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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 66101:  French transport Vinh-Long at Toulon, circa the 1890s

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the FRENCH NAVY --

Vinh-Long (Military Transport, 1881-1922)

Vinh-Long, a 5500-ton screw steamship, was built in 1881 as one of several military transports needed to support France's colonial empire. She was employed as a hospital ship during the First World War, returning to her troopship role following the November 1918 Armistice. On 16 November 1922, while carrying 495 persons, including civilians as well as military and naval personnel, Vinh-Long caught fire in the Sea of Marmora, Turkey. Despite the efforts of her crew, the fire reached her after magazines, causing explosions that rapidly spread the conflagration throughout the ship. Despite the severity of the blaze, 482 of her passengers and crew were rescued by USS Bainbridge (DD-246). Thirteen people, among them two women and four children, lost their lives in the fire and subsequent efforts to abandon ship, while another man died of exposure on board Bainbridge.

This page features all our views of the French military transport Vinh-Long, and provides links to images related to her loss.

For views related to the burning of this ship and the rescue of her survivors, see:

  • Burning of the French Transport Vinh-Long, 16 December 1922.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 66101

    Vinh-Long
    (French Transport, 1881)

    Moored at Toulon, France, circa the 1890s.

    The original print is from Office of Naval Intelligence files.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 74924

    Vinh-Long
    (French Transport, 1881)

    Moored at Toulon, France, circa the 1880s or 1890s.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. From the Office of Naval Intelligence album of French warships.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 520 pixels

     

    For views related to the burning of this ship and the rescue of her survivors, see:

  • Burning of the French Transport Vinh-Long, 16 December 1922.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 20 October 2002