SS Normandie was a French ocean liner built in Saint-Nazaire France for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. When launched in 1932 she was the largest and fastest ship in the world, and she maintains the distinction of being the most powerful steam turbo-electric propelled passenger ship ever built. Her novel design features and lavish interiors have led many to consider her the greatest of all ocean liners. Despite this, she was not a commercial success, and relied partly on government subsidy to operate.
In 1942, while being converted to a troopship during World War II, Normandie caught fire, capsized, and sank at the New York Passenger Ship Terminal. Although she was salvaged at great expense, restoration was deemed too costly, and she was scrapped in October 1946.
Tonnage: 79,280/83,423 gross tons
Displacement: 71,300 tons (approx)
Length: 1,029 feet (313.6 m)
Beam: 119.4 ft (36.4 m)
Draft: 37.00 ft (11.3 m)
Height: 184 ft (56.1 m)
Power: Four Turbo-electric, total 160,000 hp (200,000 hp max).
Propulsion: Four 3- (later 4-) bladed, 23 tons each
Speed: Designed speed 29 knots (54 km/h), could reach 32.2 knots (59.6 km/h)
Passenger Capacity: 1,972: 848 First Class (cabin), 670 Tourist Class, 454 Third Class
Crew: 1,345