FRANCE II

The 20th century

The France II was a French sailing ship and the second one of that name. She was the second largest commercial merchant sailing ship ever built.

Built in 1911 at the yards (“Chantiers et Ateliers de la Gironde”) located on the banks of the river Garonne in Bordeaux to the plans of chief designer Gustave Leverne (1861–1940) for the nickel ore trade and was owned by the “Société Anonyme des Navires Mixtes (Prentout-Leblond, Leroux & Cie.)”.

In 1915 she was sold to Leroux-Henzey of Rouen and sold again in 1916 to the “Compagnie Française de Marine et de Commerce” (“French Company of Marine and Trade”) also of Rouen, her port of registry remained the same.

In the night of July 12, 1922 she went aground on the Teremba reef (Urai bay) north west to the Ouano reef, nearly 60 nm north west of Nouméa, New Caledonia, homeward bound to Europe with a cargo of chrome ore from Pouembout. Because of fallen cargo rates her owner refused to pay to tow her free from the Ouano reef by a tug boat which was absolutely possible. In 1944, American bombers bombed the wreckage for target practice.

Highlights about this France II model ship:

• This model ship is entirely handmade by skilled and experienced craftsmen, using the plank on frame construction method
• No kits are use
• Anchors, guns, decorations, and other intricate details sculpted of metal
• Meticulously sewn sails, keep the sails from wrinkle
• Use high-quality wood such as rosewood, ebony, black wood, mahogany wood…., timbers are after process step of pre-construction.