See also: France (homonymy)

The France was a Transatlantic liner French of the transatlantic general Compagnie launched in 1912 and which ensured the line Le Havre - New York.

History

Put in building site under the name of Picardy , with the Penhouët Building sites of Saint-Nazaire, it is renamed France before its launching, it is the second ship to bear this name within the company. At the time, it is the largest French steamer, its dimensions having been dictated by those of the basins of Le Havre and the only French steamer with 4 chimneys. The France forever officially contributed for the speed records on the Atlantic Northern, the famous blue Ribbon but the power of its machines made the third fastest steamer of it on the Northern Atlantique, after famous the Lusitania and Mauretania of the British company Cunard.

The France leaves Le Havre for its inaugural voyage the April 20th 1912, that is to say 5 days after the shipwreck of the Titanic. To note that the lifeboats of the France have, as of its startup, a sufficient capacity to accommodate all the passengers and the team members. The steamer will carry out all its career on the line Le Havre - New York, initially in company of Provence, Savoy and Lorraine, then, post-war period, in company of the steamers Paris and Île-de-France. The luxury and the style of its emménagements will be worth the nickname of " to him; Versailles of Atlantique" or " Castle of Atlantique" , according to the sources. He even says himself that, during the Années 1920, certain customers tore off the most luxurious cabins with the biddings.

In August 1914, the France is converted into cruiser auxiliary and renamed France IV but it quickly is transformed and used like transport of troops. End 1915, it is converted into Ship-hospital, with a capacity of 2.500 beds. In April 1918, it is retransformé in transport of troops with a capacity of 5.000 men then used to convoy the American task force, and this until March 1919. In 1918, an explosion in the engine room makes 9 victims.

It takes again its regular service under the name of France in August 1919. Into 1923, it is transformed with heating with fuel oil. Starting from 1927, it carries out cruisings in Europe regularly.

Disarmed with the Harbor in September 1932, it is sold for demolition with Dunkirk in November 1934 and leaves Le Havre the April 15th 1935 for Dunkirk to be demolished there, that is to say less than one month before the inaugural arrival of the Normandy.