RMS Mauretania (1906) RMS Mauretania (1906) RMS "Mauretania" was an ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by Wigham Richardson and Swan Hunter for the British Cunard Line, launched on the afternoon of 20 September 1906. She was the world's largest ship until the completion of in 1911. "Mauretania" became a favourite among her passengers. She captured the Eastbound Blue Riband on her maiden return voyage in December 1907, then claimed the Westbound Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing during her 1909 season. She held both speed records for 20 years. The ship's name was taken from the ancient Roman province
SS Pacific (1849) on 1 February 1849 and made her maiden voyage from New York to Liverpool on 25 May 1850. She would retain service on the New York-Liverpool route for her entire career. Between 11 and 21 September, "Pacific" made a record passage from Liverpool to New York with an average speed of , breaking the previous record of 12.25 knots held by the Cunard Line's "Asia", and thus winning the coveted Blue Riband for fastest transatlantic crossing. "Pacific" would hold the record for less than a year however, as her sister ship "Baltic" would set a new record the following August