SS La Provence was an ocean liner and auxiliary cruiser torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea on 26 February 1916.

[1][2] A proposal to power the ship with turbines was rejected and two conventional triple expansion steam engines chosen instead driving two screws with 30,000 IHP for an expected speed of 23 knots.

[2] The ship operated on the Havre—New York route, making one crossing in six days and four hours for an average of 21.63 knots.

[6][7][8][9] Provence II was transporting troops from France to Salonika when she was sunk by the German U-boat U-35 commanded by Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière south of Cape Matapan.

Captain Vesco, he states, remained on the bridge, calmly giving orders, and finally cried, "Adieu, mes enfants."