The SS NORMANDIE

Construction
The Normandie would eventually break new ground on many levels, she was to be the fastest, the sleekest, and the most artfully decorated. But her first distiction would be as the premier ship to exceed 1000 feet in length.
Her designer Vladimir Yourkevitch had approached the Cunard Line Limited with proposed designs for their hull number 534, soon to be the renowned 'Queen Mary', but was rejected as the plans represented too radical a break from tradition for the British shipping company.
The French Line adopted Yourkevitch's designs and commissioned the new hull, designated "T6", to be built at France's premier shipyard, the Penhoët shipbuilders at St. Nazair. The new ship would draw talent from the finest designers, architects, and artisans of France. Yourkevitch's designs would allow the ship to match the great speed of Britain's 'Queen Mary' with one-fifth less horsepower and substantial fuel savings, and allow the Normandie to be the first French Liner ever to be in competition for the cherished 'Blue Ribbon'.
The ship would be launched on October 29, 1932 and all all of France, and indeed the world, would be following the events of the launch. The largest object ever set in motion by man at the time, Normandie was the center of attention. The world's largest bottle of Champage would be used to christen the ship, perhaps symbolic again that Normandie was to be the biggest and the best. With dignitaries and VIPs in attendance including Albert Lebrun, President of France, Madame Lebrun officiated the launch and set the giant ship in motion. As the enormous ship entered the waters of the River Loire, the tremendous backwash swept ashore, dousing spectators and carrying workers into the Loire.

Owners Compagnie Générale Transatlantique

Builders Penhoët, Saint Nazaire, France

Launched 29 October 1932

Maiden voyage 29 May 1935 Le Havre - New York

Broken up 3 October 1946 to 6 October 1947

Length overall 1029 ft.

Length between perpendiculars 962 ft.

Beam 118 ft.

Height from keel to top of first funnel 184 ft.

Average loaded draft 37 ft.

Gross registered tonnage 79,280 (83,423 after 1936)

Number of decks 12

Boilers 29 (plus 4 auxiliary)

Engines Four Turbo-Electric, total 160,000 hp.

Screws Four 3- (later 4-) bladed, 23 tons each

Cruising speed 29 kts.

Top speed 32.2 kts.

1st class passengers 848

2nd class passengers 670

3rd class passengers 454

Officers and crew 1345

Superbly built model scratchbuit. Plank on frame construction using maple. 1/192 scale measuring 65" in length.