Coastlines 1/1250 CL-M416gS Kronprinzessin Cecilie disguised as RMS Olympic in 1914
Kronprinzessin Cecilie is a model of the NDL liner at the outbreak of WW1 disguised as RMS Olympic to escape arrest or sinking by the Royal Navy. This model is a waterline, 1/1250 scale polyurethane model made, assembled and painted by Coastlines Models, CL-M416gS.
Kronprinzessin Cecilie was homeward bound from USA towards Europe with passengers and a large amount of gold bullion aboard when war was declared. The captain was advised by radio to open the sealed orders that he had been given before leaving New York. Without informing the crew or passengers, the captain turned the ship around and headed for the USA to have his ship interned for the duration of the war. As news of the change of plan leaked out, the captain took the ship well clear of the main shipping routes and had the tops of the funnels painted black in the manner of the White Star Line ships.
In this way, the ship arrived safely in Bar Harbor, Maine and was duly interned. Passengers diembarked but a few days later the ship was arrested and NDL were sued for the return of the gold and compensation for breach of contract. The court case was settled in favour of the US interests and the ship became the legal property of the USA because NDL did not pay the compensation. The ship was moved to Newport News Navy Base and the German crew were taken off the ship but it was not used as a transport until the USA entered the war in 1917 as the troopship, USS Mount Vernon.