The USS Lafayette/SS Normandie Fire 1942

[cunard61]

A victim of carelessness, and incompetance. Trying to rush a job that didn't need to be rushed. Had the US not lost this ship, we might have been able to shorten the war by invading Europe nearly a year earlier than we did. Very sad for all involved. I wonder who paid the French for the loss of their ship, insurance probably, but America was almost certainly sued for causing the loss to occur in the first place.

[RandallFlaggNY]

My grandfather, a senior chemical engineer, worked in the Lincoln building and had a front row seat for this cluster-*@$%.

The mob lit the match, and land lubber fireman capsized it.

The mob was sending a message to the Navy and FDR on who ran the docks, even in wartime.

[TwinPat90]

This video is almost a tragic metaphor for France's fall during WWII. At least the nation was liberated afterwards...the ship was just scrapped.

[LifeIsABigPuzzle]

Man, it must have sucked for the soldiers to climb that ladder onto the transport.

[venom3760]

If you are interested in the factual story of how the U. S, Navy engaged the help of the NY Syndicate, (Mafia), as a result of this fire visit this site:

GOOGLE; WRITER PADDY KELLY

[sbchelldiver]

(contd) this guaranteed her salvage, & a long & eventful & useful service to her Nation...one wonders what many great things would have happened to Normandie; Heroic war record as a War-winning transport, an even more spectacular & legendary career in the heady Postwar period, & perhaps final preservation as a monument & Art object, admired & revered by all...alas, it is but speculation & wishful fancy...

[sbchelldiver]

(contd) her hangardeck & its related machinery were gutted, & 50 workers were killed...damages amounted to 75 million 1960 dollars, & she had to be rebuilt from the hangardeck up. which set her back six months...the difference here was that the Navy had learned from its mistake on Normandie, & as soon as Constellation started to keel over, her seacocks were opened & she sank in her berth on an even keel, once the fire was out, she was dewatered & her engines escaped irreparable damage...

[sbchelldiver]

Actually, while the damage from fire was extensive, what sealed Normandie's fate was its capsizing & inmersion in water of her powerplant for several months; once righted, it was determined her engines were ruined beyond repair...less than 20 years later USS Constellation suffered a similar fire while fittingout, her electrical & information equipment were totally ruined,...

[Davis4037]

a welder said OOPS

[CaesarInVa]

Actually, TwinPat, it's equally objectionable to exaggerate the facts and to marginalize the US contribution to the European Theater’s successful conclusion by stating that “many other Allied forces” contributed to Germany’s downfall.

[CaesarInVa]

The US was the principle supplier of material in the ETO and the second-most significant contributor of personnel (the USSR having that honor). The USSR and Britain notwithstanding, there were NO OTHER countries capable of committing personnel or material in sufficiently significant quantities to contribute meaningfully to Germany’s defeat.

[CaesarInVa]

Despite their valiant collaborative efforts, Great Britain and the USSR were incapable of defeating Hitler either jointly or severally. While the USSR had the manpower and wasn’t afraid to millions of men like cheap hamburger to a meat-grinder, German technology was sufficiently advanced to handily offset Russian numerical superiority and while Great Britain had the heart, they didn't have the manpower or industrial capacity.

[CaesarInVa]

Great Britain and the USSR notwithstanding, all other European countries capable of meaningful resistance to Nazism either adopted policies of neutrality (e.g., Spain, Portugal, Switzerland) or were occupied (e.g., France, Poland, Netherlands, etc.) or were allied with Germany already (e.g., Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, etc.).

[CaesarInVa]

As much of an affront to European historical revisionism as it may seem, it is an undeniable, irrefutable truth that it was the US’ contribution to the war effort that tipped the scales inexorably in favor of the Allied cause. Had the US refrained from active participation in the ETO, it is most likely that Hitler, having only to contend with Russia and Great Britain, would have fought both powers until stalemate and would have remained in power for decades.

[WhiteStarLine401]

Very beautiful ship that was years ahead of her time. Such a shame she came to such a tragic and premature end :(

[351460]

The only ship that ever approached being "fireproof" was built by Americans.--The SS United States was constructed and fitted only with fireproof materials. Only the fuel and lubricants it carried were flammable, as well as some cargo. Unfortunately, much of the insulation was asbestos, which some believe is hazardous but that is only if particles are inhaled, despite what the wackos from Greenpeace claim.

[W123W116]

@351460 teh Normandie was equipped with a state of the art fire extinguishing system. Too bad it was turned of because of the conversions being made on the ship. Despite the offer of french constructors to help, US responisbles blew it and the beautifull ship was impounded and reduced to a pile of junk. France was more regarded as an Axis power at the time.

[chengloki]

The "Normandie" was a tremendous loss. But how much more for Vladimir Yurkevitch, He had said that the "Normandie" was fire proof. Who was Vladimir Yurkevitch?? Only the man who had designed the "Normandie". AND he watched his baby burning at the pier. =Stefan=

[benoit91220]

fire proof for french people who knew how use the system...not for stupid american people didn t want the help of french

[chengloki]

benoit, all I can say is "How many Frenchman would it take to to keep Paris from invasion. No one knows, it's never been tried". =Stefan=

[351460]

France would be nothing more than a Nazi German colony were it not for America and Americans--Keep this absolute fact firmly in mind

[TwinPat90]

Well, no, not exactly. While the Americans helped a lot, it was withthe help of many other Allied forces which helped defeat Nazi Germany. Saying that the United States, alone saved Europe would be very rude, and innacurate.

[TwinPat90]

France was under Nazi occupation during WWII so they couldn't "help" you moron. They couldn't even defend their own country, never mind a luxury passenger ship.

[Divilium06]

SS Normandie...

One of our greatest liner in France with SS France, and one of the best ever built...

We've lost two jewels, two icon.

Erf.

[sequane1]

Words are useless... This would have never happen without Voltaire. He succeded to turn up State Logic into somethingelse, the big confusion came from US, out of it...

[enzocorini]

the danger fire on bord is every were and wen happen is terrible. interesting mouvie to keep attention!!! 5* avec placier. ciao enzocorini1948

[1814Brandan]

Maybe the mob caused the fire, but the idiots running the salvage were the US Navy, and they were the ones who fucked the ship up. So yeah, you can blame Americans. Leave it to the Italian mob to ruin things.

[apejens44]

This is tragic footage....the most beautiful ship ever built.

[GentilPascalou]

Thank you America for this disaster !

Yes, it is sad... very sad.

[g2no2000]

Why don't you pick up a history book you moron!

The Normandie was sabotaged by the Mafia under the direction of Lucky Luciano, who used this as a bargaining chip to get out of prison.

The sabotage was carried out by Albert & Tony Anastasia who were part of what later became known as

the Gambino Family

[GentilPascalou]

It's not very useful to be unpleasant as you are. I could write here some violent words, but you know I'm a polite person, so don't count on me for such moronic comment... as you did...

Plus, I'm sure, for very good reasons, that I certainly know more about "Normandie" than you, and you're wrong. So long.

[g2no2000]

You are such a polite person?

Your statement, which I responded to, blamed Americans for an act of sabotage on the Normandie.

Not only is that IMPOLITE, it is totally devoid of any facts, and truly shows what little knowledge you have about this terrible event

which took place in NYC during WWII.

You say: " I'm sure, for very good reasons, that I certainly know more about "Normandie" than you, and you're wrong."

I stand by my previous statement...You are a moron.

[g2no2000]

My major in college was US History, with a great deal of studies on both LCN & WWII in particular.

I have lived large portion of my life in NYC, and I am extremely familiar with the sabotage of the Normandie.

If you did a modicum of research about this subject you would know that this act of sabotage was planned by Lucky Luciano from his prison cell, and carried out by Albert & Tony Anastasia.

The ONI was certain that this act of sabotage was carried out by German Spies.

[g2no2000]

Within twenty-four hours of the SS Normandie being sabotaged, the ONI began making deals with high ranking members of LCN in NYC, as they controlled the docks.

That is when the U.S. Government turned to Lucky Luciano, who was the de facto head of LCN for help.Thus began what is known as "Operation Underworld", a covert plan between Luciano and the War Dept.

Here endeth the lesson!

Pick up a book and do a little research before making wild accusations.

[GentilPascalou]

First you don't know who I am, and secondly I insist... you're wrong, everybody knows that it was an accident, nothing else ; sabotage is a legend ; but you're also right... here endeth the lesson !! your version is typically American... and very good for a movie, and this is normal because the disaster took place in your country.

I LOVE AMERICA...

Here's my last message to you, "professor"... whatever you reply.

Regards to your major.

[BCraven04]

How aweful! aweful, aweful, aweful!

[GoofyDude1]

S.A.D Club.

[HarborGuy]

S A D !!