Bigger than Titanic: Meet Germany’s Largest Ocean Liners
They were the largest vessels in the world for nearly a quarter of a century.…
The Titanic is perhaps the most famous ocean liner of all time, and people mistakenly believe her to be the largest vessel from the pre-war era. In fact, just a month after her tragic sinking, Germans launched at the Vulcan Shipyards in Hamburg an even larger liner, the SS Imperator.
Imperator was the first of a new class of ships envisioned by Albert Ballin, the chairman of the Hamburg America Line (HAPAG). At over 50,000 tons, and ranging from 906 ft (276m) to 955.8 ft (291.3m) in length, the three-funneled Imperator-class liners were the largest vessels in the world for nearly a quarter of a century.
Background
During the early 20th century, the transatlantic competition among rival shipping companies was intense, especially in Britain. Between 1906 and 1907, the Cunard Line had launched its famous duo, the Lusitania and the Mauretania. At the time of their completion, they were the largest and fastest ships in the world. Both ships were an instant success, immediately attracting the lion’s share of the transatlantic crossing.
