RMS Mauretania (1906) launched by the Duchess of Roxburghe. At the time of her launch, she was the largest moving structure ever built, and slightly larger in gross tonnage than "Lusitania". The main visual differences between "Mauretania" and "Lusitania" were that "Mauretania" was five feet longer and had different vents. "Mauretania" also had two extra stages of turbine blades in her forward turbines, making her slightly faster than "Lusitania". "Mauretania" and "Lusitania" were the only ships with direct-drive steam turbines to hold the Blue Riband; in later ships, reduction-geared turbines were mainly used. "Mauretania"s usage of the steam turbine was the largest application
SS Lesbian (1915) SS Lesbian (1915) SS "Lesbian" was a cargo ship built for the Ellerman Lines in 1915. On 5 January 1917 she was shelled and sunk by German U-boat , the most successful U-boat participating in World War I, without loss of life. "Lesbian" was a built as a cargo ship for the Ellerman Lines by W. Harkess & Sons of Middlesbrough. Sources do not indicate when "Lesbian"s keel was laid, but she was launched on 3 April 1915, and completed by July of the same year. The ship was long (between perpendiculars) and was abeam. She was powered by a