liner DE GRASSE

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1924 - 1953

Design features

De Grasse (steel liner) 1924 - 1953
hull material : ...................steel
previous name(s) of ship : ........
detailed type : ...................steel liner
type of propulsion : ..............2 propellers
building year of ship : ...........1924
name of shipyard : ................Cammell Laird & Co
place of construction : ...........Birkenhead
year of entering the fleet : ......1924
length (in meters) : ..............167,64
width (in meters) : ...............21,67
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........17759
deadweight (in tons) : ............8620
type of engine : ..................2 single reduction geared turbine sets
engine power (in HP) : ............12500
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........17

History

Ordered under the name SUFFREN to the shipyards Cammel Lairds in Birkenhead, completed in Saint-Nazaire under the name of DE GRASSE. Entered into service in August 1924 on the line Le Havre – New-York. Modernized in 1932. The promenade deck is from now on entirely glassed. During the 30’s, DE GRASSE is regularly employed to perform cruises in Europe, sometimes starting from New-York, and in the Caribbean Sea. She is sometimes used as a further supply during summer on the Mediterranean Lines. In 1937, she opens a new service between Le Havre, Cork, Boston and New-York which will not be pursued. In november, a fire along the pier in Le Havre entails one victim. The fire of the liner LAFAYETTE in May 1938 makes compulsory for the French Line to put again DE GRASSE into regular service during summer. Carries out scheduled crossings Le Havre – New-York in company of CHAMPLAIN till April 1940. Is laid up in Bordeaux in May 1940. After the defeat is used first as a floating quarter by the germans then as a base-ship to lodge the crews of the Italian Submarines transiting in Bordeaux. Returned to the Vichy Government in May 1942, then used as a training ship in the Gironde Estuary. Sunk at her mooning-berth in Blaye by the Germans in retreat in August 1944. Refloated in August 1945. Entirely reconditionned and modernized by the Penhoët shipyards. A new funnel is set up to take the place of both former thin pipes. Put again on the New-York line in July 1947. Up to the putting back into service of the ILE-DE-FRANCE in July 1949, she is the greatest ship of the company on this pretigious line. Transferred on the West Indies line in April 1952. Replaced on New-York by the new liner FLANDRE. Until her sale in March 1953, DE GRASSE will carry out 7 loop-trips on the West Indies and Central America. Her hull remains painted in black. Sold in March 1953 to the Canadian Pacific and renamed EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA. Assigned to the regular line Liverpool – Quebec – Montreal as a substitute for EMPRESS OF CANADA, destroyed by fire in January 1953. Sold in February 1956 to the Siosa Line, renamed VENEZUELA and assigned to the West Indies and Central America lines. In 1960, is modernized and fitted with a new incurvated stem, a very modern one. On March 17, 1962 runs aground on rocks in the bay of Cannes. Refloated in April. Sold for scrap in August 1962. Broken up in La Spezia, Italy after an almost 40 years rich and chequered career.