ONCE the pride of North German Lloyd on the Atlantic, the 49,750 ton Europa had a second career as French Line's Libert, while in between she served as a US troopship.

Built in Hamburg by Blohm and Voss in the late 1920s, she was a partner to the slightly larger Bremen - the launchings took place on successive days in August, 1928.

Europa was delayed by fire while fitting out and did not enter service until March,1930, joining Bremen, which sailed in July 1929.

Each ship carried around 2,000 passengers and each became Blue Riband holders. Europa, in 1932, made a passage from Cherbourg to New York in four days, 15 hours and 56 minutes, which remained her best time. She could steam at 29 knots when conditions were right.

During the war Europa served in port as an accommodation vessel for the German navy. There were reports that had the Nazis invaded Britain, Europa and Bremen would have been included in the attacking fleet.

But there was no invasion, and in 1945, following the German defeat, Europa was captured by the US Navy, who arranged for top priority to be given to restoring the ship as a troopship.

The ship's first call at Southampton as transport P177 took place in September, 1945.

Ownership by the US lasted only a few months before she was handed over to the French Line, who refitted her to post-war standards.

A major setback occurred in December, 1946 when violent gales struck the French coast and the ship broke her moorings and careered across Le Havre harbour.

She was salvaged the following year, the refit completed, and the ship crossed to New York for the first time as Libert in August, 1950 after a civic send-off from Southampton.

Libert served with the French Line throughout the 1950s but in 1961 with the new liner, France about to enter service, she was withdrawn and sold for scrap.