What was it like for American soldiers to go to war on the famed Queen Mary?
Monochromatic:
Her famous red, white and black Cunard Line colors were repainted battleship grey for the duration.
Crowded:
The ship designed to accommodate 2,000 civilian passengers carried over 15,000 U.S. troops per voyage during the war.
Salty:
The number of soldiers on board made seawater showers the only option for bathing.
Lonely:
Because the Queen Mary was faster than the German U-Boat, she sailed without escorts.
Sickening:
As a precaution, however, the Queen Mary zigged or zagged unpredictably every seven to ten minutes. This contributed to her characteristic rolling motion, which was particularly pronounced in the North Atlantic. For many soldiers, this resulted in seasickness.
