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SS Bremen (1928)

Bundesarchiv Bild 102-11081, Schnelldamper "Bremen".jpg
Bremen in 1931
History
Germany
Name: Bremen
Owner: Norddeutscher Lloyd
Builder: Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau
Launched: 16 August 1928
Completed: 5 July 1929
Maiden voyage: 16 July 1929
Fate: Gutted by fire at Bremerhaven, 16–18 March 1941; subsequently scrapped to the waterline then towed up the River Weser to Nordenham and sunk by explosives, 1 April 1946; remains still visible at low tide (position 53.507651N, 8.537235E).
General characteristics
Tonnage: 51,656 GRT
Displacement: 55,600 tons
Length:
  • 938.6 ft (286.1 m) oa
  • 888.12 ft (270.7 m) pp
Beam: 101.9 ft (31.1 m)
Draught: 33.89 ft (10.3 m)
Depth: 71.5 ft (21.8 m)
Installed power:
  • Four sets of geared steam turbines generating 33,750 hp (25,170 kW) each;
  • 135,000 shp (101,000 kW) maximum
Propulsion: Quadruple propellers
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h) (design speed)
Capacity: 2,139; 811 first class, 500 second class, 300 tourist class, 617 third class
Crew: 966 total

SS Bremen was a German-built ocean liner constructed for the Norddeutscher Lloyd line (NDL) to work the transatlantic sea route. Bremen was notable for her bulbous bow construction, high-speed engines, and low, streamlined profile. At the time of her construction, she and her sister ship Europa were the two most advanced high-speed steam turbine ocean liners of their day. The German pair sparked an international competition in the building of large, fast, luxurious ocean liners that were national symbols and points of prestige during the pre-war years of the 1930s. She held the Blue Riband, and was the fourth ship of NDL to carry the name Bremen.

Also known as TS Bremen - for Turbine Ship - Bremen and her sister were designed to have a cruising speed of 27.5 knots (50.9 km/h), allowing a crossing time of five days. This speed enabled Norddeutscher Lloyd to run regular weekly crossings with two ships, a feat that normally required three. It was claimed that Bremen briefly reached speeds of 32 knots (59 km/h) during her sea trials.

Bremen was built by the new German shipbuilding company Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau. She was built from 7,000 tons of high-strength steel of 52 kg/mm² (500 N/mm²), allowing a weight saving of some 800 tons on the structure. She was also the first commercial ship to be designed with the Taylor bulbous bow, though bulbous bows of different types had appeared on earlier merchant vessels, such as SS Malolo of 1926. She was launched at Bremen during the afternoon of Thursday, 16 August 1928 by President Paul von Hindenburg, only one day after the launch of her sister ship Europa at Hamburg. SS Bremen and her sister ship Europa were considered for their time as the most modern liners in the world. The high speeds and the comfort and luxury level on board made high demands of technical personnel. Each ship required an engineering crew of some 170 men.


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