SS Normandie was renamed USS Lafayette after being requisitioned by the United States in World War II.
The French liner was in New York when France fell to Germany in 1940. American authorities took control of the ship, which remained at its pier while plans were made to convert it for military use. The vessel was renamed USS Lafayette, although it never entered active service under that name.
During conversion work in February 1942, a cutting torch ignited life-jacket material. Water used to fight the fire accumulated in the ship, causing it to develop a severe list and capsize at its berth. Salvage crews eventually refloated and removed the wreck, but the liner was never restored.
The ship is also often called France’s Normandie. It should not be confused with SS France, a later French liner that entered service in 1962.