liner NAPOLéON III

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1866 - 1873

Design features

Napoléon III (iron liner) 1866 - 1873
hull material : ...................iron
previous name(s) of ship : ........
detailed type : ...................iron liner
type of propulsion : ..............with wheels
building year of ship : ...........1865
name of shipyard : ................Thames Iron Works
place of construction : ...........Londres
year of entering the fleet : ......1866
length (in meters) : ..............111,50
width (in meters) : ...............14,08
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........3800
deadweight (in tons) : ............1017
type of engine : ..................beam-engine, 2 cylinders
engine power (in HP) : ............3300
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........12

History

Ship similar to the series of 8 steamers ordered in 1864 in scotland and in Penhoët. Built in England. Last steamer with paddle wheels of the Company. Brought into service in April 1866 on the line Le Havre-New York. In 1871-72, is transformed into steamer with propeller and her hull lengthened of 17 meters. Three masts instead of two. Renamed VILLE DU HAVRE and given in service in March 1873. June 6, 1873, by night, collides and sinks the American three-masted ship CURACAO while anchored in the Hudson river. On November 16, 1873, leaves Le Havre with 313 passengers on board. November 22, is collided in the middle of the night by English three-masted ship LOCH EARN. The steamer sinks in 12 minutes. Only 61 passengers and 26 members of crew are saved. They are rescued by the colliding sailer then by the American ship TREMOUNTAIN who disembarks them in Bristol. LOCH EARN will sink on the following 18 November.