This was the height of her looks. The ridiculous eagle was gone, but she was still flying the German flag. Classic, beautiful, still limpin' Limperator.
The photo posted above was taken not long after Imperator passed into British hands in November 1919 - she had been handed off to The Shipping Controller who placed the vessel under the management of Cunard Line who operated Imperator on their behalf. For some additional context, this is actually her first arrival in Southampton while under British ownership/Cunard management. Imperator is already painted in Cunard colors, and is flying the company’s flag at the main mast. As for the vents, they were not added by Cunard since they show up in photos as early as 1914 while still under the ownership of HAPAG. I’m not sure where this assumption comes from, and it seems like a lot of the features added and issues that were fixed during a refit from November 1913-March 1914, such as the addition of the vents and the correction of the infamous listing issue, are still erroneously attributed to Cunard.
FUN FACT: The Imperator is one of the few ships that underwent a gender change. The Imperator was always referred to as a “He” until “He” became a “She” with the name change to “Berengaria.”
Her beautiful eagle was lost, but she is still a beauty
This was the height of her looks. The ridiculous eagle was gone, but she was still flying the German flag. Classic, beautiful, still limpin' Limperator.
If this was 1919 and she wasn't British yet, wouldn't she have been flying the American flag during her brief stint as the USS Imperator?
The photo posted above was taken not long after Imperator passed into British hands in November 1919 - she had been handed off to The Shipping Controller who placed the vessel under the management of Cunard Line who operated Imperator on their behalf. For some additional context, this is actually her first arrival in Southampton while under British ownership/Cunard management. Imperator is already painted in Cunard colors, and is flying the company’s flag at the main mast. As for the vents, they were not added by Cunard since they show up in photos as early as 1914 while still under the ownership of HAPAG. I’m not sure where this assumption comes from, and it seems like a lot of the features added and issues that were fixed during a refit from November 1913-March 1914, such as the addition of the vents and the correction of the infamous listing issue, are still erroneously attributed to Cunard.
How does she already have the additional vents that were added by Cunard?
Because they weren't added by Cunard. Those were done during HAPAG ownership.
Why would I know?
Ten out of ten post. Imperator is one of my favorites.
https://preview.redd.it/jv68l5qljv6g1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=254d17589dafc434dea3c9fcd1294aaab1f05585
The duality of Oceanlinerporn
After the eagle was removed but before the funnels were cut down.
Was it around the time she was handed to Cunard Line and she somehow started her career as the RMS Imperator before the major overhaul in the 20’s?
FUN FACT: The Imperator is one of the few ships that underwent a gender change. The Imperator was always referred to as a “He” until “He” became a “She” with the name change to “Berengaria.”