Jan Hendrik
29th September 2005, 10:30
Built by the Penhoet Yard in St.Nazaire, keel laid in January 1931.
The vessel had to become the largest liner in the world and also the fastest.
She managed both, launched October 1932 but the depression held back ongoing construction.
Her maiden voyage was in May 1935 with an average speed of nearly 30 knots beating the Italian "REX".
The ship was extremely elegant and 1028 ft in length. She was fitted with 3 dominent funnels.
GRT was initially just below 80.000 , yet they built an extra deck house during the winter of 35-36 in order to beat the size of the Queen Mary.
The Blue Riband changed hands between these two vessels, with the Normandie eventually outclassing the Q.M. with a speed of 31.2 knots.
She was laid up in New York in August 1939 and in Dec 1941 the conversion into a troop ship began.
She caught fire in Feb 1942 and later capsized due to the quantities of water pumped in by the Fire Brigade.
Although raised in 1943 but refitting was not worthwile. The vessel was sold to the breakers for USD 161.000 , a fraction of the USD 60 million construction cost.
interesting website: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Normandie&oldid=13691587
Painting by John Gardner
Copyright: Hempel A/S Copenhagen `07/90
The vessel had to become the largest liner in the world and also the fastest.
She managed both, launched October 1932 but the depression held back ongoing construction.
Her maiden voyage was in May 1935 with an average speed of nearly 30 knots beating the Italian "REX".
The ship was extremely elegant and 1028 ft in length. She was fitted with 3 dominent funnels.
GRT was initially just below 80.000 , yet they built an extra deck house during the winter of 35-36 in order to beat the size of the Queen Mary.
The Blue Riband changed hands between these two vessels, with the Normandie eventually outclassing the Q.M. with a speed of 31.2 knots.
She was laid up in New York in August 1939 and in Dec 1941 the conversion into a troop ship began.
She caught fire in Feb 1942 and later capsized due to the quantities of water pumped in by the Fire Brigade.
Although raised in 1943 but refitting was not worthwile. The vessel was sold to the breakers for USD 161.000 , a fraction of the USD 60 million construction cost.
interesting website: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Normandie&oldid=13691587
Painting by John Gardner
Copyright: Hempel A/S Copenhagen `07/90