rms olympic dazzle camouflage during world war i
rms majestic (formerly bismarck of 1914)
the first world war hard time liners. of them, mauretania, aquitania, , britannic transformed hospital ships during conflict. others became troop transports, while some, such kaiser wilhelm der grosse, participated in war warships. troop transportation popular due liners large size. liners converted troop ships painted in dazzle camouflage reduce risk of being torpedoed enemy submarines.
the war, however, marked loss of many liners. britannic, while serving hospital ship, sank in aegean sea in 1916 after struck mine. numerous incidents of torpedoing took place , large numbers of ships sank. kaiser wilhelm der grosse defeated , scuttled after fierce battle hms higflyer off coast of west africa, while sister ship kronprinz wilhelm served commerce raider. torpedoing , sinking of rms lusitania on 7 may 1915 caused loss of 128 american lives @ time when united states still neutral. although other factors came play, loss of american lives in sinking pushed united states favour allied powers , facilitated country s entry war.
the losses of liners owned allied powers compensated treaty of versailles in 1919. led awarding of many german liners victorious allies. hamburg america line s trio (imperator, vaterland, , bismarck) divided between cunard line, white star line, , united states lines, while 3 surviving ships of kaiser-class requisitioned navy in context of conflict , retained. of german superliners, deutschland, because of poor state, avoided fate.
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