Sailing a zig-zag at 28+ knots to evade submarines, #RMSQueenMary, filled with troops for the war in Europe, rammed ageing cruiser #HMSCuracoa on #ThisDayInHistory in 1942, cutting her in half. Unable to stop and assist, QM had to leave 337 men to drown; 101 were later rescued.

#RMSQueenMary greatly shortened #WorldWarII as the most successful troopship in history. Nicknamed the #GreyGhost, the #OceanLiner carried over 800,000 soldiers across 600,000 miles of open ocean unescorted. #QueenMary completed her last trooping voyage on #ThisDayInHistory 1946.

On #ThisDayInHistory in 1934, #RMSQueenMary was launched in Scotland. Construction had begun in 1930 but was halted due to the #GreatDepression. The British gov. loaned the needed funds on condition that #Cunard merge with #WhiteStar. #QueenMary is now a hotel in #LongBeach, CA.