DEUTSCHLAND passengership 1900

[aukepalmhof]

On the stamp of Grenada Carriacou & Petite Martinique, is she given as the DEUTSCHLAND, she was launched under that name, but at that time she carried 4 funnels, while you clearly can see that she on the stamp carried two. The stamp depict the vessel after she was renamed HANSA in 1921.

Built as passenger vessel under yard No. 244 by A.G. Vulkan, Stettin for the Hamburg Amerika Linie, Hamburg.
10 January 1900 launched under the name DEUTSCHLAND.
Tonnage 16.502 gross, 5.196 net, dim. 208.50 x 20.52 x 12.29m., length bpp. 201.23m.
Two sets quadruple steam engines; manufactured by the shipbuilder, 37.800 ihp., twin screws, speed 23 knots, maximum 28.5 knots.
Passenger accommodation for 450 first, 300 second, 350 third, steerage 1000. Crew 536.
June 1900 completed.

04 July 1900 sailed for her maiden voyage from Hamburg via Plymouth to New York, during this voyage took she the Blue Riband of the North Atlantic in both directions between Eddystone to Sandy Hook with a average speed of 22.42 knots and a time of 5 days 15 hours and 46 minutes, her return average speed between this points was 22.46 knots. But during high speed she did have an excessive vibration aft.
July 1901 she improved this record with a westbound speed of 23.06 and 23.51 eastbound, she kept the Blue Riband for six years.

22 April 1902 due to this vibration she lost her rudder on her return voyage from New York, Captain Albers only working with both screws sailed her safely home via Plymouth and Cherbourg to Cuxhaven.
After arrival it was found that not only her rudder was lost but the complete stern was broken en had to been replaced by the yard of Blohm & Voss, the repair took 6 months.
Due to this vibration problem she got the nickname “The Cocktail Shaker”.

1904 Plymouth calls were cancelled instead she made calls at Dover.

13 July 1906 after sailing from Dover, she got the tow-line from a tug in her screw, and due to this she collided with the pier, got severe damage on her bow, and the 1500 passengers had to leave the vessel.

24 September 1910 she sailed for the last time from Hamburg via Southampton to New York, after her return in Hamburg she spent the next nine months at her builder’s yard, to be refitted in a cruise liner.
Accommodation for 478 passengers in one class, engine power reduced to 15.000 ihp, speed 17.5 knots.
Tonnage 16.703. Her hull painted white. At that time she was the largest cruise vessel in the world.
Renamed in VICTORIA LUISE.

September 1911 arrived back in Hamburg after her refit.
23 September 1911 she sailed for her first cruise voyage from Hamburg to New York, she made also cruise voyages to Spitsbergen and the West Indies. Between 1912 and 1914 also used in the liner service between Germany and New York.

August 1914 refitted in an auxiliary cruiser, but never used as so due to the bad condition of her boilers.
1919 After World War I was she the only vessels due to her bad condition, thereby remaining Germany’s only large ship.
1920 She was overhauled by the Hamburger Vulkan-Werft at Hamburg. Repair was slow due to many fires on board during the repair.
October 1921 ready, only two funnels and renamed HANSA.
Passenger accommodation for 36 cabin and 1.350 third class.
Tonnage 16.333 gross.

27 October 1921 sailed for her first voyage from Hamburg to New York.
1922 Got a refit, passenger accommodation for 200 cabin and 664 third class.
1924 She was used in the service from Hamburg via Halifax to New York.
25 September 1924 sailed for the last time in this service, and after her return laid up in October 1924.

15 May 1925 sold for breaking up by Vulcan’s Hamburg yard.

Grenada Carriacou & Petite Martinique 2004 $2 sg?, scott?
Germany 2010 0.45+ 0,20 Euro, sg?, scott?
Cook Islands 1979 35c sg639, scott? 1980 35c sg693, scott?

Source: North Atlantic Seaway by Bonsor. Merchant Fleets in profile Vol. 4 by Duncan Haws. Some web-sites.