The Golden Age of Expedition Yachts - the 1930's. Part 2 of The History of Expedition Yachts

In Part 2 of the series, Paul Madden shows how 1930 and 1931 saw more than a half-mile of new Expedition Yachts built by the world's wealthiest people at a cost in excess of $2 billion. Yachts ranging in size to over 400 ft, with steam-turbine electric propulsion delivering 20-knot speed; they offered luxurious accommodations coupled with global range and ocean-crossing capabilities. A generation of uber-wealthy yachtsmen who had naval experience from WWI and the ability to carry out scientific expeditions globally. Almost all of these vessels became warships in WWII and converted easily into gunships and fast U-Boat hunters.