liner LA PROVENCE

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1906 - 1916

Design features

La Provence (steel mail liner) 1906 - 1916
hull material : ...................steel
previous name(s) of ship : ........
detailed type : ...................steel mail liner
type of propulsion : ..............2 propellers
building year of ship : ...........1905
name of shipyard : ................Chantiers & Ateliers de St Nazaire
place of construction : ...........Penhoët
year of entering the fleet : ......1906
length (in meters) : ..............190,67
width (in meters) : ...............19,78
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........13752
deadweight (in tons) : ............4660
type of engine : ..................2 inverted, triple expansion 4 cylinders
engine power (in HP) : ............30000
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........21,5

History

When put into service, LA PROVENCE was the largest and the fastest French steamer but, her dimensions having been dictated by the maximum capacities of reception of the harbour of Le Havre, her tonnage was then much lower than the large transatlantic liners of the foreign competitors. This handicap will be overcome only with the work undertaken for the putting into service of NORMANDIE, in the Thirties. LA PROVENCE was also the first steamer of the company equipped with wireless telegraphy and it is on board that the first specimen of "l'Atlantique" was printed, the newspaper intended for the passengers which then will be printed and diffused on all the transatlantic liners until the stop of FRANCE in 1974. Brought into service in April 1906 on the line Le Havre-New York where she ensures the express service in company of the steamers LA LORRAINE and LA SAVOIE, of more reduced size. During the return of her second voyage, she carries out a memorable race with the German steamer DEUTSCHLAND, whom she overcomes finally with 4 hours. On board, the fortunate passengers had entered into bets. In 1914, is converted into auxiliary cruiser and renamed PROVENCE II. In 1915, is transformed into transport of troops. February 26, 1916, whereas she transported 1.800 soldiers, PROVENCE II is torpedoed off the Cape Matapan, in the Mediterranean, by the German submarine U 35. The ship sinks quickly, carrying down nearly 1.000 victims.