Paquete alemão PATRIA de 1938

O nome Pátria tem sido atribuído a diversos navios de passageiros importantes, nomeadamente ao primeiro paquete português a exceder as 10 mil toneladas de arqueação, referimos-nos ao PÁTRIA da Companhia Colonial, construído em Clydebank em 1947. Outro grande paquete baptisado com o nome PATRIA foi um navio de passageiros alemão construído em 1937/38 para a companhia Hapag, destinado à carreira Norte da Europa - América do Sul - costa oeste, fazendo as suas viagem pelo canal do Panamá. Era um belo paquete de 16.594 grt, com 182 m de comprimentos. A sua carreira com o nome origina foi curta devido à deflagração da segunda guerra mundial em Setembro de 1939. O PATRIA sobreviveu à guerra e em 1945 passou a ser o transporte de tropas inglês EMPIRE WELLAND. Em 1946 foi entregue pelos Aliados à URSS passando a chamar-se ROSSIYA, designação que manteve até 1985, quando, com o nome ANIVA foi retirado do serviço e vendido para desmantelar.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

Sailing away with HAPAG

It would be nice to find a berth on this old HAPAG steamer a sail away into the South Atlantic...

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia collection. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

Two LEVIATHANS to my friend Frank O. Braynard

My collection of post cards of ships was improved recently with those two vintage cards of the American passenger liners LEVIATHAN, the flagship of the United States merchant marine after WW1.
Built for Hamburg's HAPAG as VATERLAND, she was seized by the USA in New York on WW1 and used as a trooper before being refited after the war for passenger service in the North Atlantic. She was the largest ship afloat for a time and she became one of Frank Braynard's passions.
Frank was a wonderful and generous friend and gave us all his six volumes - 1 million words - book on the LEVIATHAN. This post is for him where ever he is now...

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

IMPERATOR's eagle

Before the start of WW1 the growing rivalry between the German empire and Great Britain led to the construction of the largest passenger liners in the world by German and British leading steamship companies.
On 23 May 1912 the Hamburg based liner company HAPAG had the first of three giant Atlantic liners launched at the Vulkan Yard. Named IMPERATOR this 52.117 GRT, 277,1 meters long (909 feet) giant could carry 4.794 passengers in four classes, her 74.000 SHP steam turbines geared to four screws allowing a 23-knot service speed.
While fitting out, in Hamburg, a large eagle was added to the IMPERATOR's bow in order to claim the title of largest ship in the world, when it was known the exact length of the new Cunarder AQUITANIA, launched in Clydebank on 21-04-1913. The length overall of the British liner was 274.8 meters (901 ft.), so the eagle was the best that could be done to make the IMPERATOR 8 feet longer at 909 feet.
The IMPERATOR's eagle did not last for long however, as the stormy North Atlantic smashed the proud German bird on one of the her first crossings in the summer of 1913 and it was never replaced. After WW1 the IMPERATOR was allocated to Cunard as a replacement to the LUSITANIA and sailed under Cunard colours between 1921 and 1938 as the BERENGARIA.
Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia