Which ship was the first iron-hulled, screw-propelled steamship to cross the Atlantic?

SS Great Britain was the first iron-hulled, screw-propelled steamship to cross the Atlantic.

Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the ship was launched in Bristol in 1843. Its iron hull and large screw propeller represented major advances over the wooden paddle steamers then dominating transatlantic travel.

SS Great Britain made its first Atlantic crossing in 1845, traveling from Liverpool to New York. It carried passengers and cargo for the Great Western Steamship Company before later serving on routes to Australia.

The ship is often confused with SS Great Eastern, another Brunel design that was larger but launched in 1858. SS Great Britain’s importance lies in combining an iron hull with screw propulsion in a successful ocean-going passenger ship.