She was the last word in comfort and style, and capable of crossing the Atlantic in record time.
And at the dawn of World War II, the Mary's speed would, in a way, become a weapon.
Historian Everette Hoard, the Queen Mary's Honorary Commodore, said, "Her top speed is about 32.5 knots."
Compared to a surfaced U-Boat, whose speed would be 13-14 knots, or 8 knots submerged. "The Queen Mary was even faster than the torpedoes themselves, which traveled along about 25 knots," said Hoard.