The Château of the Atlantic

The France was the first French floating palace and was known as the “Château of the Atlantic” with some of the most elegant rooms ever to put to sea.  She was also the only four-funneled liner not built by British or German shippers.  She was considerably larger than any other French vessel and was designed to compete in terms of speed and luxury.

France steams past Bishop's Rock.

When her keel was laid in 1909 her intended name was La Picardie, but as the ship was twice the tonnage of any previous French liner, the change of name seemed apropos.  The France entered service in April 1912 shortly after the Titanic disaster.  While the ship was booked, the disaster diverted media attention away from the debut of the new liner.  Nevertheless, she was the pride of her namesake.  She was a fast liner capable of 24 knots and was close in speed to the Cunard trio of the same era. 

Her décor was opulent throughout the first class spaces but the most distinctive feature was a grand staircase that descended directly into the Louis XIV dining saloon.  The room was three decks high because, as company literature advised, "Low ceilings don't aid the appetite."  The food served was considered the finest afloat.  The Sun King and his court was honored in style and portraiture in many public rooms, from the embarkation hall to the lounge.  This was indeed France afloat.

1:1250 model by Mercator.

At the start of the Great War France was requisitioned by the French Navy for use as an armed merchant cruiser, but like the Aquitania naval officials realized the cost of coal made such a role impractical. In 1916 she was painted white and used as a hospital ship in the Dardanelles.  When the United States entered the war in 1917 she was deployed to carry American troops to the continent with space for some. In 1918, her military service was cut short by an engine room explosion that killed nine crew members and thus required extensive repairs.  In 1920, she returned to passenger service.

Sailing in sunny weather.

In 1921 she lost her flagship status to the Paris.  She maintained a popular following among wealthy travelers and was converted to an all first class ship in 1924.  When the Ile de France entered service in 1927, she was diverted to cruising. 

The Depression hit the French Line hard and the France was laid up in 1932.  With passenger numbers falling and work progressing on the Normandie, the decision was made to scrap the liner in 1935.  In retrospect this was unwise, considering the loss of both the Paris and Lafayette to fire in the same period.  She was dismantled in Dunkirk, France.

S.S. France (1912-1935) built for Compagnie General Transatlantique (CGT) by Chantiers de Penhoet Shipyard, St. Nazaire, France.  23,666 GRT, 713 feet long, 75 feet wide.  Steam turbines, quadruple screw.  Service speed 24 knots.  2,026 passengers (534 first class, 442 second class, 250 third class, 800 steerage).