Burning Of SS Normandie ( USS Lafayette ) – 1942 Ocean Liner Fire Educational Documentary – Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erTNmB4dXhU

Burning Of SS Normandie ( USS Lafayette ) - 1942 Ocean Liner Fire Educational Documentary
SS Normandie fire at a New York pier. Background information courtesy en.wikipedia.org SS Normandie was an ocean liner built in Saint-Nazaire, France, for the French Line Compagnie Gnrale Transatlantique. She entered service in 1935 as the largest and fastest passenger ship afloat; she is still the most powerful steam turbo-electric-propelled passenger ship ever built. During World War II, Normandie was seized by US authorities at New York and renamed USS Lafayette. In 1942, the liner caught fire while being converted to a troopship. At 14:30 on 9 February 1942, sparks from a welding torch used by Clement Derrick ignited a stack of life vests filled with flammable kapok that had been stored in the first-class lounge. The woodwork had not yet been removed, and the fire spread rapidly. The ship had a very efficient fire protection system, but it had been disconnected during the conversion and its internal pumping system was deactivated. The New York City fire department #39;s hoses did not fit the ship #39;s French inlets. Before the fire department arrived, approximately 15 minutes after fire broke out, all onboard crew were using manual means in a vain attempt to stop the blaze. A strong northwesterly wind blowing over Lafayette #39;s port quarter swept the blaze forward, eventually involving the three upper decks of the ship within an hour of the start of the conflagration. Capt. Coman, along with Capt. Simmers, arrived about 15:25 to see his huge prospective command in flames. As ...From:Ella73TV2Views:0 1ratingsTime:03:21More inEducation

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Burning Of SS Normandie ( USS Lafayette ) - 1942 Ocean Liner Fire Educational Documentary - Video