The transatlantic "France", the day of its launch, May 11, 1960, in the Atlantic shipyards at Saint Nazaire. Several hundred thousand spectators attended this event. The ship was launched at 4:15 p.m., half an hour before high tide. At 4.30 p.m., General de Gaulle delivered a speech, which concludeed with "And now let France end and go to the ocean, to sail and serve!" Long live France, long live France! "