SS France (1910)
France in 1912 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| France | |
| Name | France |
| Owner | Compagnie Générale Transatlantique |
| Port of registry | Le Havre |
| Route | Transatlantic |
| Ordered | 1908 |
| Builder | Chantiers de l'Atlantique |
| Laid down | February 1909 |
| Launched | 20 September 1910 |
| Maiden voyage | 20 April 1912 |
| Out of service | 1935 |
| Identification |
|
| Nickname(s) | "Versailles of the Atlantic" |
| Fate | Broken up in 1936 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 75.6 ft (23.0 m) |
| Depth | 48.5 ft (14.8 m) |
| Decks | 5 |
| Installed power | 45,000 ihp (34,000 kW) |
| Propulsion | Four direct-drive steam turbines; four propellers |
| Speed | 23.50 knots (43.52 km/h; 27.04 mph) |
| Capacity | 2,020 passengers |
SS France was a French transatlantic liner that sailed for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT), known as "French Line". She was later nicknamed "Versailles of the Atlantic", a reference to her décor which reflected the famous palace outside Paris. Ordered in 1908, she was introduced into the Transatlantic route in April 1912, just a week after the sinking of RMS Titanic, and was the only French liner among the famous four-funnel liners (the "four stackers"). France quickly became one of the most popular ships in the Atlantic. Serving as a hospital ship during World War I, France would have a career spanning two decades. Her overall success encouraged CGT to create even larger liners in the future.