liner VILLE D'ORAN

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1954 - 1965

Design features

Ville d'Oran (steel liner) 1954 - 1965
hull material : ...................steel
previous name(s) of ship : ........
detailed type : ...................steel liner
type of propulsion : ..............2 propellers
building year of ship : ...........1936
name of shipyard : ................Société Provençale de Constructions Navales
place of construction : ...........La Ciotat
year of entering the fleet : ......1954
length (in meters) : ..............136,50
width (in meters) : ...............19,2
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........10172
deadweight (in tons) : ............1782
type of engine : ..................2 sets of 3 Parsons turbines with single reduction gear
engine power (in HP) : ............18000
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........21,5

History

Sistership of the liner VILLE D'ALGER (1935). Unlike her sistership, VILLE D'ORAN will remain the property of the French Governement till 1954, her management being in charge of the FRENCH LINE. Put into service on the North Africa lines in October 1936, departure from Marseille, where she meets the same success than her sistership. At that time, she holds two funnels, the rear one being dummy. In September 1939, she is transformed into on auxiliary cruiser and renamed X5. Her after funnel is withdrawn. During the « phoney war », carries out patrols in the Mediterranean sea. In April 1940, takes part in the raid of Norway. Hit by a plane bomb in Namsos. In June, takes part in the transfert of a share of the gold reserves of the Banque de France from Pauillac to Casablanca, then to Dakar, where she is laid up. After the defeat, returns to Marseille, where she is a new laid up. Back to service to Algeria between May and September 1941, then is laid up in Algiers. At the end of 1942, is refitted out by the allies then used as a troop carrier, managed by the Cunard. Takes part in the Sicily and Italy landing. Unrequisitioned in March 1946 and put again into service. Is entirely repaired in 1948/1949. Unlike VILLE D'ALGER, her superstructures, which have not been damaged, are not modified. Put again into service on the North Africa lines in June 1949 with only one funnel and one mast. In the fifties, the after mast is put up again and the funnel, modernized and hightened ; like VILLE D'ALGER. Taken again in ownership by the French Line in January 1954. Sold in June 1965 to the Greek shipowner Typaldos. Renamed MOUNT OLYMPOS then shortly OLYMPOS. Laid up in Acamaranga. White hull. Ought to have been put into service with the ex-VILLE D'ALGER on the line Marseille-Haifa, but seems not to have been operated even once. In 1968, the shipowner is going bankrupt. Destroyed in Trieste in 1970.