Emménagements de La Provence

La Provence (1906-1916), paquebot postal construit 

aux Chantiers & ateliers de Saint-Nazaire de Penhoët

«La Provence au Havre. Un des plus importants paquebots de la Compagnie générale transatlantique (CGT) 190,4m par 20m. Ses six ponts superposés atteignent la hauteur d'un quatrième étage, deux tramways pourraient passer de front dans ses cheminées dont le diamètre est de cinq mètres. Ce navire a 21 chaudières qui occupent 216 chauffeurs et dévorent 20 tonnes de charbon par heure. Il franchit en moins de six jours a distance qui sépare Le Havre de New York, faisant ainsi plus de 1000km par jour. La puissance de ses machines est de 30000 chevaux. Le personnel du bord comprend 443 personnes et le bateau  peut recevoir 1504 passagers, ce qui fait au total près de 2000 âmes, c'est-à-dire une population supérieure à celle de bon nombre de nos chefs-lieux de canton.» 

Plus sur La Provence, voir notre blog.

When put into service, La Provence was the largest and the fastest French steamer but, her dimensions having been dictated by the maximum capacities of reception of the harbour of Le Havre, her tonnage was then much lower than the large transatlantic liners of the foreign competitors. This handicap will be overcome only with the work undertaken for the putting into service of Normandie, in the Thirties. La Provence was also the first steamer of the company equipped with wireless telegraphy and it is on board that the first specimen of L'Atlantique was printed, the newspaper intended for the passengers which then will be printed and diffused on all the transatlantic liners until the stop of France in 1974. Brought into service in April 1906 on the line Le Havre-New York where she ensures the express service in company of the steamers La Lorraine and La Savoie, of more reduced size. During the return of her second voyage, she carries out a memorable race with the German steamer Deutschland, whom she overcomes finally with 4 hours. On board, the fortunate passengers had entered into bets. In 1914, is converted into auxiliary cruiser and renamed Provence II. In 1915, is transformed into transport of troops. February 26, 1916, whereas she transported 1.800 soldiers, Provence II is torpedoed off the Cape Matapan, in the Mediterranean, by the German submarine U 35. The ship sinks quickly, carrying down nearly 1.000 victims. (source French Lines).

Salle à manger des premières

Salon d'écriture des premières

Le salon de conversation (photos collection agence Adhémar)