewards soaked the table cloths with water to keep the dishes from moving around and the tables had rails that could be raised around the edge as well. They said fewer and fewer people showed up for meals as the voyage progressed.

 

The Queen Mary was known for not being very stable on her roll axis. After a few crossings they had to install railings in the hallways. A few broken arms and twisted ankles were not uncommon for a crossing.

 

My mother did a crossing on the Italian liner The Rex in the 1930s and never set foot on another ship again. The Rex was trying to set a speed record for a Gilbralter to NY voyage. I heard that ambulances met the ship in NYC to help transport the injured.

[FennoExpress]

At 29 knots QM2 uses 291 tonnes of heavy fuel oil for the four diesel engines and 237 tonnes of marine gas oil for the two turbines per day.

 

One technical question: When doing a 7 day crossing in calm seas does she still use the turbines in addition to the diesels?

[capnpugwash]

One technical question: When doing a 7 day crossing in calm seas does she still use the turbines in addition to the diesels?

 

No, which is why it takes 7 days, with the new regulations from August 1st 2012 banning use of heavy fuel oil within 200 miles of US and Canada this may change. See http://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge-developments/article/837-08-12-enforcement-of-new-fuel-limitations-on-all-vessels-operating-in-us-waters-from-1st-august-2012-usa-5468/

[FennoExpress]

That's a shame. I was looking forward to jetting across the Atlantic on a A330 powered by CF6's and sailing back to Europe using the same powerplants. But with the current oil prices that is quite understandable.

[capnpugwash]

That's a shame. I was looking forward to jetting across the Atlantic on a A330 powered by CF6's and sailing back to Europe using the same powerplants. But with the current oil prices that is quite understandable.

 

It did used to be very pleasant.

[jsmeeker]

What did the gas turbines do that you didn't get from the diesel? Was it simply extra power to get more speed (and a shorter crossing?) or was there more too it, like being smoother or quieter?

[capnpugwash]

What did the gas turbines do that you didn't get from the diesel? Was it simply extra power to get more speed (and a shorter crossing?) or was there more too it, like being smoother or quieter?

 

It was purely speed, I think 29-30 knots was reached regularly but obviously the better quality fuels have a significantly increased cost.

[guernseyguy]

What did the gas turbines do that you didn't get from the diesel? Was it simply extra power to get more speed (and a shorter crossing?) or was there more too it, like being smoother or quieter?

 

Its a relatively light, compact source of extra power - the turbines are in the base of the funnel - so no wasted trunking for air for them if they were below the waterline in an 'engine room'. Replicating that power with diesels would be heavier & take up more space. So its ideal for 'optional power' when you need to boost speed - but now most of the time will be off, as the fuel is significantly more expensive.

[GeorgesGal]

Just curious - how fast does a battleship, cruiser or sub go?

 

 

When SS United States was designed, it was intended that, in the event of a war, she would be used as a troop carrier; thus her amazing speed for

her time (and even now!).

 

Donna