LE TITANIC BELGE

The S.S. Léopoldville (5th of the name), constructs in Hoboken in 1929, right stem, two chimneys. 11.170 T. Brute, longueurs 152,40 m, width 18,90 m. Six bridges, five reserved bridges to receive 355 passengers. Speed 14 knots in charge, (in half charge, 16 ½ maximum knots), two helixes.

Transformed in 1936, to the yards of Mercantile Marine Engineering & Graving Dock Cy., that lengthens l ' stem, this one becomes tilted, a chimney is suppressed, the other is enlarged and ovalisée. One installs a turbine there to win 1¾ knots quickly, and increase of the tonnage ruffian to 11.440 T.

The S/S Léopoldville, in the moments difficult of the Company, stopped the journeys toward Congo, and became a ship of cruise, especially for the fjords of Norway, the Baltic sea and Russia, the Mediterranean Sea (Lisboa, Naples, Rome, Ajaccio, Algiers, Malaga). (to See card and menu).
In 1940, the ship is taken within the English Admiralty and becomes the carrier of troops.
H.M.T. Léopoldville,

This one met on all oceans, on all seas. Of the allers - returns, England toward Canada, Mantle Town, Mombasa, Durban, Algiers, Sicily, Suez, Syracuse, with every time + / - 2.000 soldiers to every journey. He/it participates June 8, 1944 in the landing. He/it didn't make less than 24 crossings of the English Channel, transported in seven months 54.000 armed soldiers.

During the whole conflict, the H.M.T. Léopoldville , transported + / - 124.000 soldiers. But has, the 24/12/1944 in England, some G.I.s s go up on board, Cherbourg direction to celebrate Christmas and to get ready for the offensive of the Ardennes. Another carrier of troops the accompagne ; they are protected by two destroyers, the time is bad, strong surge, the cold water. Toward 18 hours, approaching Cherbourg, an explosion the " Léo " is touched by a torpedo, thrown by the U-486 ordered by the captain Meyer Gerhard, in spite of the presence of the ships accompanists and the fast arrival of small crafts of Cherbourg, at 20.05 o'clock the Léopoldville dives in the seafloor. He/it will drag with him, 5 sailors of the crew and 765 G.I.s  surs the 2.237 elated to his/her/its side.

The wreckage of the Léopoldville has been recovered and has been classified " Cimetière Marin ", because only 252 bodies were recovered. His/her/its known exact position, cannot be unveiled.

D.G.