R.M.S. 'Queen Elizabeth', at 83,673 gross registered tons one of the largest ships ever built, was designed as a running mate for Cunard's hugely popular 'Queen Mary'. Laid down in December 1936 and launched by Her namesake in September 1938, 'Queen Elizabeth' was still unfinished when War broke out in 1939 so she was sent in secret to New York and thence to Singapore where she was converted into a troopship. After a successful wartime career, she eventually commenced her commercial sailings in October 1946 and, in partnership with the 'Queen Mary', maintained a spectacularly profitable North Atlantic service until competition from air travel forced her withdrawal in 1968. Finally sold for conversion to a floating university, she was refitted at Hong Kong in January 1972 when she mysteriously caught fire, capsized in the harbour and became a total loss