Lafayette: French Motor Liner Style

The French Line (Companie Generale Transatlantique) had a developed a reputation for outstanding service and elegant interior design in their liners.  Beginning with the France of 1912 through the France of 1961, each vessel built for the Atlantic run was unique and showcased the spirit and image of France. With the success of the Swedish America Lines diesel powered liner Gripsholm (1925), and White Star Line’s Britannic (1930) and Georgic (1932), the French Line decided to built motorships to compete on the New York run and also be used for cruises.  When she entered service in 1930, Lafayette was designed to be one of the largest diesel electric vessels built to date.

Lafayette 1:1250 resin model by Hein Muck

In 1932 the 28,094-ton Champlain, joined Lafayette on the Atlantic run. This similar sized ship was the French Line’s first liner to incorporate the new sweeping hull design which would be perfected with the legendary Normandie.

Note the rounded lines to the hull and superstructure.

On a return crossing from New York in March 1934, Lafayette was caught up in a severe North Atlantic storm. Huge waves crashed through about 50 of her promenade windows causing injuries to many of the passengers. Lafayette’s return to France saw her undergo a few weeks of repairs before being re-deployed on the Atlantic run. Four years later, a fire destroyed the liner during an overhaul.  She was in service about eight years and is one of several outstanding French liners to be destroyed by fire. 

Lafayette underway at sea.

Champlain also had a short life as she hit a German mine near La Pallice on the French coast June 17th 1940 and sank soon after.

Lafayette (1930-1938) Built for the French Line (CGT) by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France.  25,178GRT, 613 feet long, 77 feet wide.  M.A.N. Diesels, twin screw.  Service speed 17 knots.  1,079 total passengers (583 cabin class, 388 tourist class, 108 third class).