SS France (1910)
 SS France in 1912.
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | SS France |
| Owner: | Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT) |
| Port of registry: |
 France, Le Havre
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| Route: | Transatlantic |
| Ordered: | 1908 |
| Builder: | Chantiers de l'Atlantique |
| Laid down: | February 1909 |
| Launched: | 20 September 1910 |
| Commissioned: | 1912 |
| Decommissioned: | 1936 |
| Maiden voyage: | 20 April 1912 |
| Out of service: | 1935 |
| Struck: | 1936 |
| Identification: | |
| Nickname(s): | Versailles of the Atlantic |
| Fate: | Broken up in 1936 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: |
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| Length: | 217 m (712 ft) |
| Beam: | 23.88 m (78.3 ft) |
| Propulsion: | Four direct-action steam turbines; Quadruple propeller; 45,000 ihp (34,000 kW) |
| Speed: | 23.50 knots (43.52 km/h; 27.04 mph) |
| Capacity: | 2,020 passengers |
For the 1961 SS France, see SS France (1961)
SS France was a French ocean liner which sailed for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, colloquially known as CGT or the "French Line". She was later christened Versailles of the Atlantic, a reference to her décor which reflected the famous palace outside Paris. Ordered in 1908, she was introduced into the Transatlantic route in April 1912, just a week after the sinking of RMS Titanic, and was the only French liner among the famous "four stackers". France quickly became one of the most popular ships in the Atlantic. Serving as a hospital ship during World War I, France would have a career spanning two decades. Her overall success encouraged CGT to create even larger liners in the future.
At the turn of the 20th century, British and German liners dominated the North Atlantic passenger route, carrying not only a huge number of immigrants, but catering to the socially elite as well. In 1897 the North German Lloyd had launched their Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, a four-funnelled liner which proved a great success. By 1906, Lloyd had three four-funnelled liners and another being built. Lloyd were the owners of the so-called "Kaiser-class" ships which, with their four funnels were a paradigm of strength, safety and luxury. Shortly after the advent of Cunard's luxurious ocean greyhounds, Mauretania and Lusitania, the French Line's directors decided it was time to enter the race for supremacy. The company did not become a major participant of the trans-Atlantic ocean liner trade until after World War I. During 1907 and 1908, when immigration to the United States was greatest, the company's share of the market was a mere 10%. In line with its strategy, the company did not have ships of either great speed or size, but instead became renowned during the early 20th century for its luxuriously appointed liners. Under the direction of Jules Charles Roux, president of the CGT since 1904, the company ordered a new liner which was to be named Picardie.
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