Re: Tankship Garonne
Posted by:
Visje (IP Logged)
Date: October 28, 2001 01:02AM
This is what I make of it (with my highschool French)
In 1913, the French navy possessed only on oiler, Le Rhone. The development of combustion engines necessitated the utilization of a second oiler. The navy decided to acquire the British tanker Lucellum, which received the name Garonne (1913). Used in service with the American fleet (French fleet in the West Indies?), it was rebuilt as mothership for the army in the far east. It was temporarily transfered to the British government, the ship received the name Fleur de Lys and sailed under the British ensign (1916).
In June 1944, the Garonne was scuttled by the Kriegsmarine to block the small passage of the port of Toulon. Refloated in October 1945, it was laid up until disposal in 1946.