Feature: The Story of the Clyde Bank Shipyard
As giant shipyard crane is opened to the public, Shipping Times looks at the history of one of the world's most famous shipyards...

 

Part Two: John Brown
( continued from Part One )

Bit I digress, back to Clydebank and in 1897 the firm changed its name to Clydebank Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd and the second half of the shipyard's story truly begins in 1899 when the Sheffield steel firm of John Brown purchased the yard and it became John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd. They carried on with building a succession of passenger ships, cargo vessels and of course battleships. Under John Brown ownership one further ship was completed for Cunard and that was the SAXONIA in 1900, a pretty single funnelled passenger vessel of around 14,200 tons

The CARMANIA of 1905. As a WW1 Armed Merchant Cruiser she distinguished herself by engaging in the longest sea battle of the war and sank the German AMC CAP TRAFALGER

In 1903 the yard re-engaged with the Cunard company again, to build the PANNONIA, followed by the mighty vessels CARMANIA and CARONIA. The wisdom of the Thomson brothers in locating their yard opposite the River Cart was in the fact that much longer ships could be launched into the River Clyde than would otherwise be possible.

The building of the CARMANIA and CARONIA, the biggest vessels in the Cunard fleet at over 19,000 tons, was significant indeed. Whilst identical in every respect, they differed in their propulsion. Wm Denny had inaugurated the use of the turbine engine in 1901 with the world's first passenger turbine steamer, the KING EDWARD. The new turbines were quieter, more powerful and were tipped to oust the steam expansion engine.

To test out the claims of the turbine proponents, the CARONIA was fitted with quadruple expansion engines whilst CARMANIA was given the Parson's turbines. The results impressed all and it was decided that the next new vessels in the Cunard fleet would be fitted with the more modern type of engine. These would be the MAURETANIA and LUSITANIA.

MAURETANIA's build was given to Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd whilst John Brown was selected for the LUSITANIA.

One can only imagine the awe with which the public and industry alike felt for these two new ships. Both to exceed 30,000 tons and to attain speeds in excess of 25 knots. Massive ships with four imposing funnels they would have been in the minds of every schoolboy! Unfortunately they would be eclipsed by vessels of the White Star Line, such as the even more famous TITANIC, but nevertheless, LUSITANIA on speed trials smashed all previous maritime records.

It truly was now the era of the large luxury liner. Competition was fierce, not only between companies but between nations, all seeking the prize of the biggest and fastest on the lucrative Atlantic runs.

Looking unbelievably beautiful and clean, this is AQUITANIA. Incredibly she is berthing at her breakers' yard at Faslane on 21st February 1950 (Photo courtesy Bill Green)

Stung by the success of the White Star Line, Cunard investigated the building of an even larger vessel. This came in the form of the last of the four stackers of that era, and considered by many the most beautiful, the AQUITANIA. Indeed, she earned the lovely nickname of "The Ship Beautiful". She was launched in April 1913 but of course the world had suffered the traumatic loss of the TITANIC almost exactly a year before.

She went into service in 1914, and was a sight to behold. People raved about her, and not just because she was 46,000 tons, but she held a fascination in general and was undoubtedly the last word in luxury. But these heady days were to be cut short as war erupted.

The following year another of John Brown's ships had her career cut short by war, but much more dramatically. The handsome LUSITANIA was torpedoed off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland on May 7th 1915 with the loss 1198 men women and children. One of the saddest, most cruel events of the first world war at sea.

During WW1 and beyond, John Brown concentrated on building the machinery of war. From 1914 to 1919 came a succession of destroyers and battle cruisers. Notably in 1914 came what was then the world's biggest battleship, HMS TIGER, indeed she emerged almost completed as war began. She was over 700 feet long and her turbines drove her at 29 knots.

Of all the ships built in that period, perhaps though the most well known were the REPULSE and the HOOD. Mighty machines with a frightening array of giant guns and a most imposing appearance, they may not have made it in time to see much action, certainly not HOOD, but they captured the imaginations of an imperial minded public. Unfortunately REPULSE was considered a 'high maintenance' ship and in her early years was nicknamed "HMS REPAIR"

When war ended it was some time before the yard got into the swing of things with conventional, commercial shipbuilding, having a list of navy orders to finish off.

Continue to Part Three: The Roaring Twenties