Launched by HRH Queen Elizabeth on September 27th, 1938, the RMS Queen Elizabeth was one of the largest luxury liners ever to set sail -- she was a fifth of a mile long! World War II caused this vessel to be conscripted into service as a transport ship and delayed her service as a luxury liner. She distinguished herself through the contributions to the war effort as she sped across the oceans, most notably the Atlantic, ferrying American troops for the invasion at Normandy and later brought American troops and their wives back home.
Winston Churchill said, "Without the aid of RMS Queen Elizabeth the day of final victory must unquestionably have been postponed." She carried 811,324 Allied soldiers and steamed some 492,635 miles. Due to her sheer speed (she crossed the Atlantic in a record 4 days!), normally her trips were unescorted as she was able to elude the enemy.
After the war she was refitted and made her maiden voyage as a luxury ocean liner on Oct. 16th, 1946. In the following years she plied the world's oceans, carrying the worlds most famous and influential people. Unfortunately, with the growth of air transport, great changes in ocean travel occurred, and the RMS Queen Elizabeth made her final passenger voyage from New York to Southampton on Oct 30th, 1968.
Retired and sold to a group of Philadelphia businessmen for £3.25 million who sailed it to Port Everglades and opened to the public in February 1969. By late 1970 the ship had been auctioned and bought by C.Y.Tung shipping group in Hong Kong. The plan was to make this vessel into a floating university and it was soon renamed Seawise University and she sailed for Hong Kong on 10 February 1971. Due to machinery problems it did not arrive until July and anchored off Tsing Yi Island near Kowloon.
During the refitting operation, a fire broke out (arson was suspected) and the majestic RMS Queen Elizabeth rolled onto her side. With no way to save her, the hulk continued to burn and smolder in Hong Kong Harbor for more than a week.
Parker Pen Co. obtained the salvaged brass through Island Navigation Corp. Ltd.