History
France
Name	France
Owner	Société Générale de Transports Maritimes À Vapeur SA – SGTM
Port of registry	Marseille
Builder	Forges & Chantiers De La Mediterranee
Yard number	942
Completed	February 1897
Identification	code letters JGHV
Fate	Sunk 7 November 1915
General characteristics
Type	Ocean liner
Tonnage	4,269 GRT
Length	121.1 metres (397 ft 4 in)
Beam	12.8 metres (42 ft 0 in)
Depth	9.3 metres (30 ft 6 in)
Decks	2
Installed power	474 NHP
Propulsion	Triple expansion steam engine, screw propeller
Speed	14 knots
Capacity	1,190 passengers
Crew	115

SS France was a French ocean liner that was shelled by SM U-38 in the Mediterranean Sea 85 nautical miles (157 km) south west of Cape Teulada, Sardinia, Italy (38°08′N 9°54′E / 38.133°N 9.900°E / 38.133; 9.900), while she was travelling from Mudros, Greece to Marseille, France.

Construction

France was constructed in 1896 at the Forges & Chantiers shipyard in La Seyne, France. She was completed in 1897. The ship was 121.1 metres (397 ft 4 in) long, with a beam of 12.8 metres (42 ft 0 in) and a depth of 9.3 metres (30 ft 6 in). The ship was assessed at 4,269 GRT. She had a Triple expansion steam engine driving a single screw propeller and the engine was rated at 474 nhp.

Accident Of 1906

On 1 March 1906 France ran aground with 800 passengers on board at Ilha Bela, near Santos, Brazil, following a navigational error and fog. The passengers were picked up by the SS Poitou. She was refloated on 4 March 1906 and returned to service later that year.

Sinking

On 7 November 1915, France was on a voyage from Mudros, Greece, to Marseille, France, when she was shelled by the German submarine SM U-38 in the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Sardinia. After numerous explosions and fires, the crew and passengers abandoned the ship and she sank a few hours later. There were no casualties.^[1]

References