SS Général Bonaparte

Général Bonaparte was a 2,796 GRT passenger ship that was built in 1922 by Chantiers & Ateliers de Provence for the Compagnie Marseillaise de Navires à Vapeur. She was torpedoed and sunk by HMS Sportsman on 19 May 1943 with the loss of 130 lives.

History
Name: Général Bonaparte
Namesake: Napoleon Bonaparte
Owner: Compagnie Marseillaise de Navires à Vapeur
Operator: Compagnie de Navigation Fraissinet
Port of registry: Marseille, France
Builder: Chantiers & Ateliers de Provence
Launched: 1 January 1923
Out of service: 19 May 1943
Identification:
  • Code Letters OVSM (1922–34)
  • Code Letters LOGW (1934–43)
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk by HMS Sportsman
General characteristics
Type: Passenger ship
Tonnage: 2,796 GRT, 1,004 NRT
Length: 96.11 metres (315 ft 4 in)
Beam: 13.56 metres (44 ft 6 in)
Depth: 7.44 metres (24 ft 5 in)
Installed power: Triple-expansion steam engine
Propulsion: Screw propeller

Description

Général Bonaparte was 96.11 metres (315 ft 4 in) long, with a beam of 13.56 metres (44 ft 6 in) and a depth of 7.44 metres (24 ft 5 in). She was assessed at 2,796 GRT, 1,004 NRT. The ship was powered by a four-cylinder triple-expansion steam engine. There were two cylinders of the largest diameter. The engine was built by Chantiers & Ateliers de Provence. It was rated at 484NHP.[1]

History

Général Bonaparte was built in 1922 by Chantiers & Ateliers de Provence, Port-de-Bouc, Bouches-du-Rhône, France for the Compagnie Marseillaise de Navires à Vapeur.[1] She was launched on 1 January 1923.[2] The ship was operated under the management of the Compagnie de Navigation Fraissinet. Her port of registry was Marseille and the Code Letters OVSM were allocated.[1] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to LOGW.[3]

On 23 October 1937 whilst on board Général Bonaparte, César Campinchi, the Minister of Marine, remarked that he thought war with Italy was "not only inevitable but necessary". He also said that new air bases would need to be established in Corsica, from which an offensive would be launched that would "bring Fascism to its knees". The Italian press were reported to have reacted "violently" to these remarks, although there were not official protests from the Italian Government.[4]

On 19 May 1943, Général Bonaparte was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by british convoy 40 nautical miles (74 km) off Nice, Alpes Maritimes by HMS Sportsman. She was on a voyage from Ajaccio, Corsica to Nice. There were 68 crew and 199 passengers on board.[5][6] One hundred and thirty-seven survivors were rescued by the Kriegsmarine torpedo boats TA10 and TA11.[6][7]

References
  1. Lloyd's of London (1930). "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  2. "GÉNÉRAL BONAPARTE - paquebot. Chantier : Ateliers et Chantiers Provence (Port-de-Bouc, France)" (in French). Alamer. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  3. Lloyd's of London (1934). "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  4. "Outburst in Italian Press". The Times (47853). London. 27 November 1937. col B, p. 11.
  5. "Compagnie de Navigation Fraissinet, Marseilles". The Ship List. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  6. Damiana, Joseph. "LE NAUFAGE DU "GENERAL BONAPARTE" Torpillé par le sous marin anglais Sportman" (in French). Ajaccio Marine. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  7. Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1943, Mai". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 28 June 2015.

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