liner BRETAGNE

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1936 - 1939

Design features

Bretagne (steel liner) 1936 - 1939
hull material : ...................steel
previous name(s) of ship : ........flandria
detailed type : ...................steel liner
type of propulsion : ..............2 propellers
building year of ship : ...........1922
name of shipyard : ................Barclay Curle & Co
place of construction : ...........Glasgow
year of entering the fleet : ......1936
length (in meters) : ..............137,18
width (in meters) : ...............17,91
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........8119
deadweight (in tons) : ............6950
type of engine : ..................2 Curtiss double reduction turbine sets
engine power (in HP) : ............5600
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........16

History

Ex-FLANDRIA built on behalf of the Dutch shipping company Koninklijke Hollandsche Lloyd. Sistership: ORANIA. From 1922 to 1936, she serves South America at the departure of Amsterdam. The service is closed in 1936. Bought in May 1936 by Transat. Renamed BRETAGNE. Reconditioned and placed at the beginning of 1937 on the "slow" line connecting Saint-Nazaire and Bordeaux to the West Indies and the Firm Coast. On the same line already sails West Indies steamer DE LA SALLE, of similar size and style (almost a sistership), built by the same shipyards. In April 1937, runs aground at Punta Galera, close to Puerto Colombia, and must be refloated. During the summer 1937, is placed on the line of the Baltic with COLOMBIE Torpedoed on October 14, 1939 off Land's End, England, by the German submarine U45, whereas she sailed in convoy from Jamaica. The ship is evacuated and the survivors helped by two British warships. 7 victims.