{"id":236495,"date":"2026-05-19T10:01:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T10:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/236495\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T10:01:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T10:01:47","slug":"the-eerie-history-of-the-rms-queen-mary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/236495\/","title":{"rendered":"The Eerie History Of The RMS Queen Mary"},"content":{"rendered":"

The RMS Queen Mary \u2014 an ocean liner that was turned into a World War II troopship and then a hotel and museum \u2014 is triggering visitors’ submechanophobia, with its massive underwater propeller being a focal point of the discomfort. \"RMS<\/p>\n

Carla\/UnsplashThe RMS Queen Mary was renowned for its style and speed.<\/p>\n

Silent, monumental, and permanently moored in Long Beach, California, the storied British ship the RMS Queen Mary now operates as a hotel and museum. But before it was docked for good, it was recognized not only for its style and glamour but also for its service.<\/p>\n

A TikTok posted by Mish (@mishmentos<\/a>) highlights the dignity and power of the ship once nicknamed the \u201cGrey Ghost.\u201d In a video viewed over 1.2 million times, Mish tours the vessel and walks toward a giant propeller resting under the clear, blue-green water, unmoving but still mighty. <\/p>\n

Then, text floats across the screen: \u201cthe moment you realize you have submechanophobia.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Is Submechanophobia?<\/p>\n

Per DoveMed<\/a>, submechanophobia is \u201ca specific phobia that involves an excessive, irrational, and persistent fear of submerged man-made objects, such as sunken ships, airplanes, and underwater machinery.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Queen<\/p>\n

@mishmentos\/TikTokThe propeller of the RMS Queen Mary.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, this phobia can develop in people who have had traumatic experiences in the water, such as surviving a shipwreck or becoming tangled in submerged debris. <\/p>\n

But it may be that Mish\u2019s phobia was amplified by more than the sight of the submerged propeller. Perhaps it is the history attached to the powerful object.<\/p>\n

The extraordinary service of the Queen Mary was also the time of its greatest tragedies. A passenger ship of the Cunard Line, it was in service from 1936 to 1967. And when Britain needed ships for World War II, it served its country. In its career, it reportedly made 1,001 transatlantic crossings. <\/p>\n

Known for its speed and elegance, it held the Blue Riband for the fastest average speed while crossing the Atlantic in 1936 and 1937 and then again from 1938 to 1952. The ocean liner quickly became a favorite mode of transportation for the famous and wealthy. Passengers included Greta Garbo, Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill (who signed the D-Day declaration on board), and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, who were later accused of being Nazi collaborators.<\/p>\n

After World War II<\/a> started, the Art Deco ocean liner was converted into what was perhaps the most stylish troop transport ship in the world. With a top speed of 32.5 knots, the ship was faster than many German U-boat torpedoes. So, in 1939, it was painted gray, earning the moniker \u201cGrey Ghost,\u201d and refitted as a transport ship. <\/p>\n

\"Queen<\/p>\n

Public DomainThe RMS Queen Mary in New York Harbor carrying U.S. troops back from Europe in June 1945.<\/p>\n

It then proceeded to do its part fighting Axis powers: The ship was capable of transporting 15,000 soldiers at a time. And on one trip in 1943, it set a record for carrying 16,683 people. <\/p>\n

But in 1942, a devastating accident permanently marked the Queen Mary.<\/p>\n

The Tragedy Of The Queen Mary<\/p>\n

On Oct. 2, 1942, the Queen Mary was sailing near the north coast of Ireland when it collided with the escort ship the HMS Curacoa. <\/p>\n

Because the Queen Mary was 20 times larger than the cruiser, it sliced right through the Curacoa. Crew member Ernest Watson apparently only had time to say, \u201cShe\u2019s going to ram us!\u201d About 340 crew members of the smaller vessel were killed, though the number varies across sources.<\/p>\n

The Queen Mary did not rescue the crew. The ship was given instructions not to stop for anything. Instead, the men who didn\u2019t drown floated in the Atlantic for two hours until British rescue ships arrived. <\/p>\n

After the war, the ocean liner returned to its glittering life. But the war had changed the ship forever: The Queen Mary was purportedly haunted.<\/p>\n

Is The Queen Mary Really The World\u2019s \u2018Most Haunted\u2019 Ship?<\/p>\n

The ship is now often described as the \u201cmost haunted ship in the world.\u201d Allegedly, there are several very well-known ghosts: a woman who dances in the first-class lounge; the spirit of John Pedder, who was crushed by a watertight door; and the entire crew of the Curacoa. Visitors have said that near the bow, they\u2019ve heard noises that remind them of screams and the sounds of metal crushing. <\/p>\n

Then, there\u2019s stateroom B340, a room believed to be so haunted that it was closed for 30 years. But in 2018, it was reopened to the public, and at least one person has since allegedly had a brush with the paranormal.<\/p>\n

\"Queen<\/p>\n

Agumisael\/Wikimedia CommonsThe Queen Mary is said to be one of the world\u2019s most haunted ships.<\/p>\n

Redditor u\/MaximumAadvark2208 said<\/a> that their experience led them to think it wasn\u2019t just \u201ccreaky pipes\u201d in the room. In the dead of night, around 3 a.m., the faucet turned on, and then there was banging from inside the walls and a huge drop in ambient temperature. Finally, the guest said the handle on the door rattled, but upon checking the hall, no one was there. <\/p>\n

Stories about B340 abound, including a legend about a man who allegedly brutally murdered two women. He was locked in his stateroom until the ship got to port. Then, upon docking, the man was found ripped apart, his entrails and limbs spread all over the room. However, there are no verified accounts of a double homicide or a subsequent dismemberment. <\/p>\n

Though the Queen Mary is no longer a warship, one user recalls her strong reaction to the vessel, commenting under Mish\u2019s video, \u201cI used to CRY when we would visit the Queen Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other commenters are sympathetic to creator Mish\u2019s submechanophobia. \u201cThat\u2019s why seeing Titanic underwater images disturbs me greatly,\u201d admitted another. <\/p>\n

A third pinpointed exactly what she finds so wrong: \u201cWhat I don\u2019t like about this specifically is how perfectly still the water is, it makes me uncomfortable.\u201d <\/p>\n

All That\u2019s Interesting reached out to Mish via email and TikTok direct message. We\u2019ll update this if she gets back to us.<\/p>\n

After reading about the RMS Queen Mary, go inside the frightening stories of 15 ghost ships<\/a>. Then, look through 55 colorized photos<\/a> of the Titanic.<\/p>\n