Liner (3f/2m).
L/B:
744 × 92.1 (226.7m × 28.1m). Tons:
42,512 grt. Hull:
steel. Comp.:
1st 414, 2nd 158, 3rd 584; 663 crew. Mach.:
geared turbines, 50,000 shp, 4 screws; 23 kts. Built:
Chantiers & Ateliers de St. Nazaire (Penhoët), France; 1931.
At the time of her launching for the Compagnie de Navigation Sud Atlantique, L'Atlantique was the largest and most luxurious ship on the South American run. Built for service between France and Argentina, she made her maiden voyage from Bordeaux to Buenos Aires on September 29, 1931. Unfortunately, her career was destined to be a short one. On January 3, 1933, after scarcely a full year in service, she sailed from Bordeaux to Le Havre for a refit. At 0330 the next morning, she was about 22 miles from the island of Guernsey when a fire of unknown origin broke out in a passenger cabin on E deck. There were no passengers aboard, but the shorthanded crew was unable to contain the blaze. Nineteen of the crew were killed before the order was given to abandon ship at 0800. L'Atlantique burned and drifted on the tide without sinking, and on January 6 she was taken in tow to Cherbourg by a small fleet of Dutch, German, and French tugs. The ship was abandoned by her owners, and the burned-out hulk languished at Cherbourg until 1936 when she was sold for scrap to the Port Glasgow firm of Smith & Houston.
Kludas, Great Passenger Ships of the World.
