Also “easily convertible” requires a very generous definition of “easily”. I don’t think removing the entire superstructure (just to start) counts as “easy”.
the casings for the turbo alternator room and the propulsion motor room are trunked up there, those and the AC make it a useful mechanical space in my book. It's not a traditional funnel, but if you chopped it off there would be spaces that would have to be allocated elsewhere, so not entirely as unimportant as a hollow structure. That goes for the Olympic class too, to a similar but lesser extent
Infuriating when the flag officer in charge of the firefighting effort ignored the ship designer’s advice to flood her so that she wouldn’t capsize. Worse, I believe he never got reprimanded for the failure.
So they can seize ships from occupied countries, but what about not-quite-enemies? They did not permit a couple of the German four stackers from leaving American ports from the outset of World War I, but didn't themselves enter the war for two and a half more years.
I’m pretty sure the real French government (not the Nazi puppet regime) approved of the “seizure” in part to keep her out of Nazi hands. Plus why let the English get all the troopship glory via QM and QE?
The headline states biggest ship afloat, but halfway down the third column it is mentioned that she is indeed surpassed by QM and QE (neither is accurate, she was second behind QE and ahead of QM as of December 1941 when this was written)
I have never seen this photo of the Normandie before.
I haven’t either. Too bad the caption is nonsense.
can't trust the news to get our lil fascination correct, none of the stacks were "phonies" as they all served some mechanical function.
Also “easily convertible” requires a very generous definition of “easily”. I don’t think removing the entire superstructure (just to start) counts as “easy”.
100 percent agree, I'd further that by saying there are no truly easy conversions, but this would have been one of the hardest
More an example of breathless fact-free “journalism”, which has a long and lustrous history. Any Titanic buff knows that.
I just read it. 🤦♀️ The things people come up with.
I mentally read "to a transport" into that one.
The aft stack was, in fact, a dummy. It's main function was aesthetic. It housed the dog kennels and air conditioning units.
the casings for the turbo alternator room and the propulsion motor room are trunked up there, those and the AC make it a useful mechanical space in my book. It's not a traditional funnel, but if you chopped it off there would be spaces that would have to be allocated elsewhere, so not entirely as unimportant as a hollow structure. That goes for the Olympic class too, to a similar but lesser extent
Then the US mismanaged it and let it burn. Shameful.
Definitely a self-inflicted wound that helped the Nazis.
Military intelligence at its finest.
Infuriating when the flag officer in charge of the firefighting effort ignored the ship designer’s advice to flood her so that she wouldn’t capsize. Worse, I believe he never got reprimanded for the failure.
I would have shot the guy if I saw him.
By 1941 France was occupied by Germany so the US could seize the Normandie.
So they can seize ships from occupied countries, but what about not-quite-enemies? They did not permit a couple of the German four stackers from leaving American ports from the outset of World War I, but didn't themselves enter the war for two and a half more years.
Half was occupied and other half allied with Germany, so US seized French assets. Normal behavior back then.
I’m pretty sure the real French government (not the Nazi puppet regime) approved of the “seizure” in part to keep her out of Nazi hands. Plus why let the English get all the troopship glory via QM and QE?
The headline states biggest ship afloat, but halfway down the third column it is mentioned that she is indeed surpassed by QM and QE (neither is accurate, she was second behind QE and ahead of QM as of December 1941 when this was written)
The Kiss of Death from United States Navy.