Many observers believed that White Star would continue to operate to Australia but Ismay had other ideas; he intended to join the battle of the Atlantic in competition with Inman, National, Guion and Cunard.

The Oceanic was followed by Atlantic, Baltic and Republic.

Atlantic, entering service in September 1870, were basically the same as the Oceanic, but the third ship, Baltic, incorporated a number of changes that had shown to be necessary as a result of experience with Oceanic.

The Baltic, which entered service in September, 1871, had been launched on March 8th 1871, as the Pacific, but her name was changed while she was fitting out, when it was realised that the name Pacific was still associated with the Collins Line ship of the same name which had sailed from Liverpool on January 23rd 1856, for New York and was never heard of again.

One of the American line’s first four paddle steamers, she carried 286 passengers and crew.

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