-,

Large deslroye"l£ FANT ASQUE prepares 10 come alongside the cruiser GEORGES LEYG'UES for refuelfifig plJfposes.

FRENCH WARSHIPS or

WORLD WAR II

JEAN LABAYLE COUHAT

-

IAN ALLAN

--_

First published 1971

CONTENTS

Preface IJoge 6

The French avy at the outbreak of World War IT .. 7

The French Navy during World War IT 10

Old Battleships 20

Fast Battleships .. 24

Ai:rcraft Carri ers 31

Seaplane Carrier 34

Heavy Cruisers 37

Light Cruisers 43

Large Destroven 50

Destroyers. . 62

l...ig;bt Destroyer 69

Corsair Submarine 72

First Class Submarines 75

Second Class Submarines 79

Minf'tayi'ng; Submarines 88

Frigates 90

Corvettes ... 93

Destroyer Escorts 95

First Class Sloops. . 95

Old Firsl Class. Sloops 98

Second Class Sloops 100

Old Second Class Sloops. . 104

Patrol Boats 106

8ubcbasers 110

Awilliary Patrol Boats . . 114

Harbour Defence Mawr Launches 12.2

Ex-British Motor Launches 124

Requisitioned Harbour Defence Launches 124

Coastal Minesweepers 124

Auxiliary Minesweepers j 27

MOlor Torpe-do Boals 127

River Gunboats .. 12&

Surveying Vessels. . . . 133

Armed M erehant Cruisers . . . . 135

Submarine Depot Ship and Minelayers A 38

NeLlayer.. .. .. .. J41

Target Vessel . . . . . • . . . . 142

Utile Seaplane Support Ships and Seaplane Tenders. . 142

O~ l~

Transports."Suppl; 'Ships'~nd R~frjger~;or Ships .. 148

Naval Weapons .. . . .. . . " 150

Wat'La e 158

[odex 171

SBN 71 no 0153 7'

Pubh'shed hy {an Alia», Ltd., Shepperfon, Surrey. and printed ill' the Unired Kingdom by Tindal Press Ltd., London and Chelmsford.

© Ian Allan, 1911

PREFACE

THIS short book docs not claim to be a complete historical survey of France's participation in World War IT. It is intended primarily to acquaint British readers with the French warships of the period. The story of these ships being inseparable from that of the avy, it was decided. to include a brief account of the activities of the French Fleet during the war.

The author wishes to expre his grateful thanks to those who assisted him with the task of writing mis book, especially to Jean Meirat, the well-known naval historian, who kindly undertook the provision of much valuable informaiion and Henri le Mason the famous author of Les Planes de Combat, the French Jane.

e

The French Navy at the outbreak of World War n

In spite of her maritime interests, long coastline,. w.eaLthy coloma! empire and the envy it roused! Prance seldom paid much attenuon 00 her Navy. When she did experience pt:r~o.ds of Naval strength It was due LO a small number of forceful,

clear-sigbted pclitician . .. .

The French Navy came out of World War I greatly weakened but II was fortunate enough 'in the 19~05and 19305, to have ai. il~ head some very dynamic per analities. ~.be most emtne~t of ~hom. were certainlv Gl;:orge. L.eygues and Francois Pietri, They were asSIISLed Ir;t their task ~Y a score of ~nlhaJll.leader whO demonstrated II remark~bie c0!ltll:luny of acuon,. Names whIch particularly stand out are those of Admirals Violette, Durand VIe] and! Darlan, Their task. of rehabilitation Wall not all easy one, for as well as the indifference of the French people they had to overcome British detennination to achieve peace without vast show of arms,

After World War I, the British Government resumed us policy of trying for a balance of power in Europe, and did not want to ee one European country with a stronger hold on the Cominent than the others. France still saw Germany as a porenrial enemy but Great Britajn was more concerned with the increasing maritime ambirteas of Japan. and would not agree LO France's demands for a buffer state in the Rhineland and all increase in her Naval tonnage, Lloyd George believed that Internatinnal co-operation within the framework of the League of Nation would CDSUI"e peace in Europe. Britain's attitude was maintained throughou; tile numerous disarm:;Lltitllt conferences which took place d.u;ing the late ]920s and wTiy 1930s until 1936, when Hiller had made his ambitions obvious and Italy invaded Ethiopia. General re-arrnarnem now began,

In spite of the obstacles, however, the French avy managed tQ achieve a degree of strength during the inter war years, which had eldom been equalled during its long 'and eventful ruslory. The warships on strength in 1939 totalled J 7S vessels wblch oonstinned approximately 554,000 tons, divided into the followlng t"tasmlcalwns;

2 old baHleships-COURBET and PARIS

l old battleships extensively refitted-BRETAGNE, PROVENCE and

LORRAl E

2 new fast ballles.hips-DUNKERQUE and STRASBOURG 2 old aircraft carriers-BEARN and eDT TESTE

7 heavy cruisers

12 liglu cruisers

32 large destroyers; rated as cantre-torptileurs 26 destroyers, rated as rorpNlellrs d' escadre

12 light destroyers, rated as torpillerrrs

11 submarines :

The SURCOUF, at that time the greatest submarine afloat 3B first class submarines

32 econd class submarines 6 minelaying submarines,

K~P~ for the five old battle hips. all the vessels bad received their first cernmlSS10n after 1926 and lew were more than 1] or 14 years old. In ,addilion

7

to these warships, a large number of minor craft-sloops, minesweepers, motor torpedo boats patrol boats and trawlers, etc., were requisitioned."

Thi auxiliary F]eet varied in its eornpesition from lime to time.

The aval ail- arm was composed. of approximately 160 carrier-borne aircraft and 200 land-based air-craft. as well as a maritime co-ordioauon unit, i.e .• aircraft assigned to the Navy by the Air Force.

France had taken fuU advantage of re-armament and in 1939 the following ships were under construction or had been ordered:

4 fast 35,OOO-lon battleships-lUCHELIEU, JEA -BART, CLEM.lEN-

CEA U and G ASCOGNE

2 fast aircraft carriers-JOFFRE and PAINLEVE 3 light cruisers of the de Grasse Cla s

4 large destroyers, of the Mogador Class 12 fleet destroyers

40 submarines;

g first class submarines

28 second class submarines 4 rninelaying submarines.

These 65 ships represented an overall tonnage of 271,500 tons. Generally speaking French snips were of good design, well-planned ami built; the large contemporary-designed destroyers were the swiftest and possibly the most powerful afloat. However, they had been designed for the Mediterranean theatre and because of this like most light warships were seriously lacking in radius.

As. it was envisaged that ber main opponent in any conflict would be Jtaly, who bad (10 alrcr.ut carriers. France had been slow in ordering two light carriers to replace the aged BEARN. Although another cause for the delay was that. in common with other seamen (except the Japanese), Fren b ailors did not trust the aircraft-carrier. which they deemed! a very vulnerable essel, They were convinced that victory .3.t sea could ouly be achieved by destroying the enemy forces during baule and such engagements required high calibre guns. Although other weapons were not neglected, most officers, particularly those of the Naval Staff who had a major interest in the development of the Navy as a fighting Force. were deeply convinced that the battleship was truly the backbone or the Fleet,

The French submarines were most useful on the surface, Although fast-diving and handy when submerged, they were somewhat fragile. The 1,5QO.lon submarines ordered as fleet escorts proved themserves too slow for the task and in the event the minelaying submarines were probably the ones most uited for their intended work. The 550mm torpedoes of the 24V type were good on linear trajectory but uncertain on gyro angling: the 400mm torpedoes were a total failure.

Naval ordnance was generally quite satisfactory, but some armaments turned out to be fragile and other: required delicate handling because of their complex mechaai Ill. French naval engineers sometimes displayed a tendency to seek the boldest solutions, but as the saying goes, "striving to better, oft we mar what's well".

The French Navy had developed ill process to impregnate COiOLLf into shells, which was discharged Oil impact, making it easier to adjust the range when everal ships were firing 01] the same target simultaneously. This Invention was also licensed to British manufacturers.

l A1 th« beginning (1[ Wwld War 11 lilt! Pre n c/. Nov] reqlli5iliC)I1td tIle f(JUo~'inFi vessrls: 2'9 t:1~iliarJ~: cruisers, cable ,sMp's. and mmsporls; 2 110..,,;/(1 sllips; 66 uuxifful'Y PQI'ro/ boeus; 376 Qu_"t/tal')I nunesweepers; 87 insbor« minl"SWf!I!peq 01' lirlfbour deft1l« motor !aulfl:f,t's.

8

A ',sOO-ton deslrQyer {Omng at sea.

[JLC Colledion

9

, i

Like other Navies the French had greatly underestimated the threat of the aeroplane and it became necessary during the war to increase the anti-aircraft armament on most vessels. To this 'end all available equipment was used to improve the fire power of the Vichy-controlled Navy and this resulted in most heterogeneous armaments. Later on, ships which were re-assigned LO duty received modern equipment from the Allies.

Insofar as electremagnctie and underwater detection equipment were concerned, the French lagged behind the Royal avy. Interest In radar had begun in 193:5 and tests had been undertaken, which revealed the usefulness of metric waves, in aircraft approach warning. A radar construction programme was initialed for the protection of the harbours at Brest, Cherbourg, Toulon and Bizerte, In April 1939 several exchanges of Intorrnauon took place with the British, but they had to be suspended due to the prevailing circumstances of war. However, during the German occupatlon of France, research on prototype equipment (both shore- and ship-based) was carried on clandestinely. in spite of difficulties, until the Fleet was cuuled in November 1942.

In the same way ~he French found themselves out-distanced in the field of sonar research, although French scientists and engineers had participated [0 a great extent in the development of underwater detection apparatus using ultrasonic waves, A number of asdic units had been purchased from Great Britain La equip the French A.SW vessels.

Like most Navies-except perhaps "hal of the United States-the French avy did not believe in sea-borne attacks on the coastland. Attempts of this kind in the past had never met with any real success, and the failure of the Dardanelles campaign connrmed this belief. The Americans followed a different doctnoe: [liey were convinced that the failure was due to a Jack of means and POOf leadership. rather than insurmountable difficulties, The following stages of the war affirmed their views on this subiecr,

In spite of its imperfections, the French Navy was still a workable war 1001 in 1939. Its organization was remarkable in overall principle as well as in detail. The commuriicatious system always operated most efficiently: even during tile darkest hours before 111e flnal collapse the government and military command relied solely on the Navy to dispatch their orders. The men had been well-trained and morale was excellent. they trusted their leader, and their unquestioning faith in him in the midst of the worst hardships is surely the best token or French naval gallantry.

The French Navy during World Wa.r n

In September L 939 Britain and France believed that Italy would join forces with Germany. The French Navy, therefore, was given Lile task of conducting operations to protect shipping ill the Bay of Biscay and [he western Mediterranean. Consequently her Naval forces were divided into two group:

(0) A raid force based in Brest composed of the fast battleships DUNKERQUE arid STRASBO RG. three Light. cruisers andeighr large destroyers' of the raster type.

(b) Based in the western Mediterranean were three battle hips of the older type, seven heavy crui ers, three Ligbt cruisers ami some fifty contre lO,.pmellr~· and torpilleur:r.

The raid force which could achieve a speed of 30 knots. was at that time matched by no other force in the world.

However, as Italy decided 10 remain neutral, the French a well as the Royal avy gave priority to the protection of hipping from the submarines and

., LeJli/i'f! l(jrpiff~ur.r

10

Alpine troops board il troop transport at Brest tor the Narvlk. landings.

[E. C. Arm~es

Alpine tr,oops and dogs en route for Narv;".

[ECA

11

A slranded French desiroyer at Dunhirk.

CIECA

surface raiders which the KriegsmarilU!- deployed ill all European waters. Between September 3, 1939 and June 25, 1940 the French alone escorted ! 7S French convoys totalling L,437 ships (seven lost) and 56 British convoys with a total IQf 2.157 ships.

In ovember 1939 the German introduced a new and terrible weapon, the magnetic mine. The Allies soon learned to overcome this threat by using minesweepers and dernagnetising the ships. The French rninesweeping and escort vessels were re-equipped to meet [his serious hazard on the open sea. and the French Navy was active 11'1 bunting enemy submarines and escorting valuable convoys.

Oil November 30, ]939 Soviet troops Invaded Finland, after Ibtis small but courageous. country refused to yield tc certain demands made by the USSR. Meanwhile. the Western From was going through a somewhat quiet period and the Allies grasped the opportunity to open a Second! Front. They decided ro occupy the northern Norwegian ports and the Swedish iron-fields. ofortunately, a certain hesitancy 011 the part of the Allies gave Germany the opportunity to out-manoeuvre them and she rapidly invaded orway. The Allies did nor give up their plans, however, and made several landings at Trondheim and Narvik, The armed merchant cruisers EL BlAR, EL MA SOUR, VILLE D'ORAN and VILLE O'ALGER landed ball a brigade of alpine troops in Namsos but Ihey were overwhelmed by the enemy and this Anglo. reneh expeditionary force had to re-embark, The French fm-ces left on May 3, 1940 and the operation resulted in the 10 s of the BiSON j ,:1 }arge modern destroyer. ]n Narvlk the troops, led by General Bethouart captured! thlil city and its environs, but 1,1 was too late to lake any strategic advantage of the success, and the situation in France had become so desperate [hat the troops had to' be pulled OUl.

The days that followed May 10 were decisive in the outcome of the West em campaign. All the counter-artack failed to stop the Panzer Divisions advancing towards the Channel. The only air-craft in France able to perform dive-bombing

12

issioIlS were land-based, normally caITier-bo:D~, bombers, These were vainly ~crific;cd to checkthe German troops,' .s~ll1l1lgly inevitable advance towards Boulogne and Dunkirk. The Pan7ier DIVISIOns attacked the coastal ~defences from the rear and compelled the French Navy .~o engage HI heavy fighung bO~lh in sea and Olll land. The Navy carried supplies to the Army,. supported Its

peratioDS and finally participated in the evacuation of the Dunkirk bridgehead.

OUTing this tragic event ~~ Navy .fought bravely but slJista.lned heavy losses. Along with the 224;000 British soldiers, UO.OOO French soldiers. were taken off the: beach. Despite desperate resistance on the Semme and Alsne rivers, the Frelllch Front was broken. The Navy made a cencerted effort to salvage all tbat was possible from th~ ports threatened by the German ad~ance: A Iew d;ays lalll:r the in aders closed In on Le Havre and Cherbourg, and In spite of valiant defc.ncel.b.ese ports were seized. liUie later Brest and the other Atlanl.ic ports were to fall An seaworthy vessels were dispatched towards Great Britain Or

orth Africa. The remainder were destroyed or scuttled and tile material Jesses

were tremendous. . .

France was now practically non-combatant and Italy bad decided to ent,;r

the war on the side of Lh~ enemy, although its Naval forces :-"ere seldom In aelion. However, the remains of the French fleet ~ very ae.lIve! During the night of JLl:1l6 13, an attack was launched agalnst military and .LDdlustrtal larg.els in t:he Vado-Genoa area; on June ]6. the sloop LA CURIEUSE sank an Italian slJIbml;l,!'iDe and on June 22 ILA_ LORRAINE and two Bri~sll cruisers shelled Bardla in Cyrenaica. By June 25 Prance was defeated and signed. the Armistice

agreemt:n1, burt G~t Britain continued with the fight.. . .'

In spite of official "!uarantees and the French seamen ~ prormses that ~elr ships would never fallinto enemy hands, Winston Churchill ordered the seizure of all French ships which had found shelter in Great Britain and the destrucuon r all remaining vessels. his resulted in tragic fighting on July 3 and 6 at

Me:rs~el-K.ebir; the BRETAG wassum and the DUNKERQUE,

Fast bl11t1eship STRASBOURG {iring on British destroyers a1 Mers-El-Kebir. CIECA

13

I

I III

II

Old baWeship PROVENCE pro'tlfdes CO'i'ering (ire as' the fast baoWeship STRAS· BOURG sUps her moorings at Mers·f./·Kebir.

MOGADOR and PROVE C were very seriously damaged .. The STRAS~ BOURG and several destroyers managed to escape DO Toulon. This regrettable engagement cost the French Navy more than a thousand casu ali ties. In Alexandria, Lordi Andrew Cunningham=one of the most famous Admirals of the Royal Navy-a-agreed on a ettlementwith the French Admiral commanding the forces stationed there, The LORRAINE, three cruisers and several smafler ships were disarmed, but remained under French control. But in Dakar on July 8 the RICHEUEU was attacked and damaged.

The French Navy was extremely shocked by these actions which resulted in the major part of the Fleet being locked in Toulon harbour tinder cover of the surrounding forts: this brougbt (ne Fleet closer to the enemy who were then tempted into trying 10 'Seize it. Although indignant, the French refrained from retaliating against the' British ships so as not 1.0 aggravate their plight, but Admiral Varian decided that any of their ships coming within 20 nautical miles of the ree French homeland or colonial coastlines should be attacked, On September 23, 24 and 25, 19'40 a small French force sailing from France was engaged against General de Gaulle and! ships of the Royal Navy off Dakar. This time the balance of power was more eveoarid they sl..lflered severe punishment but French losses were also heavy.

From then until 1943, when they resumed their figh; against the enemy, the Navy personnel who remained under Vichy command endeavoured to defend the Empire against all attempts to obtain control of it, in order 10 prevent the Germans from breaking the Armistice before France was ready to take up the fight again. As a result of this the French Navy exchanged blows with the British three times and once with Thai and American forces,

Encouraged by the Japanese, Thailand made claims on several Cambodian provinces. Border fighting began without any formal declaration of war, [0 January 1941, a decisive operation was planned against the small but very modem and powerful Siame e FJ.eeL However on January 17 the Fleet was

14

I

I

Larg'e destroyer L',AUDACfEUX after being damaged at Dakar by ,the Australian crulse« HMtfSAUSTRALfA.

large battleship RICHEUEU comes under BrlUsh {ir,eat Dakar.

15

taken. by surprise at Koh-Chang by the small French force stationed ill lndochina and !he former was eliminated almost instantly.

Several months later, on JUIle 8 British and Free French forces invaded Syria on the pretext that the Vichy regime was about to anow German planes which were bound for Iraq to support a rebellion. to refuel there. Vichy troops resisted firmly but only a month later. and after some very rough skirmishes they agreed to ign an armistice with General Wave!!. During lhis short campaign, the small, skilfully commanded Middle East Naval Division came out of several encounters with the much stronger British forces very favourably.

In the spring of 1942, after the sWJifl succession of Japanese victories, Great Britain suffered a dark period; India and Australia seemed threatened and Madagascar appeared as a vital posidon which had to be taken before the Japanese could gel there. TIle operation to achieve tbi:; ,goal WIl5 prepered with great secrecy and after a heroic resistance against undoubtedly stronger forces, Diego Suarez Iell to the Brio h. During the fighting the Vichy Fleet lost two avisos and three submarines. Later in 1942 came the large scale landings in Nom Afrlea but due to lack of strength rhe Allies could only attack Morocco and Algeria, neglecting Tunisia, and this was to have important consequences in the future.

The Americans had, by now, acquired local support in Algeria and Morocco, but these partisans were unable to playa very important part ill the invasion as nlley were insufficiently informed and 100 late for [he meeting with the Americans. Basically tile French fighters favoured the Allied cause and only resisted the invasion for discipline's sake; (hey also had the idea in the back of their minds that the operation might not have been sufficiently well planned, as had been the 'case ill Greece and Crete. and could lead the Germans to inter-fere in orth Africa-s-this had to be prevented at aJlJ COSLs. During the fighting in Algiers, Oran and Casablanca, the Vichy Naval forces, although inferior in numbers and material, were placed .iI1l difficult moral conditions, in pite of which they demonstrated great discipline and valour. Their losses were severe, one light cruiser and several destroyers and submarines being sunk,

On November J 1. General Eisenhower and Admiral Darlan, who happened. to be ill Algeria at the time, signed a truce to stop the fighting. The French forces joined the Allies in their struggle against the Germans. but the latter retaliated promptly. The Nazi forces invaded Tunisia taking advantage IQf tile confusion of orders and countermands issued by Vichy HQ and the Algerian Government. The Germans occupied Bizerte where they seized and later scuttled several ships. The final conquest of Tunisia cost the French and their Allies six rnemhs of continual fighting. Also on November] 1, the Germans, infuriated by the turn of events in North Africa, invaded that area of France which had remained unoceupied since J9401. qn. tile 27th of that mOl?th a Dlvision of SS troops tned to capture the remams of the French Fleel In Toulon harbour. but there was just enough time to scuttle the ships and the in'lOading Germans were !efl fuming and powerless at the sight of sinking and exploding vessels, About sixIY ships-225,OOO tons-were Jost,

While most of the French Naval personnel had, believed its duty \VdS to stay loyal to Mar hal Petain, some of the earnen bad! answered the call of General de Gaulle and decided to continue t:he fighl. against the enemy. In 1940 and 1941. the Free French Na,vall Force (FNFL) began increasing and by the end of 1940 it numbered 3,250 men; at the end of 194) a total of 4.700 men had been reached. During 1940 the Force had controlled 23WMSbips;' in 1941 they possessed seven ships of French origin and 11 [lew units given by Great Britain. The FNF'L participated gallantly in the conliie], especially in the Channel and Allallitic areas.

I'

II

16

SCllW'ed F,rrmch ships in Toulon harbour.

[ECA

By June 1943, the Force bad 7,600 men and 63 nips; they acted as escorts to a great many convoys, attacking and damaging everal U-boats. The falJ!lOllS corvette ACONlT sank two submarines and the LOBELIA was credited with a third. Submarines of the FNFL were extremely active and sank several enemy merchant ships and coastal vessels. The submarine RUBIS attained fame as a minelayer and the JUNON accomplished. several special missions along the enemy-occupied coast. The FNFL also took part in land lighting; on July 14, 1940 the first battalion of the Fusilters Marins was formed. It fought brilliantly in Egypt, Cyrenaica, Tunisia and later in Italy and France. However. lhe Free French aval forces suffered heavy losses tOO---Lhe corsair submarine SURCOUF. the corvettes AL YSSE and MIMOSA the patrol boat VIKING, the subehaser & and the large; destroyer LEOPARD were all lost.

On December 24,1942 Admiral Darlan was murdered in Algiers, and General Giraud look over command, At that lime the French forces ill Africa had only one abjectiv,e, 10 fight the German occupation force. Unfortunately the French colonies were Sill! divided into Giraud followers and de Gaulle partisans .. However, May 2:1, 1943 saw the ships which had been blocked in Alexandria join the ze t of the Fleet and on June 3 General Giraud and General de Gaulle agreed to form 11. French Committee for National Liberation. In July the Caribbean Territories made the decision to join the Algerian Government and the ships stationed there began taking part .in the fight. The Empire had been pulled together against the Axis and from then 01!1 FNFL and Vichy seamen fought together towards final victory. The larger ships which bad survived beaded for [be United States where they underwent modernisation and refitting. 'fhe French Navy also received additional ships from the Allies: six: destroyer escorts, several minesweepers and subcbasers from the US Navy: six frigates, three submarines and a number of minesweepers from the British,

. The French Navy participated in the liberation of Corsica, It was also active In Normandy with the cruiser: GEORGES LEYG ES.and MONTCALM, the FNFL destroyer :lA COMBATIANTE, four frigates and several corveues,

17

mine weepers, torpedo-boats and ubrnarine chasers. Two FNFL groups of Fusilters Marins were involved in the first engagement at Ouistreham. A battalion of these famou troop was incorporated in Leclerc's forces, and were present at (he liberation of Pads and Strasbourg,

On the coast of Provence. the French Navy played a major role in tile Patch Army landing, which included General de Tassigny's six divisions. Its contribulion to this operation was very important; it comprised the cruisers G LOIRE , GEORGE L -YGUES, MONTCALM, EMILE BERTIN, DUGUAYTRQUfN: the light cruisers LE FANTASTIQUE, LE MALIN, LE TERRIBLE, plus destroyers, sloops and iii large number of other ships. The first regiment of Fusilter« Marins and tbe Naval assault group also took part in the action,

On August 28, 1944, French troops, including the first regiment of Fuslliers Marins, entered Toulon after surmounting fierce resistance, During the Naval bombardment the French ships exchanged close-range fire with the enemy in a brilliant fashion. The French Fleet made a thrilling and hi torlcal entrance into Toulon harbour on September 13, 1944. After Marseilles and Toulon had! been liberated. de Lattre's army proceeded farther up th.e Rhone valley to free Alsace and later 10 conquer south Germany. French ships were still supporting the Allied operations onthe Cote d'Azur and the Italian Riviera and 11 naval unit, known as the flank Force, under the command of a French Admiral was fanned to assist these operations. LIS missions were to give fire support to the Alps Army, to protect Allied shipping in the western Mediterranean and attack the enemy in the Gulf of Genoa. The FOl1Ce sank 18 enemy ships and destroyed some 400 mines with only superficial losses.

Unable to control the Allied advance in France, the Germans decided to ti .. hten their hold in the Atlantic and North Sea ports and to block the arrival of supplies but they never totally achieved their objective. Even before taking

herbourg which was rapidly accomplished, the Allies bad established a lifeline through the Normandy beaches and artificial ports. St Malo was liberated on August 17. 1944. followed on September R 8 by Brest after a great deal o,f heavy fighting. Le Havre was opened on September 12, but almost totally destroyed in the process. However, the Germans held on grimly to Dunkirk, Lorient, La Rochelle and Royall. Several avy units were active in the fighting which took place in these areas. In April 1945, .Allied Command decided to take Royan and Pointe de Grave to clear an access to Bordeaux. The old battleship LORRAINE, the heavy cruiser DUQUESNE and several escort ships and minesweepers supported these operations from the sea. After a brilliant assault both these cities were taken with the assistance of gallant naval shore units,

Meanwhile, the powerful. modernised fast battleship RIeBEl] U was very acti e with the British in south-east Asia,

The war in Europe ended on May 8" 1945 and the Navy now comprised 350 ships (370iOOO tons), compared with 240 ships (590,000 tons) in September I939. With tile exception or a few large vessels (he Fleet was now composed almost entirely of small ships, who nevertheless rendered great service. The major tasks aheadwere to clear the harbours and their accesses of the innumerable mines Laid by the enemy; to clear the same of the many wrecks left by the Germans and to rebuild the almost totally-destroyed shipyards.

In conclusion. it must be stated that the 1940 defeat drove the: Navy lmo a most unenviable position, but during the events which followed, the seamen who had remained loyal to Vicby France alway showed great courage and a tremendous spirit of self-denial, It was a great relief for them to enter the war on the side of the FNFL, who had never ceased to fight the enemy, even during the darke r hours,

II wa now ready to rebuild a new and modern Navy.

18

Q
"1'
'C')
-
0.:..
is.
''''I
.E
(;.
L'e
""
-2
r ~
....
<ii
e:
0...;
.e
.S:
Ii:;;
""
'-
II>
;::_
co
-'C
\.0
0
t::
01>
Q>
(;
~
bM
0::
:.>0.
.Eo
<!)
~
I.LI
0:
IrQ
I.l.i
_,
~
"<i;
~
._
G>
~
,~
<!)
-t
..,
»l'
...
'"
_.
19 OLD' BATTLESHIPS Courbet class-2 sbips

Displacement:

Dimensions:

Machinery."

Radius if I Namiea! Miles .. Protection:

Armament:

Complement:

Programme 1910

1910

name COUlUlET PARIS

23 189 tons standard; 25,850 tons full load 168m (oa) I' 2S.2m (full load)

21. to 24 Belleville boilers, Parsons 4-shaft geared Turbines, 28,000 HP

Speed. 21 knots (Hi knots only in 1939)

Coal: 906 tons (normal), 2,700 Ions (maximum)

uel oil': 310 tons 8,400/10 knots

Main belt: 270rnm (amidships), 160mm (Iore and aft) 12-305mm (2 x '6}1, 22-D8mm (JI . 22),7-75mm AA 2-47mm AA guns;501!1_lln TT (submerged) ] ,069 Officers, 21; Men, JI,042)

hili/del' Lorient DY F. ell. de la M6diterranee

laid down 9/10 11}11

lalJJlclied 112/9/H 2819/12

campleted 9/13

8/l4

Netes: First Dreadnoughts of the French Navy to be launched.

OCEAN (ex-JEAN BART) was disarmed in 1938 for training purposes. A rourtlt Dreadnought of l~e same type, FRANCE, foundered in Quiberon Bay In August 1922. The ships were reconstructed during 1928-29; COURBET was transformed into a gunnery training ship and PARIS was attached LO a signa] training school.

COURBET look part ill the defence of Cherbourg, but was ill Portsmouth when France w~ defeated. She was captured by the British on July 3, J940 (catapult operation); was later returned to the FNFL and used asa breakwater during the Allied invasion of Normandy. P'AR1S was also in Plymouth and taken over Oil the same occasion by the British: eventually she was used as a barracks for Polish Naval personnel. Site had previously taken part in the defence of Leo Havre where she. was damaged by 3. bomb on June II. 1940. She was returned! to the French and towed to Brest on August 21. 1945.

Bretagne class-2 ships

Displacement ; Dimensions:

Machinery:

Radius in Nautica! M[fes:

Proteet ion:

, 1910 morM.

22, 189 ton standard: 23,549 tons full load 16~m (oa) x 17m x ROOm (9.20m full load)

6 Indret small lube boilers, Parsons 4-shaIl geared turbines. 43,000 HP

Speed: 2].4 knots

Fuel oil: 2,600 tons

7,OOO/tO knots

Main belt: 240mm (amidships), 160mm (fore and aft) Protective decks: 30mm, 40mm and 40mm

Forward and after turrets: 340mm. Central turret; 400mm. Upper turrets: 290mm

Battery: 180mm. Calming tower: 314mm

20

Armamenl,· lO-340mm (2 5)\ 14-B8rtlm {I ;( 14),8-75mm

A , 12-13.2mm AA HOlChki s heavy machine-guns

CVlYlplemenl: 1,190 (Officers, 57; Men, 1,133) as Flagship

progl'(lfTlme name builder laid down launched completed

1912 BRETAGNE Brest DY 7/12 21/4/13 9/15

19~2 PROVENCE Lorient DY 6/12 20/4/13 6115

Notes,· After World War I tripod foremasts and directors were fiued. They ~e:re converllcd LO partial oil:~urning ill 1 ~'2:7-30 and dunng1932-.JS were extensively refiued and ~lVen iIl;ddltlO~lal machine-guns, Improved armour .protecI10.n and 'mrul-tu'be, oil-burning boilers. They could make :W knots eontinuously ;u sea. Torpedo Lubes were removed A 931-32.

SRETAGNE blew up and capsized during action against Admiral Somerville

al Mer-el-Kebir Oil July .3,. 1940. .

PROVENCE during the same action was so badly damaged that she had to

be beached in the harbour. She was brought LO Toulon overnber 1940) and

scuuled there on November 27, 1942.

Lorrame class-l ship'

Displacement: 22,189 tons standard; 23,549 tODS fu 11 load

Dimells"ons: 166m (oa) x 27m X 8.90m (9.20m full load)

Mllc/Jiner.l': 6 Indret small 'lube boilers, Parsons 4-shaft geared

Turbines, , HP

Speed: 21.4 knots Fucl oil: 2,600 tons

Radius in Nautiea} Miles: 7,000/10 knots

ProteC'l;on: Main belt: 270rnm (amidships) 160mm (fore and aft) Protective decks: 30mm, 40mm and 40mm

Forward and! after turrets: 340mm. Upper turrets: 250111111

Battery: 1801l1m. Conning tower: 314mm

Armament: 8~340 (2 v 4)'. 14--1 38mrn (J x 14), 8-100mm AA (2 x 4), 8-37mm AA, 12-13.2 AA machine-guns One catapult, .2 aircraft

Complement: 1,190 (Officers. 57; Men. ] ,133) as Flagship

ProOl'OlIlme name buNder laid down launched ClJmp/f!ted

1912 LORRAINE Penhoet 11/1.2 30/9/13 7116

Nates: LORRAINE was extensively reconstructed if! 1934-35-the centre turret was removed to make (OOm for a catapult and aircraft, Vide sister ships

BRET AG E and PROY CE for further details.

The LORRAINE, the cruisers HMS ORION and HMAS SIDNEY with a screen of destroyers. shelled I he Lybian coast 011 J une 2], 1940. When France signed the Armistice she was still in Alexandria Roads whit the "X" Force, which also included the heavy cruisers DUQUES E, TOURVILLE and SUFFRE • the light cruiser DUGUAY-TROUTN, the destroyers LE FORTUNE, BASQUE and FORBf and the J,500-ton submarine PROTEE. By agreement with Admiral Lord Andrew Cunningham, the Commander of the French Naval Force Vice-Admiral Godfrey disarmed the ships but they remained under French conarol, 011 May 30. 1943, Admiral Godfrey agreed to turn the vessels over to the Algerian Government In 19M LORRAINE wok part in the liberation of Toulon and later, in April 1945. whh the DUQU ESNE fired the German positions at Ruyan and Pointe de 'Grave prior to tile azi surrender.

, 19J3 ",od,d.

21

o U

U ...

::.

Old baWeshfp PROVENCE.

Old battleship LORRAINE as she was rigged when she shelled the french coast in

1945. .

22

23

FAST BATTLESIDPS Dankerque class-2 ships

Disploeemem ." Dimeusians:

Machinery:

26.,500 tons standard; )],000 tons full Joad 214m (oa) x 31m x 8.S6m (mean)

6 Indrec small tube boilers, Parsons 4-shaf!. geared Turbines, 100,000 H.P (trials: 136,900 HP)

Speed: 29.5 knots (trials: 31.5 knets]

7,500/15 knots

Main belt: 225mm (at waterline), 180mm (at main deck)

30mm longitudinal torpedo bulkhe-ad

2 protective decks: 125mm. and 50Q1m (lower) Main turrets and Conning tower: 355 mm

8-330mm (4 x 2), 15-IJOmm dual purpose (4 x 3, 2 x 2). -37mm AA, 32-13.2 AA

One catapult. Aircraft: 2 Loire 130 flying boats J ,431 (Officers, 66; Men, 1,365)

Radhts in Nautica! Miles:

Protection:

Armament:

Complemes«:

Programme 1931

1934

I

I

blli/del' Brest. DY Penhoet

81 Nazajre

Noles; These Ships were modelled all the British elson Class. The Quadruple turret were finally adopted after a variety of other gun dispositions bad been considered, ibis grouping bad also been selected for the pre-World War I ships of the ormandie and Tourville Classes. The turrets were widely separated 10 localise the effect of shell fire. The bridge structure followed that of HMS

ELsa . Ouadruple turrets were also adopted later by the Royal avy on the King George V Class, The DUNKERQUE was built in dry dock, but as she was e rremely long, the forward section was constructed separately and attached to the hull after launching, STRASBOURG's bridge details differed from the DUNKERQVE rsee PhoIOS).

In. July 1940, Admiral Gensoul's French SQuadron was moored in the Roads of Mers-el-Kehir and in accordance with the terms of the Armistice, disarmament of the ships was begun. The heavy vessels, it battleships PROVENCE, BRETAG ,DUNKERQUE and STRAS.BOURG, were anchored with their sterns [01 Hie pier. This position was not favourable for firing (rom the latter two ships. whose main armament was installed forward.

During the morning of July 3, tile British destroyer HMS FO- HOUND entered the harbour and her Captain bore a note from Vice-Admiral Sir James Somerville, Commander of the heavy Naval force which had been concentrated at Gibraltar a few days before. The force included the battle cruiser HMS HOOD, the battleships J-[MS RESOLUTION and :HMS BARHAM. the alrcraft carrier HMS ARK ROYAL, two heavy cruisers and eleven destroyers. The ncte offered Admiral Gensoul the foHowing ultimatums:

(a) ail with the British and continue to fight for victory against Germany and ltaly,

(b) Sail with reduced crews under Royal Navy control 10 a Britisl1 port.

(c) Sail under British con irol to French ports in the West Indies or nil the United States Where Ilhe ships will be disa:mled.

If all the terms were rejected Admiral Somerville explained that he had orders

laid dmllll Iwmched 24/12/32 2/1 0/35

25/11/14 12/12/36

completed 4/37 12/38

name

DUNKERQUE STR)\SBOURG

24

..:
"'
!t r
~
:S
.....
0
'"
.~
<:;
-E
en
<I>
..Q
cu
-
-..
"';i
c:
'I>
"'"
!'!
.....
~
0
Q;:
I.U
l:c
<:
:::,
Q
.2-
.c
'"
~
]
~
""
ol!
01>
:S
.....
0,
~
'"
-;;,:;
"if;
._
....
<II
.'«
25 to sink l);le Fren~h ships. It is not possible here 10 remind readers of the difficult ne,go~lauons whlc~. followe~ and unfortunately did not succeed. Urged by we Admiralty. the B,r~llsh Admiral was forced to open fire at 16.56 GMT. Just after the outbreak or firirsg the DUNKERQUE was hit as she let go her mooring lines. One 380mm direct hit, then three shells of the same calibre from which serious damage resulted, brought her to a standstlll, Her guns were stopped due to lack IOf electric pow~r, but not beforeshe had managed '1:0 lire 40 rounds at HMS HoOOD, Slu:.dnfled to the extremity of the Bay where she moored in the shelter

of Santon .HiH. . -

On July 6 the British came back to complete their task. At the beginning of the day to!ycdo planes from HMS ARK ROYAL attacked the DUNKERQIJE in three slmuJtan~o.lIls waves. Many small vessels were moored alongside her to unload amrnunmon but there wa~ no tune to protect her with nets. The patrol boat P.18 TERRE ,EUV was hit by t~o torpedoes which caused the explosion of her depth charges, and she was tom m two. A large breach was made in the hull of the baHI~s~p. Casualties for this encounter and the one 011 July 3 amoumed to l,297, including 150 illed.

~he_ D~RQUE was later refloated and repaired and <?tl February 20, 19~,2. ~~e sailed back to Toulon 'where she was dismantled during the scurtling while stili under refit.

The STRASBOURG, under skilful command and protected by the destroyers and guns of tbe Santon stronghold, escaped the British fire, She sailed into the open sea and arrived ill Toulon on July 4. although she had been attacked three

ume by aircraft from riMS ARK ROYAL. .

F:ast battleship STRASBOURG as she was In July 1!J4D after tbe Mers-EI-Keblr sciton. 26

II

Ricbelieu c1ass-3 sbips

35,000 tons standard; 41,500 tons fuAl load 248m (oa) x 33.lOrn x 9m (mean)

6 Indret-Sural boilers, Parsons 4-shart geared Turbines. 150,000 HP

Speed: 30 knots (in service RICHELIEU has reached 32.S knots with L 79,00) SHP)

RadiuS ill Nalllical Miles: 8,500/14 knots; 6,900/20 knots: 3,4'00/30 knots

Prl:lliiclion: Main belt: 400mm. 225mm

Decks: (upper): I]Omm, J70mm; (lower): 40mm Mai 11 turrets; 430mrn., 270mm, 170mm. Secondary turrets: 130rrmt. Conning tower: 340nnrn RICHELl-U: 8-380mm (4 x 2}, 9'-152mm DP 1(3 J.)I 12-100mm AA (2 6), 16-37mm AA i(2 ~ g). '2&-ll.2mrn AA, to Browning machine-guns

,JEA BART in June 1940: 4-90mm AA (:2 x 2), 6-37mrn AA (2 -c 3), l Jmrn AA (4 x 2 and 1 x 2). In November 1942: 4--380mm 4 I), ~90mm AA

(2 x 2)

RICHEUEU: ],670 (Officers, 70: Men, 1,600)

Displacement; Dimenaiofls:

MariJill(!/,)';

ArnlC1ml"nl :

Complemrlli:

Programme: 1935

19]5

1938

name b/lildel'

RICHEUEU Brest DY

JEAN BART Peniloe'l

CLEMENCEAU Brest DY

.laid down 22/WI35 ]/39 17/1/39

Im1/lched 17/1/39 6/3/40

completed 7/40

See notes See notes

totes: RICHELIEU and CLEMENCEAU were built in the dry d~ck at Brest, The incomplete hull of the CLEME CEAU was sunk there by Allied bombers: it was ':refloated by the Germans and launched in order to clear lhe dock of

wreckage. . ..

The RICHELIEU escaped 10 Dakar in June 1949 and on Jul.y 7 the British offered her Captain the same alternatives they had given to' Admiral Gensoul at Mers~et-Kebir. All these terms were refused. Afler dark. a motor launch from the aircrait carrier HMS HERMES entered the harbour, slipped over the defence boom. crept along the pert side or the battleship and dropped fOUT 4000 lb depth charges under [he stern. For some reason th_eSie did 1l0U explode. On July 8, at day-meak. six torpedo planes from the HERMES attacked the RICHELTEU. One torpedo struck under the tern of the ship and she sank down to rest ?n the bottom of [he shallow harbour. The breach was patched LIP but the ship was unable to' sail. She used her guns togreat advantage in warding oR' the combined British/General de Gaulle Iorces that attempted to' Lake Dakar in September 1~40. During the action three of the ?,8 mm gUM ~ere out of order for technical reason. In January 1943 she sailed to' the Unlted SLates for repair and refit, Her catapults and hangar were removed and her quarterdeck, main deck. and

uperstructure were studded with anti-aircraft guns. The three 38-Omm guns Were replaced by those from the damaged .IE~N BART. Her re~lI.i1dillg was completed in August. 1943 and before she sailed rOT North Aftica her new armament was: 8-]80Il1m (4 x 2.). 9-152mm DP (3 x 3)" 12-100mm AA (2 :< 6), 57-40mm AA (4 x 1.4 and I . 13), 50-20mm AA In November she made for the Home Fleet and on March 14, 19.44 fo~ ~he Eastern. Fle~t via Algiers and Suez. On July 25. 1944 she took: part, WIth Brielsh battleships, 11.'1 the aUack on the shore installations at Sabang. She sailed for France on August 25

1 /936 nrrxJ~/.

27

Fast baltfeship RJ'CHElIEU mor::J(I'Jr/ in Casab'anc'" 11 "·b"· . ~, ... (i ,. "

- - - ... g, "IN 8",er Her Irs. mission tn tile Far fasi.

[ECA

An aerial view of fast battleship JEAN BART anchored in Casablanca harbour prior to the Allied invasion.

[JtC Coil.

arriving in Toulon On October I Hying a 52m-long war pennant, indk:ating that number ~r ~ol1lihs away from France. From October 1944 to January 1945 she w~s refitting In Casablanca and all February 27 she sailed for a econd campaign with tile Eastern Fleet. April 4, 1945 found her joining' yet another bombardment at Sabang and she later shelled! shore installations ill. the Nicebar Islands, She sailed for Indo-China in October 1945.

The JEAN BART was built in a Loire dock at 8t Nazaire but eonstruction was shared by Pef!boet. WhiJe still building she succeeded in escaping, in June 1940. before the arrival of German troops. ~he_was in an incomplete Slate and no trials had been run, but she arrived safely m Casablanca where she remained for the duration of the w~. ~uil!dillg was resumed ,in 1945 at Brest Navy Yard, and she ran her first sea (rials 10 January ]949. During her Slay in Casablanca a forward quadUip!~ turret w~ sec-retly acquired .by the ship's company. As it was out of ~he quesnon to ohtain a gunnery direction system, a geodesical firing device was installed from which sights could be taken from three different positions. While

he ~as. moored at a q~lay she foughl back against US forces using this turret conunuing LO fight until she had been to:rpedloed by aircraft and hit by eight 406mm shells fired from the battleship USS MASShCHUSElTS. Then completely ablaze she W<lS forced to cease firing. and retire from com bar.

Gascogm€ class-3 ships

Displacement:

Dimensions:

Machinery:

Radius in Nautical Miles:

Protection:

Armament:

35,000 tons standard. 4J,OOO tons full load

8-380mm (4 X 2)" 9-152mm A.A (2 x 3), 16- lOOmm AA (2 X 9), 20-31mm AA (2."< 10)\ 36-13.2mm AA (4 9)

One catapuh ; two floatplanes or flying boats,

Complemeut:

Programme name

1938 GASCOGNE

builder {aid down launched completed

Penhoet and See notes

A. Ch. de la Loire

I ~ I

Notes: Three fast balUesb!ps of the. Gaseogne class were projected but never began bUlldmg. ~n these ships the mam armarnem disposition was to be different from that of their predecessors, ccmprislng one forwarrl380mm quadruple turret an~ another astern. The order for the GA'SCOGNE had been placed with the builder of the JEAN BA~T. The .other two were only authori ed by April 15, 1940. They wen: to have different displacernent and armament. Three alternatives bad been studied:

(0) Displacement: 40,000 tons. Main armament: 9-J80mm (3 3)

(b) D!splacement: 42,000 tons. Main armament: 9 .06mm (3 3)

(e) Displacement: 45,000 tODS. Main armament: 12-380nll1il (4 3,)

The secondary armament was to be similar to that of the G SCOGNE. 1 1915 mode].

1 Qf ,Ir" 1(!!ec""''''UI,d~d 1J."P.e.

30

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS BealD cIass--l ship

22146 !ODS standard; 28,400 tons full load

IS2.6rn (oa) X 35.2m (oa) x 9.3m. .

12 diu Temple- ormand small tube boilers, 2 Turbines on inner shafts (for main propulsion) .totallmg 22.200 SHP and 2 sets of reciprocating engines (for

cruising and manoeuvring only). 4 shafts, 36,2.00 HP Speed: 2] .. 5 knots

RadiutinNauricalMiles: 7,000/10 knots. 6POO/l.5knots. 4,500/18 knots

Pf(Juu;rit'm: Side armour: 80mm, flight deck 25mm, main deck 25I1llll. lower deck 60mm

8-155mm (1 x ,8)\ 6-75mm AA, 8-31mm AA,

4-55011ml IT

Aircraft: 40 of the Loire Nieuport 41 or Chance Vought

type (see notes)

Complement: 865 ~Officers, 45; Men, 820)

Progrumme flame bljildel" laid down fmlTlched ~olllph!led

BEARN JLa Seyne 1/14 4/20 )/17

Note'S: This vessel was _laid G<!wn in 1914 asa ,?alUesb~p o,j the Norrnandie class. Launclling took place 10 April 1920, COI:ISl;IUctIOIl. having been suspended during World War T; site was redesigned as an aircraft ca.r~ler and converswn,begao at La Seyne in August 1923. She.was fulally completed lII. May 1927. Her fllghl,~eck was !BOrn and hangar l24m m length, The latter was connected 10 the deck by

electric. Lifts. . b d .

At the outbreak of World War II, three dive-born oer squa_foDS were In

commission: AB 1, AB 2 and AD 3 .. They were attached to the B~Rt:'l and funned the FIA Flotilla. As the ship was employed tn. transporung ,aircraft purchased from the USA the three squadrons were never involved U1 shipborne

operations. . . In S t b I n39 '.

All 1 was shore-based at Lanveoc-Pol.llnll;: near Brest. ~p em er ::' . It

was equipped! with Chance Vought dive-bombers. A month late~ It was transferred to Cher'bonrg and the!'! to Boulogne Aiprech. In ,_I\1:arch ]940 It was retu~ned to Lanv,eoc-Pol'l1ni:c and directed to Hyeres for l1"3!nmg aboard the BEARN. In May 1940 due to the prevailing circumstances, 11 was again transferred to the north. of Fronce. The AB I Squadron received orde~s all. May 20 ~o destroy the Orig;ny~St Benoite bridge <!ver the Sarnbre and .Olse nvers, which was .use~ extensively hy the enemy. With tile su_~!vmg aircraft of squadr.ol1s AB2 ~nd AIl 4. AS a flew to attack the target but wa intercepted by Me, 109 fighters. Six Vought aircraft were shol. down, but two others and thre,e !LOIre. Nieuport from AS 2 and AS 4 succeeded in destroying the bridge. On!? ~Ireleupor~ was shot down and the other aircraft made for Alpreeh. The .Bntlsi] fighters which should have covered this operation, as they did the one at Berlaimcnt, wef(~ unable to make the rendezvous. The .rernaining aircraft of AB 1 also t~ok part in the defence of

DUnkirk. but because of its. heavy losses i~ was I~ter disbanded. . .

AB 2 was also based at Lanveoe-Poulnic and Its equipment comprised Lo!re NieupoIl4'1 dive-bombers. By May 10, )9'!'O" A'S 2 was based at Berek and With lhese aircraft had already undertaken sorues over the Walc~e(en and Beveland Islands, On May .19, with AB 4 (formed only a few days prevtou I)' With LN 4is)

DisplacemenT:

Dimellsions:

Machinery:

Armame.nt:

11921 mod"'l.

31

the squadron auacked a. Panzer concentratlon near the Berlaimout cross-roads . Because of the intensive enemy flak arid lack of pilot-training, losses in the two squadrons were very heavy. By May 22, tile decimated units had regained some operarieoal strength and were directed to the south ju t prior 10 the outbreak of war with Italy and were based at Hyeres, All 2 performed a number IOf reconnaissance missions over the Italian coast and on June 17 protected Frcneh aval squadrons engaged ill the Genoa-Vado acrlon. 0111 June J B. AB 2 participated with AB 4 in a ni,ght attack on Imperia and Nevi Ligure harbours. The unit new to North Africa on June 19.

AB 3 was formed on December 1, 1939 with Vought dive-bombers. It arrived at Berek on Mrurch 22, 1940 and was later diverted to Alpreeh to relieve AB 4 transferred to Hyeres for ship-board trials. On M.ay 10 all the aircraft were destroyed by enemy ground straffing. Re-equipped, the unit took off for the Mediterranean theatre just before the war with Italy began, One aircraft was, shot down by Italian fighters and six others were destroyed On the ground on June 15, 1940.

AB 4 was a supplementary squadron, formed in May 1940. with Loire Nieuporl 41s from the Armee de ['Air. and was based at Chetbourg ; it joined AB 2 at Berek on May 17 and took part irl1 the Beriaimont raid. Three of the aircraft wlticl1 had not flown on this sortie attacked the Origny-St Benolte bridge with AB 1. Re-equipped with only six aircraft, the squadron was then transferred to the Mediterranean theatre where it took part in the attack on Imperia harbour: h later joined. the other AB quadrons in North Africa,

All the dive-bomber squadrons were disbanded after the Armistice. The aircraft carrier HEARN was at Fort de France, Martinique, when French resistance collapsed in June 1940 and she came under the control of tile. Governor of that island, who remained loyal to Marshal Petain. By agreement withthe US Government (May n. 1942) the Governor disarmed the HEARN, the light cruiser EM1lLE BERTIN which was. also at Fort de France and thecruiser JEANNE D'ARC, which. was at Guadeloupe. The Governor resigned on June 30, 1943, turning the island and the warships over to the Algerian Government thus making the vessels available for further war effort.

The BEAR sailed to the US for a refit at this time, but because of her slow speed she was only employed as an aircraft transport ship. Her armament was modifie.d so that it comprised 4---1 24mm AA (l x 4) of US type, 24-2Bnnn AA in quadruple mountings and 20 single 20mm AA Oerlikon guns.

J offre c1ass~2 ships

Displacement: 18,000 tons standard

Dimensions: 236m (oa) x 22,Sm (wateeline) x 35m (flight deck)

Machfner_v: 2-shaft geared Turbines, 120,000 H"P Speed: J} knots

Radius ill Ntllllicai Miles:

Protection: Side armour of 105= protecting engine, munition store and gasoline tanks

Armoment: 8-130mm AA (2 'o( 4), 8-37mm AA (2 x 4), 28- Il2mm AA. Hotchkiss (4 x 7) machine-guns Aireraft : 40 (fighters 15, attack 25)

Complement:

Programme 193

NOles: The

name buitder laid down launched complefed

{JOFFRE '\ Penhoet {U /38

PAINLEVE f 1919

two aircraft carriers, were designed as the result of extensive studies

32

Afrctafl carrier BEARN be{ofe he'r refit.

[MB

Aircraft csrrie« BEARN after her .bIg rem in the US.

[JLC cen

1

B

33

Line drawing of aircraft carrier JOFFRE.

concerning this type: of vessel undertaken from ] 9]1 onwarcs. The designers selected the Brjtish system or incorporating the flight deck into the main hull and having two hangars. However. an effort was made [0 increase the size of the upper hangar (which was rather small on some of the Brirish ships) by extending it to the port side (see diagram). The upper hangar measured 195m X 20.8m >c Sm and the lower one 79m x 15.6m x 4.4m. The 200m X 28m flight deck was of the new and ingenious "angled" construction. which was later to revolutionise the tactical use of the aircraft carrier. This was designed originally to bypass the starboard island by being angled towards the port side. Two riffs of "T" construction were to befitted and there were nine arrester wires,

The A.47 Programme Tecbniqae being used for these carriers called for a shipborne. twin-eugined torpedo and reconnaissance bomber, with a maximum speed of 186 mph pius and a loaded weight of between a,a20-H 025 lb. For the reconnaissance role it had to accommodate three crew members and carry two ] 65 lb G.2 bombs; as a torpedo bomber it had to carry a crew of two and a 1,433 lb torpedn, and as a level bomber, a crew of three' and four 330 lb bombs" two 496 lb bombs or (]IIIe 992 III bomb.

Two aiTcraft companies put forward designs: the former Dewoitine team of the Societe Nation-ok de Constructions Aeronul'{tiqu6s du Midi submitted the D.750 and the Societe Nationale de Constmctl'01IS Aeronalltiqll,es de I'Ooes: offered the C.A.O.600. Only one prototype of each was buill but they were dlestroyed just before the Armistice.

The JOFFRE which was only a quarter built when war broke out, was dismantled on the slipway. Before the building of JOFFRE and PAINLEvE was begun, the Naval Staff had contemplated. in 1935. the possible conversion of the heavy cruisers DUQUESNE and TOURVILLE into Lighl aircraft carriers.

SEAPLANE CARRIER Commandant Teste----l sbip

Displacement .Dlmf!1lSiolls." Machinery:

10,000 Lons standard; aboull1.500 tons full load 167m (oa) x 27m (oa) x 6.93m

4 Yarrow-Loire small tube boilers (mixed firing).

34

RadiuS ill NOllt.icaf MUe.f." protect/on,'

Armamerl't:

Schneider-Zoelly 2-sbtaft geared Turbines, 21,000 H P Speed: 20.5 knots (21.77 knots maintained during the trials)

Fuel oil: 290 tons. Coal: 72.0 tons 6,.000/ W knots

Side armour: 50mm

Protective deck over engine and boHer spares: ]Omrn 1:2-I00mm AA (] x 12), 8-37mm AA guns 12- l3.21l1m H,otCilkiss machine-guns (2 X 6)

642 (Oflicen>, 42; Men, 6(0)

Complemellt .. Progrumme name

1926 COMMANDANT

TESTE

/}1Ii1del' laid dewn launched completed

F. Ch. de la 5/27 12/4/29 1932

Gironde

Notes; COMMAI;IDAN'f TES carried. fOUI catapults (Peahoet 3-ton type) wilh aooommodauon for 26 seaplanes In a hangar measuring 84m x 27m x 7m. A stern ramp was also fitted to, receive 'the aircraft. At the beginning of the war the aircraft complement of ~bis carrier included! one torpedo-carrying seaplane

quadr0l"! (H.B' 1) an;d ODe fiymg boat squadron. (HS 1). The r ormer was equipped With La~ecoef,e 298 floatplanes and the latter with Loire- ieuport 1308 probably

lhe most widely-used of all French wartime flying boats. '

Another Latecoere 298 squadron, the HE 2 was abo intended for the CO~ANDANT TESTE, but was nevec embarked as the ship was relegated to aircraft transport duties, HB J. HB 2 and HS 1 Squadrons were shore-based in January ~940. In June of that year len seaplanes of HE 1 and three of HB 2 based in orth Africa, received orders .l? attack the Italian Navy's 7th Squadron: but because of very bad weather conditions only the leader of HB 1 managed to

pOL and unsuccessfully attack the second cruiser of the line.

Renamed! OD! August 1 1940, I NT and 2 HT respectively the two : eaplane squadrons .were later disbanded and the aircraft transferred t~ other squadrons.

Th~ Lateroere 298 was a remarkable aircraft, owing to its exceptionalstruetural stw:diness and manoeuvrability, It was employed with success as a dive-bomber against the advancing enemy cojumn .

Seaplane carTier COMMANDANT TESTE.

[MB

35

Heavy cruiser TOU.RVILLE befare her le(it in N,oyemDef, 19'37.

[M8

Heavy cruiser TOURVfllE aft.er her leftt in Ihe US.

[.JLC Coli

I I

I 1

I

\

36

HEAVY CRUISERS Duquesne elass-2 sbips

10,000 tons standard; ll,900 Ions full load

191m (oa) 19m:< 7m

9 Guyot boilers, 4 Rateau-Bretagne geared Turbines, 4-shaJls. 120,000 HI' (DUQUES E 131,800,

TOURVILLE 126,900)

Speed: J3 knots (on trials: DUQUESNE 35.3 knots, TOURVILLE 36. t5 knots)

Puel oil: 1.800 tons

RadlIJ in Nautical Miles: 5,000/15 knots

Protection: Practically nil except fOT thin gun-shield ami a splinter-proof Conning [ower.

8-203mm (2 < 4)1, 8-7S.mrn AN, 8-37mm AA, 12-13.2mm AA Hotchkiss machine-guns 6-550mrn

IT in triple mountings onthe deck

1 catapult; aircraft: 1 Loire 130 flying boat

Complement: 61)5 (Officers, 30; Men, 575)

programme . nome builder laid dowlI launched camp le red

t924 {DUQUESNE Brest DY 14/4/25 17/12125 1928

TOUR VILLE. Lorieru DY 30/10/24 24/8/,1.6 1928

ote«: These two ships were immobilrsed al Alexandria after the fall of France.

They rejoined Allied forces on May 30, 194J (see notes On bauleship LORRAINE). Torpedo tubes and catapults were removed in 1943 and [heir light AA armament modernised to 8--40mm (I ;< 8) and J6-20mm Oerlikon (1 J< 16).

DUQUESNE and LORRAINE fired on the German shore installaricns at

Royan and Pointe de Grave just before the Nazi surrender.

Displacemcm:

Dim(!llsiolls:

Machinery:

Armament:

Algerie-l ship

Dfsplacemrtrlf .' J) ;menslon~:

Machinery:

10,000 tons standard; 13.900 tons fLlII load 185.70m (03.) x 20m x 7.10m

8 Penhoet boiler, 4 Rateau-Bretagne geared Turbine'S, 3-s.hans. 84,000 Hll·

Speed; I knots

5,500/15 knots

Main belt: ]10rnm

Protective deck: 76mm

Internal bulges with hull thickness of 30mm TOLal weight or armour: 2,660 tons

8-203mro (2 x 4)1, ]2-JOOmm AA l2 x 6)~, 8- 37rnm AA (2 x 4), 16-13.2mm AA machine-guns, 6~550mm IT en triple mountings on I he deck

2 cata pults j aircraft: 2 Loire no flyi ng boats

616 (729 as Flagship)

Radius ill NaUTical Miles:

Prosection:

Al"mnnrent "

Complemen,: j 1924 mode! • lS/j} ",od~/

37

38

programme nome builder laid down lawlched completed

1930 ALGERlE . .BrestDY B/3{31 21/5/32 1934

oles: TIle AlJGERfE sailed ill October 1939 with the STRASBOURG and DUPLElX to chase the German battleship GRAF SPE . In June 1940, as flag

hip of 'the First ~quarn:oll, she fired on the industrial shore i,nstallations of VadoGenoa. She sailed with the STRASBOURG, four cruisers and five large destroyers on from Novemb~r 5~8, [940 to escort t~e battI~h.ip PROVEMC~ rC(Ufn.i:ng from Mers-e:l-Ke?if after temporary repaIrs: During January-April 1942 she bad tirs~ radar equipment 8!ld later a. new device was fitted to Improve pcrfolil1lll,?-ce. This same year the mainmast 8:11d catapult were removed and the airCrafl du.embarlcJed. One heavy platform was buih to' support ltght AA guns compTising ~6-37mm (2 x 8). 16-13.2mm Hotchkiss (4 x 4) and four Browning heaVY machl.11if:-guns. She was scuttled at Toulon on ovember 27, 1942.

Suffreo class-4 ships

J)i.~plact!melll: 9,938 tons standard: 1J.000 tons full load

Dim{!ns.iolls: SUFFREN: 196m (oa) X 20m x 730m OOLBERT: 1 94.20m (oa) X 19.40m x 7.30m FOCH: 194.20m (os) X 19.30m X 7.S0m DUPLE[x: 194m (oa) x 19.30m x 7.20m

I} Guyot boilers, 3 Rateau-Bretagne gear-ed Turbines, 3 shafts, 98,300 to 101.,900 UP Speed: 33 knots

Fuel oil and coal on SUFFREN ano COLBERT Fuel on only 0011 FOCH and DUFLEIX

Radius in NaUTical Miles: 2,000/U knots (SUFFREN and COLBERT) with only 2: coal boiJers,]]] function, 5,000115 knots

A patch of thin armour over engine and boiler spaces, with HWT bulkheads carried up W Lipper eleele. Flued with internal bulges

8-203m (2 x 4)1, 8-75mm AA (I x 8 on SUFFREN)~. 8-90mm AA (I 8 on COLBERT and FOCH)S, 8-90mm AA (2 x 2 on DUPLEIX)\ 8- 37mm AA, 12-13.2nun AAmachine-g\JlIlS, 6-550mm IT in triple mountings (l2~5501lllJ1 IT on S UFFREN)

SUFFREN: 1 catapult; aireraft: 2. Others: 2 cata-

pulls : aircraft: 2 Loire 130 flying boars except SUFFRfN which had 1 Loire 130 and FOCH and D1IJPLElX which each had 2: Gourdou 8J 1 and later 2 Loire 130

605 (Officers, 30; Men. 575)

PrtJgral1V11€ name builder laid dOI'll11 laUfu:ned completed

1915 SUFFR N} {51'J6 315/17 1930

1926 COLBERT Brest DY 6/27 20/4/28 1931

1927 FOCH ' 6/28 24/4/29 1931

1928 DUPLElX 10/29 9/10/30 1932

'10 res: These beautiful ships possessed excellent sueaming capabilities. ~l!FFREN was at Alexandria ill June 1940 and was temporarily disarmed. She JOined' the Allied Naval forces Of! May 30, 1'943. Her light armament WII.50 modeynised during 1943-44 [0 8--40mm M" 20--20mm Oerlilmn AA and 13-13.2mm AA guns. Two Tl' triple mountings were removed.

COLBERT, FOCH and DUPLEIX fired on the industrial installations of ado-GeuDa in June 1940. Ail! three were scuttled at Toulon on November 27, 1942. Prior to this COl. BERT had been fitted with radar equipment.

Machinery:

Protectioll ~

,rmament;·

1 19104lmod~l. I J9211Ilod~l. • lff'JI5 modd:

I 191()/JO mrJfM.

39

Heavy cruise" SUFf.REN In 1939.

[JLC Coil.

Heavy cruiser FOCH b9fore ihe war.

[JLC Coli.

40

41

42

L1GHT CRUISERS Doguay- Trouin class-3 ships

Displacement: 7,249 tons standard: 9,350 tons full load

DImensions: LIl1.30m (oa) x 17_50m x 6.14m (6.30m full load)

Machinery: 8 Guyot boilers, 4 Parsons. geared Turbines, 4 shafts, 102,000 HP

Speed: 33 knots

Fuel oil: 500 tons normal, ],500 tons maximum Rot/ius ill No'at lea! Mile .. : 4,500/15 knots, 1,290/30 knots, 3 000[20 knots. 900/3) knots

Practically nil, except for thin gun shields, splinterproof Conning tower and double-armoured deck. :S-155mm (2 >< 4)1, 4-15mm AN· 4-13.2mrn AA, J2-550mm 17 in four triple mountings on the deck I catapult; aircraft: I or 2 flying boats (Loire 130) 578 (Officers, 27; Men, 551)

laid dowli 4/8/22 17/8/23 17/1/23

Protecfion:

,4 r",amenl.·

Complement:

Pro-

gramm!' 'W.In!!

{DUGUAY TROUJN

1922 LAMOTI'E~PICQUET

PRIMAUGUET

com/aJlncil.ed pteted 14/8/23 10/9/26

2]/3/24 ]110/26

21/5/24 1/9/26

bl~ilde,. Brest DY Lorient DY BrestiDY

J ores: DUGUAY TROU1N was in Alexandria harbour when France fell and was disarmed. She rejoined the Allied forces on May 30.1943. Torpedo tubes ami catapults were removed in 1945 and light armament increased to ,6---40mm AA and 20-:20mm Oerlikon AA guns. She also took part in the Allied invasion of Provence and later joined the Flank Force.

LAMOITE-PICQUET was part of the French Squadron based in Indo-China which remained loyal to the Vichy government after the fall of France. She took part in the battle of Koh-Chang on January 17, 1941 aad was 10SI in US bombardmerit from Task Perce 38 111 Saigon on January l2, 1945.

Tile FRIMAUGUET was at Casablanca when the Allies invaded North Africa in November 1942. She resisted. but was, disabled and forced 10 beach on November 8, 1942.

1 J91] model,

I HID model,

La Tour D-Auvergne (lex Pluton}-l ship

Di.~plaC'~melll .Di mensions : ,,'rluchilcery:

Radius ill Nautical Mlfes:

Prorectr'o,,:

4,773 tons standard

152.5[[1 (ea) x l.5,6{)m x 6.70rn

4 small tube boilers. 2 BI'eguet geared shafts, 57,000 HP

Speed: 30 knots

Fuel oil: 1,200 tons

il

Turbines, 2

43

Armament:

138mm (J ',4)1, 4-75mm AAa, 2-37mm AA, 12-13.2rnm AA. filled as minelayer

39'7 (Officers. 16; Men, 381)

Corl'1'plemlml.' " 19.27 "'0,/",1. :! 1922 model,

Programme 1925

builder laid down /cJlmched

LorienL DY 4/28 10/4/29

complete.d 4/3]

name

LA TOUR O'AUYERGNE

NOles.' LA TOUR D'AUVERGNE was renamed and refitted lor service in 1939 as an additional sea-going training vessel for midshipmen. She was lost as the result of an internal explosion wllile at Casablanca on September 1:8, 1939.

Ughl cruiser LA TOUR D'AUV£RGNE (e<x-PWTON).

Jeanne D' Arc-l ship

Di:splacemem Dimellsions:

Machinery:

6,496 tens standard

nOm (oa) >. 17.5001 " 6.30m

4 PenboiH bailers, Parsons geared. Turbines 2 shafts,

32,500 HP

Speed: 25 knots

Fuel oil: 1,400 tons

5,1000/14.5 knots

Protection deck and light plating; to gunhouses and

Conning Lower

8-155mm (2 '" 4)\ 4--75mm AN', 4-37rnm AA. J2-13.2mm AA. 2-550mm TI (1", 2)

Aircraft: ] flying boat, without catapult

505. As schoolshin could accommodate 156 midshipmen and 20 instructional officers in addition to ordinary complement

Radius in Nautical Miles.' Protect ion:

Armamem.-

Complemem.:

1 }9~1 /fwd,,'. • 1921 m<>d~f.

Programme /lame

1927 lEA. E D'ARC

blli!det· laid down lawlclied

Peahoet [92& 14/2/30

44

complered 9/31

,tJghC cruJser JEANNE D"ARC in 1939.

Ught cruiser JEANNE D'ARC after her rem in 1945.

45

Nates: The J A - E D·ARC was in Martinique in June 1940 and was therefore immobilised and disarmed in accordance with the agreement igned by Admiral Robert, Governor or Martinique, on May 1,1942 (see aircraft carrier BEARN). 011 June 3, 1943 We Governor changed! his mind and turned the country over to the Algerian Government, thus making the JEANNE D'ARC availsble, after £'efining, to the Allies. The torpedo tubes were removed during Ibis refit and the light armament modernised and increased by 6-----40mm AA and 20-20mm AA guns. She look part in the operations off Corsica and was later incorporated in the Flank Force which shelled enemy positions along the Italian R.ivi.era.

Emile Bertin-l ship

D;sp/.aremem; Dimensions:

Machinerv :

5,.886 tons standard

.I. 17m (oa) x U .. 84rn X 5.44m

6 Penhoet boilers, Parsons geared Turbines, 4 shafts, j 02 000 ffi'l

Speed: 34 knots (39.8 knots OD Lrials) Fuel oil: n,soo tons

6,000/15 knots

Protective decks

9-1S2mm (3 x 3)1,4-90rnmAA (2 x 2)'it,8-37mm AA, S-I3.2mm AA, 6-550rnm IT in triple mournings 0111 the deck. Rigged to mlndaying.

1 catapult: aircraft: 2 flying boats (Loire 130) 567 (Officers, 36; Men, 531)

Radius in Nauttea! Mlles:

Proteetion:

Armament:

Complement:

Programme nume builder

1930 EMILE BERTIN Penhoet

laid dowlI lalJrll:i!.ed completed

8/31 9/5f33 1934

Notes; The EMfLE BERTfN was in Martinique in June 1940; was lmmobilised and disarmed (see aircraft carrier BEAR ) and rejoined the Allies in 1943. Her torpedo tubes and catapult were removed and AA armament increased during at refit ill 1944-5. The new AA armament was 8-90mm (2 x 1, J X 2}, 16--40mm and 2~20mm Oeriikon guns. She look part in the liberation of the

outh of France and was later assigned 1.0 the Flank Force, l 193() ",,,rIll}.

I 1926/30 ,..,odel.

Ug'ht cruiser EMIt£. BERTIN afler rhe liberation of Toulon, 'With new Increased armament. [MB

46

La Galissonniere c1ass-6 sbi _PS

Dlsp/(u."emem:

DlmellSt'orrs.:

J\lfacnil1i!r}' :

7,600 tons standard: 9,120 tons full load 179m (oa), 17.48m x 5.28m

4 Indret small tube boilers, 2 Rateau-Bretagne or Parsons geared Turbines, Z shafts, 81,000 liP Speed: 31 knots (all reached 35 knots), sea speed: about 30 knots Fuel oil: 1.50() tons 5,440/15 knots. 4,850/18 knots. 3,900/21 knots, 3,380/24 knots. 1,680/34 knots

Main bell: 75 to 120mm

Protective deck: 50mm

Turrets: 130mm (faces), 75rnm (sides)

9-152mm (3 x 3)1, 8-90mm. AA (2 x 4)~:, 8- H.2mm AA 4-550mm IT (1 x 2) on the deck

I catapult mounted Oil after turret; aircraft: 2 Loire 130 flying boats)

540

ROBills in Nautica; Mi'ies:

Protection:

Armtlmem:

Complement:

Pro-

laid com ..
dow" launched pleted
27/10/31 170 tiD 31/12j35
L2m 31./5/35 15/4/37
1933 28/9/35 4112/37
1933 17/1/35 25110f37
n133 2600/35 4/]2J37
1933 24/3/36 4/12/37 gramme name builder

1931 LA GAUSSONNrtRE Brest DY

JEAN DE VIENNE Lorient DY

GLOfRE F. Ch .. de la Gironde

MARS ILLAISE A. Ch. de la

1932 Loire

MONTCALM E Ch, de Ia Mediterranee

GEORGES lEYGUES Penhoer

NOIe.s: By and large the design of these fine cruisers was a remarkable success for French Naval designers. Their sea-going characteristics were very good and the artillery was excellent, After June 1940 light AA armament was increased in

ertain ships to 2-37mm (2 1), 2-2:5mm (2 >( 1). 12-B.Zmm Hotchkiss and

4 Browmng heavy machine-guns.

LA. GALISSONNIERIE, JEAN DE VIENNE and MARSEILLAISE were euttled at Toulon on November 17. 1942. The two former ships were reflcated by the talians and renamed FR.12 and FR.tl but were later seized by the Germans and finally sunk by Allied bombardment.

The three others left Toulon on September 9, 1940, to pass with three large destroyers through the Straits, of Gibraltar on September J n; they proceeded (0 Casablanca for refuelling and [hen saile-d at full speed for Dakar the following ~ay. The cruisers left Dakar on September 18 .. intending to go south, but were irnercepted by Briush 'aval Forces. GLOIRE consented to return to Casablanca beealWie she hac! engine trouble but MONTCALM and GEORGE LEYGUES eswed to Dakar and defended the port against the unsuccessful attempt made by the British and General de Gaulle to take over the colony on September 23-25;, ~940. Dakar joined the Ames on November 2] 1943. G ORO LEYGUES mtercepted a German surface raider near the EqURlOJr: she sank the vessel and Wok 90 prisoners. The three cruisers arrived in Philadelphia in February 1943 f9.1l overhaul and refit in preparation for Iurur fighting. During this refit (he aircnd"t hangars and catapults were removed; radar equipment installed and

'-(9JI) model.

I JPi!1i13:O model.

47

I';ght cruiser GEORGES LEYGUES In 194(J.

Ught cruiser GEORGES LEYGUES a(ter liberation of Toulon, with new light AA armament installed in the US. [IECA

48

eMS

A "Loire 130" (lying bQ.1lt on the catapult movnted on after tuuet of the Ilglll cruiser GEORGES l.EYGIJES. [JlC CIlII. 49

light AA armament increased to 24-40mm (4 <: 4,2 X 4) and 16-20mm glIDS. During a further refit in 1945 a pedal radar mast was installed abaft the forward tripod.

GEORGE LEYGUES and MONTCALM fired at shore installations on Omaha beach during the invasion of ormandy. Later with GLOIRE, DUGUAY TROUIN, EMILE B RTlN and other ships [hey participated in lite landirtg._q in the south of France, and eventually joined in (he Flank Force operations.

De Grasse elass-3 ships

Displacement:

Dimensions:

Macltinery:

8,000 tons standard

180.70m (oa) X 18,40m X 5.54m

Indret boilers, Rateau-Bretagne geared Turbines, 2 shafts, 120,000 HP'

Speed: 33 knots

Radills in Nautical Miles:

Pro teetion:

Armamem:

'0 details available

As designed; 9-152rnm (3 x 3)1, 8-90rnm AA (2 X 4)%, 8-37mm AA, 4--5S0mm TT (2 x 2) on the deck

As designed: 580

Complement:

Pro-

com~ larlllciled plete.d 11/9/46 See notes

laid do 11.'11 11/38

gramme name builder

1937 DE GRASSE Loriea! DY

{CHATEAU RENA LT F. Cb ... deja

1938 Mediterranee

G UICHEN F. Ch. de la

Gironde

ores: Construction of the DE GRASSE was suspended during the German oceupariou, bur was resumed in 1946 and she was launched. Building slopped again pending study of new AA armament and radar equipment, Building was again resumed on January 9" 1951 and she was completed in Brest dockyard as an anti-aircraft cruiser and commissioned on September J. 1956.

The eoastrueiion of the other ~"'O cruisers of this class was rrot started.

t HIJO ",odIC1.

• 19J6/3IJ modet,

LARGE DESTROYERS (Rated as Contre Torpilleurs) Chacal class-6 ships

Oisplacemellt:

2,126 tons standard; 2,700-2,500 tons normal; 2,950- 3,050 tons fullload

126.7Sm (03) X U.40m x 4.lOm (normal displacernent)

5 Du Temple small tube boilers, 2 Raleau-iBretagne or Breguet geared Turbines, 2 shafts, 50,000 HP

peed: 3.5.5 knots Fuel oil: 530 tons

3,000/13 knots. 1,000/28 knots. 600/34 knots

50

D.ime~rl'icms ..

Machi/wry:

Radills ill Nalltical Miles:

51

l

I

II

,I

I

I

Armament: As designed: 5-130mm (1 • 5)1, 2-75mm AA (l x 2)2, 6-550mm IT (3 i\ 2), 4 DCT, 2 racks

In September 1939: 4-130mm 0 . 4), 8-13.2rnm AA 6-550mm IT (3 )( 2),4 DeT 2 racks

Complemem: 195 (Officers" 8; Men, 187)

PrQ8ramme{lXG'UAR t~~~~t DY ic::g/own ~~':li3d ~9;t(!ted

PANTHERE Lcrient BY 1922 28/10/24 1'926

1922 LEOPARD Ch. de 1.3 Loire ~ 923 29/9/.24 1927

LYNX Ch, de 1a Lone 1'92.3 2312{25 1927

CHACAL Penhoei ] 923 27/9/24 19'26

TIGRE 0. de Bretagne h923 2/8/24 1926

Notes: J[1I the spring of 1940 a projected conversion in armament was made to the e ships (lOOmm guns) so that they could provide anti-aircraft protection for the battle squadrons.

JAGUAR was torpedoed by the German MTBs S.21 and S.23 on May 23,1940 and CHACAL was sunk by aircraft lire off Cap d'Alprecht during the Dunkirk

operations on May 24, 1940. .

The LEOPARD was In Portsmouth on July 3,1940 and was taken over by the British Navy. She was returned to the FNFl. 0[1 August 31, 1940, and her AA protection was increased with one ~02mm and several other Light gUI1S, During the following winter L OPARID look part in convoy escort duties ii'll the North Adantic. She was disarmed in June 194]. To compensate her lack of radius, the first boiler was removed and a f uel tank installed in its place. The 102mm AA gun and the fore funnel were removed; anti-aircraft armament was further increased to 2-40mm, 7-20rnm, 2-13.2.rnm and4 machine-guns, She was recommissioned in March 19'42. In company with HM shjps S.PEY and PEUCAN she sank the German submarine U.136 on July 21, 1942 .. On May 27, 194:> she had to beach near Tobruk after being badly damaged.

PANTHERE :and LYNX were scuttled at Toulon on November 27, 1942. On March .23,1943, PANTHERE was towed by the Italians LO La Spezzia as FR.22 and scuttled in this port on September 9, 1943.

TIGRE was disarmed at Toulon in 1940. She was captured almost intact before she could be scuttled and lneorporated into the Italian Navy under the designation FR.23. On October 23, \943 she was returned 10 the French Navy, After being recommissioned she was damaged on April 20.1944 by the; explosion of flying-bombs and badly shaken while escorting a convoy to Corsica. She was refined during 1944-45 and as her sister ship LEOP'A RD, bad the fore boiler and corresponding funnel removed and a fuel tank added. One torpedo mounting was also removed and her AA armament was modified to 2-40mm and 10- 20mm guns.

1 T924 model. I 1922 modeJ.

Radlus in Nautlca! Miles: 2.,800,3,000-14 knol..S:75IJ-max:imum speed

,Ari"lIanU'llr: 5-1 38mml (I x 5), 4-37mm AA (l x 4), 4--

B.2mm AA 12 X 2) .. 6-550mm TI (3 2),4 DCT.

1 rack

Complem('.I1r: 230 (Officers, 10; Men: 220)

builder laid down launched completed

programme1~~Sib, Loriem DY 3/27 29'/10/28 10/30

1925 GUEPARD Lorient DY 3(27 19/4/2& 8/29

LION A.Ch.de France 7/27 5/8/29 1/31

VAUBAN A.Ch.deFranoe 3/29 1/2/JO 1131

1926 VERD UN Ch.de la Loire 8/27 4/7/28 4/30

VAlMY Penhoet 5(27 19/5/2.8 1130

Noles: The BISO was sunk by air attack Oil May 3, 1940 while escorting a convoy of troop carriers transporting men evacuated Irom Namsos, orway, The VALMY, in company with two British destroyers ank the German

lIbmaflne U.:5:S on January 3D, 1940. . . . . .

The GU EPARD and VALMY engaged British Naval forces during the Syrian campaign and damaged the destroyer HMS JANUS.

All except 81S0 were scuttled at Toulon on NovernberZ", 1.942. UO and VALMY were refloated by the Italians and under the designations FR.21 .and F.R.24 joined their Fleet They were towed .10 Italian ports but were nor officially recornrnlssioned and were eventually scuttled ..

1 1924 model,

Guepard c1ass-6 ships

Displacemellt: 2.436 10!llS standard; 2,700 tons normal; 3,200 tons fuli load

DO.20m (oa) x 11.7601 x 7.68m

4 small lube boilers, 2 Parso-ns or Zoelly geared Turbines. 2 shafts, 64,000 HP

Speed: 35.S knots (on trials: BISO 40.06 knots, G UEP A RD 38.4 knots, l.ION 40.0 knot )

Fuel oil: 580 tons

Dimew~i(ms .' Machirlery:

Large desiroyer GUEPARD liS she was ill 1941.

[MB

52

53

.;:
.2'
~
'l.
E
~
t:
.!.';I
...
~
-
...
e
.0::::
'"
III
:S
Ol
-E:
....
::,
"t:I
"5
'--
Q;
!C
.....
0
-
...
0
Q.
III
s
. ~
"2
'-
0
~
~
I:!:
""
)...
~
_,
'<li:
:..
'-
Ql
e
-.;
{5
<10
to,
...
.:l
54 Aigle class-6 ships

Displacement: 2,441 tons standard; 2,660 ton normal; 3,140 tons, flllj] load

Dim-ellSio1ls' 12K.SOm (oa) x lL84m . 4.97m. MILAN and .EPERV1ER 129.3Om x 11.84m -, 4.97m

Mac},{nsry: 4 small tube. boilers, 2 Parsons or Rateau-Bretagne geared Turbines, 2 shafts, 64,000 HP M[LA and EPER VIER developed a major power: 68.()()O lIP Speed: 36 knots (all bad! exceeded largely this speed)

RadillS ill Nautical Miles: 2.500., 2,700/14 knots: 7(]'O, BOO/maximum speed-ill

war condition. MILAN and EP R VIER had a

sligblly larger radius

Arm(1mem: 5-138mm1(1 x 5),4--.37mm AA (I 4),4-13.2mm AA (2 x 2), ~55Omm TT (3 " 2), 2, racks and 4 DCT (EPERVlER and MILAN)

CDmpiemellt: 230 (Officers, 10; Men, 220)

Programme

laid dowl! launched

10/28 1212/31

2/29 2618/30

completed 9/32

12-131

builder

A. Ch. de France F. Ch. de la Medit.erranee

ALBATIROS Ch. de la Loire 1129

GERFAUT A. ell. de 5/29

Bretagne

MILAN Lorient DY 12/30 13/10/31 4/34

EPERV1ER Lorient DY 8/30 14{8/31 4/34

Notes: The AfGLE. VA TOUR and GERFAUT were scuttled at Toulon on ovember 21, t942.

The MILAN was at Casablanca wb.en [he Allies invaded orth Africa. She got underway LO attack but was subjected to severe shelling from. US Task Force 34, hit by a 40timm shell and bad to be beached on ovember 9,1942.

Tile lifER VIER was attacked off Oran by the British. cruiser HMS AURORA and badly damaged; she also had to be beached 0111 November 9,1942.

The ALBATROS was sJigbUy damaged by an Italian shell during the Genoa bombardment on June 14, 1940 and was later seriously damaged in resisting the US landings at Casablanca. She hac! to be beached but was refloated a month later and was towed to Toulon after Lhe war co be converted into a gunnery training ship .

name

AIGLE VAUTOUR.

27/6/30 14/6/30

12/31 1/32

1927

'1911 model.

VauqueJin class-6 ships

Displacement .'

2,441 ton standard; 2,660 IOns normal; 3,140 tons rllilload

1 29.30m (oa) X 11.84m X 4.97m

4. small tube boilers" 2 Par om; or Rateau-Bretagne geared Turbines, 1 shafts, 64,000 HP

Speed: 36 knots (alllargely exceeded 38 knots) Fuel oil: 585 tons

2,500, 2,800/14 knots; 100. 800/34 knots (in war condition)

Dimensions:

Machinery:

Radius iT! Nautical Miles:'

55

Aerial "liew of the large de'slroyer At.BATROS sailing off Casablanca in January 1941.

Large destroyer VAUQV£t.IN in 1939.

[Me

56

5-HSmml (1 x 5), 4-37mm AA (1 ;.< 4), 4- 13.2mm AA (2 x 2), 7-550mm IT (3 x I, 2 .-: 2),

-4 DeI, 2 racks. Mines (50) could be embarked

Compfemem.- 230 (Officers, 10; Men, 220)

Pro- . laid

gramme name builder down

J V A'UQUELIN A. Ch. de France 3/30

KERSAlNT A. Ch.deja Loise ]0/30

CASSARD A. Ch. de 4/30

1928- Breiagne

19191TARTU A.Ch.delaLoire 9/30

MAILLE BREZE Penhoet 10/30

CHEV AllER F. Ch. de la 10m

PAUL Mediterranee

Notes: The VAUQUELIN, KERSAlNT. CASSARD and TARTU were eutrled at Toulon on November 27 1942.

The MAtLLE BREZE torpedoed herself and sank as a result of the explosion and ensuing fire while on the River Clyde on April 30, 1940. Her central torpedo mounting was [rained fore and aft when ODe of the lubes was accidentally fired. The torpedo bit the bridge. wrecked the entire forward section of the vessel and set the fuel ablaze.

The CHEVALlER PAUL was torpedoed and sunk by a British aircraft off the Syrian coast 011 June 16, 1941 while she was going to Inc aid of the small Vichy French Naval Division during the Syrian campaign.

The anti-aircraft armament of this class was augmented in J 940. 1 J9)7 model.

2,569 tons standard; 2,724/2,800 tons normal; 3.300/3.400 tons full load

131.40m (oa) -<' 12.35m x 5m

4 small tube boilers, :2 Parsons or Rateau-Bretagne geared Turbines, 2 shafts. 8],400 BP

Speed: 37 knots (all had exceeded 40 knots)

Fuel oil: 580 tons

3,000/14 knots, 2,000/25 knots. 1,300/32 knots, 700/37 knots

As designed: 5-U8m.m~ (J < 5), 4--37mm AA (2 x 2),4- 3.2mm AA, 9-550mm TT (3 .< J}. 2 racks Eventually mines (50)

210 (Officers, 13; Mell. 197) laid dawn 11/31 11/31 J 1/3!

11/31 8/31 2/32

Armamelll.'

Le Fantasque class-6 ships

Dlsplacemen t.'

Dimellsions,' Mac.lIlRf'rY:

RDdi.llS ill Nautical Miles;

Armament:

COlllplermmt .Pro-

gramme

buiider Lorient DY Lorient DY F. Ch, de la Medlterranee

A. ell. de la Loire A. Ch. de France , .01. de la Mediterranee

kuinched 20/3/31 14/1I{31 8/11/31

completed 7/33 11/33 7/303

1930

name

LE FANTASQUE l.'AUDAG.EUX LE MAUN

7/12}3J 9/11/31 2J 13/32

12/32 2/33 6/34

LE TERRmLE

LE TRIOMfHANT L "fNDOM~T ABLE

57

lauuched 1513/34 15/3/34 11/8/)3

JO/ll/3J 16/4134 7/12/33

compiNed 3/36 ]1/35 11/35

10/35 5/36 9/36

Lar,g'e deslroyer LE. TERRIBLE as she was jus! before the war.

[MB

~
lb
::S
.s
e
.s
!i
.l!1
~
Iii
-e
0
E
:n
0:::.
<II
~
Q
II')
s
2!:
oq;:
....:
~
"-
go
2
"tt
,~
~
OIl
...I
58 Larg,e destroyer L£ TERRIBLE after big refit in tile US. After modernisation, r,ated as light cruiser, she tool< part in the operations in Eastern Mediterranean in f!J44-UJ45.

[JLC Coli.

59

NOles: At the outbreak of hostilities these very fine ships. were attached with VOLTA and MOGADOR to the Force de Raid and took part in several sorties in the North Atlantic and off the African coast 1[1 se-arch of the German battleship GRAF SPEE. During ollie of these trips, LE:F ANTASQUE and LE T RRIBLE captured the German cargo ship SANT A~FE. Even more spectacular was a raid accomplished by the S DCT (L'r DOMPTABLE, LE MALIN and LE TRIOMPHANT) in the Skagerrak at the beginning of Ihe Norwegian campaign.

On September 9,1940, LE FANTASQUE, LE MALIN and l..'AUDAClEUX sailed with Force "Y'Jand proceeded ro Dakar. During the action with Brilish and General de Gaulle's forces, L'AUDACIEUX was set on fire and so badly damaged on September 23, 1940 by the cruiser HMAS AUSTRALlA that she had to be beached, She was later refloated and taken to, Bizerte roc repairs but was unfortunately sunk during the Tunisian campaign.

L'INDOMPTABLE was scuttled at Toulon on November 27,1942.

LE MALIN was seriously damaged during the US operations at Casablanca. LE FANTASQUE and LE TERRIBLE left Dakar for New York in February

194] and then proceeded to Boston for overhaul and refit. LE MALI joined them later. In the refitting (he three ships were given radar equipment and a powerful new AA armament of 8-40mm (2 x 4) and 10-20mm guns but the after platform of torpedo tubes was removed. After this modernisation [hey were rated as light cruisers" Their activity ill the Mediterranean was memorable until theend of the war; as due to, their higb speed, Allied Command chose them for several raids, especially [0 the Aegean Sea.

LE l"RliOMPHANT was ill Portsmouth in June l 940 and was captured on July 3 by the British; she joined the FNFL on August 28. 194(). Her armament was Increased with a British I02mm gun, two pom-poms and tel'! heavy machineguns. Later, [OJ!' political reasons she sailed to the Pacific where she remained until April 1941. In December L943 she was caught in a heavy storm but reached the US where from April 1944 to March 1945 she underwent the same refit as her sister ships.

Large destroyer VOLTA in 1938.

[JLC Coil.

large destroyer VOLTA as she was rigged In 1941, with AA armament increased. [MB

Disp/Clcement:

Mogador cl:ass-6 ships

Dimensions:

Macbiner}l:

Radius ill NaUTical Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

Pro-

gramme name

1936 ~ MOGADOR

VOLTA

una KL BER DESA[x

1938 {MARCEAU

HOCHE

, J 9)4 moa('! I>! /'Ist!WQ rllrrer •.

2,88:4 tons standard; 3.500}J,600 tons normal; 4,mS tons full load

D7'.50m (oa) x 12,67m Y 6.57m

4 Indret small rube boilers, 4 Rateau-Bretagne geared Turbines, 2 shafts, 92,000 H P

Speed: 39 knots (trials: 4] knots)

Fuel oil: 7101 tons

3;000/20 knots

8-USmm1 (2 -( 4), 6-J7rnm AA (2 2), 4- IJ.2mm AA, 1O-550mm IT (3 .' 2,2 c 2),2 racks 264 in wartime (Officers. 15; Men, 249)

builde.r Lorient DY

A. Ch. de Breragne A. Ch. de France A. Ch, de France A. Ch. de Bretagne A. ClJ. de Bretagne

{"iri down launched

12/34 9/6/37

12/34 26/11/36

completed 1 L/38 11/38

60

61

DIes: These magnificent ships were the epitome of the French contre tor-pillellf at the outbreak of war, but their main artillery was fragile due to its complexity.

The MOGADOR was disabled in the Mers-ej-Kebir action when he was bit astern by a 380mm shell, Depth charges exploded and desrrored a quarter of the ship but after temporary repairs she was towed to Toulon and reconstructed. Her after turret was not replaced but the AA armament was increased by 8-37mm (2 x 4) guns of the latest model. Anti-aircraft armament of the VOLTA was also increased in 194] to 2-37mm and 2-25mm plus eight heavy Browning or Hotcbkiss machine-guns.

The VOLTA ami MOGADOR were scuuled arToulon on November 27,1942.

The other ships of this class were never begun. It bad been suggested that their radius be enlarged and the armament modified because of the fragility of the artillery on the two' existing vessels,

DESTROYERS

(Rated. as Torpilleurs d'Escadre) Beurrasque dass-U ships

Dispiacemfmt:

1.319 tons standard; 1,500 tons normal; 1,800/2,000 tODS full load

lO5.17m (oa) x 9,64rn X 4m or 4.30m

3 small tube boilers, 2 Parsons, Rateau-Bretagne or Zoelly geared Turbines, 2 shafts, 31~OOO lIP

Speed: 33 knots (28-29 knots in war condition)

1 500/15 knots in war condition

As designed: 4-UOmm (1 x 1)L, 1-75mm AAI Oster 2-37mm AA), 2 Of 4 machine guns. 6-550mm

IT (3 2), 2 ncr and 2 racks

138 (Officers, 7; Men, 13 »

Dimensions:

Macliinrt:r}''-

Radius in Nautical Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

Pro·

laid down

con;r,-
iatlllc/1ed pleted
5/8/25 1926
24/1/25 1927
6/6/25 1927
30/8/24 12/26
6/P/24 1/27
3/6/24 &/26
3/10/25 5/27
U/2/25 7/26
] 3/3/25 1928
29/11/24 1927
29/12/25 1927
22/5124 L928 builder

A. Ch. de France F. Ch. de la Mediterrallee

F. Ch, de la Mediterranee

Ch, Navals Francais ell. Navals Francais Penhoet

Penhoer

Dubigeon

Dyle et Bacalan

F. ell. de La Gironde F. Ch. de la Gironde F. Ch, de la Gironde

lIume

BOURRASQUE CYCLONE

M1STRAL ORAGE OURAGAN SIMOUN SlROeO TEMP~TE TORNADE T.RA.lv10NTANE TROMBE TYPHON

gramme

April 1923

1922

NOles: Armament of these destroyers was drastically modified dUl[ing the war. Their third L30mm gun was removed at the beginning of hestiliries and before

, 19J9 mode], • /912 model,

1942 a number had r:eceiv,ed one 25l1IlJ]] AA gun and rwo heavy machine-guns (Browmng or Hotchkiss). The ships of the 7t.h Division, based in Bizerte in 1942 retatned their original main armament but TORNADE had two torpedo lub~ and TRAMONTANE one triple mounting fitted, From 1943 sbips based in the UK and North Africa received radar and asdic systems. Their AA armament was also modified ito 1---40mm and 8 or Hi-20mm Oerlikon guns. The SIMOUN also had her torpedo tubes removed; she received 80 depth charges.

SJMOUN rammed and sunk the German submarine V.54 0111 February 23

1940. •

SIROeO vainly attacked U.49 on November 20. 1939.

The Class suffered heavy losses.

GRAGE, BOURRASQUE and SIRoeo were sunk during the battle of Dunkirk.

To prevent her falling into enemy bands, CYCLONE was scuttled at Brest on June 18, 1940, where she was repairing. arlee she had been torpedoed by the German MTB 8.24 in the Channel during the Dunkirk fighting.

TRAMONTANE and TORNADE were disabled by British action at Oran on November 8, 1942,

TYPHON scuttled herself after sinking the US sloop HARTLAND during an engagement with several ships at Oran,

TROMBE was sCIJLlJe~ at Toulon, towed to It.aJy as FR.31 and then given back to the French at Bizerte on October 2B, [943. She was hit and seriouslv dia!nag.ed oft' Cannes by an Italian MTB on April 16, 1945. .

MISTRAL and OURAGA were in British ports in 194J(). and were taken ove-r on July 3. The former was manned by at Royal Navy unit until 1944 and Was re-armed with British guns because of the lack of French ammunition. Her new. cmnamen~ was 4-1~lmm (1 x 4), 1-76mm AA, 3-20mm AA and she reamed ODe triple rnoummg torpedo tube. OURAGA was handed over to the Polish Navy and! later manned by the FNFL.

L'Adroit c1ass-14 sbips

Displacemerrl:

] ,378 tons standard; 1,500 tons normal; L ,800-2,000 tons full load

107.20m (oa) ;.;, ?80m x 4m (D -1,500 tons}

3 small tube boilers, 2 Parsons, Rateau-Breragne or Zoelly geared Turbine-s, 2 shafts, 31,000-34,000 HP Speed: 33 knots (28-29 knots in war condition) 1,500/15 knots ill war condition

As designed : 4-130mm (1 x 4)1. 1-75mm AA ~ (later 2-37mm AA), machine gun , 6--550mm IT (3 < 1), 1-DCT and] 2 racks

13& (Officers, 7; Men, 131)

Dimlfflsj(},,~:

Madrillery ..

Radius in Nawic,al Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

Pro·

laid down

}'~5

completed 1929 1929 1928 1928 1928 1928

~:'m.{[~gflk

LE MARS LA PAlME

LA RAILLEUSE

bllildel'

A. Ch, de France

F. Cb. de fa Gironde Cb. Navals de Caen Ch, Navals de Caen Dubigeon

Dubigeon

launched 1/4/27 26{6/26 15/11/26 28{8/26 30/6/26 9/9126

l}9U model, • 1922 mode I.

63

---< ...

.

64

BASQUE BORDELAIS BOULONNAIS BR:ESTOrS FORB IN

FOUDROYANT FOUGUEUX FRONDEUR

Ch, Sisne Maritime F. Cb. de la Gironde Ch, Navals Francais Dyle et Bacalan

F. Ch. de la Mediterranee

Dyle et Baealan

A. ell. de Bretagne Ch. Navals Francais

25/5129 23/5/21 J/6/27

] 8/5/27 ] 7/7/28

24/4/29 4/8128 20/6/29

1930 1930 1928 1928 1930

1930 1930 1'931

1925

1926

192,1

]927

Notes: For alterations to the armament of these ships, see notes On the Bourrasque Class.

This class also suffered heavy losses,

LA PALME. LE MARS and LE BORDELAIS were scuttled at Toulon. L'ADROIT and LE FOUDROYANT were slink during the battle of Dunkirk, BOULO AIS and FO GUEUX were sunk by gunfire off Casablanca. On

November 8. 1942. BRESTOIS and FRONDEUR suffered heavy damages in the same fighting and later capsized in the aarbcur.

LA RAlLLEUSE was destroyed by an internal explosion at Casablanca on March 27, 1940.

Le Hardl class-12 ships

Displacemellt; 1,772 tons standard: 1,936 tons normal; 2,417 tons full load

Dimellsiolls.- 117.20m x U.lOm x 420m (full load)

Ma('hin,e,y~ 4 ural-Penhoet boilers, 2 Parsons or RateauBretagne geared Turbines, 2 shafts. 58,000 HP Speed: 37 knots

Fuel oil: 470 tons

Radius in 'autica! Miles: As designed; 2,160/20 knots, J ,100/30 knots 7901 6 knots (but less m war conditions)

i.arge deslloyer LE HARD/in 1942.

[MS

c

65

As designed: 6-130mml (2 3), 2-37mrn AA~ (.2 >< I), 4-13.2mm AA, 7-550mm IT (3 _ 1,

2 x 2), J rack l1930 mod'd.

181 (Officers, 10; Men, 176) '1915 model.

la;d COnf-

down launched pleEe{1

20/5}36 4/5/36 6/40 1818/36 28/7/JS 6/40

Notes: These were very fine ships but their main artillery was fragile. When they were commissioned. their AA armament was increased and comprised for example on LE HARDI: 2-37mm (2 x J) of (he semi-automatic 1933 model, 2-25mm (I x 2), 8-1:l.2mm. (2 x 4) Hotchkiss and Bve light machine-guos.

tE HARD[ took part in (he Dakar fighting. The ships if] service were scuttled ar Toulon. but the Italian refloated them immediately afterwards and a number were impressed into their Fleet. LE HARD!, renamed FR.37, was towed to Genoa on September 7. 1943, where she was captured by the Germans after the collapse of Italy. She was finally scuttled in LIDS port on April 24, 1945.

LE FOUDROYANT, renamed FR36, was also captured by tbe Germans and

in August J944 she was sunk to block the southern end of Toulon barbour.

L'ADROIT (FR.33) was also captured and broken up. MAMELUCK and CASQUE were also broken up after salvage.

LE CYCLONE (ex-LANSQUENEn wa towed to Imperia as FR.34 Oil August 31 t 1943. where she was seized by the Kriegsmarh,« and named TA.34. She was scuttled au Genoa just as the city was liberated and although salvaged and towed to Toulon. She was later scrapped.

SIROCO (FR.32) was also towed to Genoa. She was later utilised by the enemy to blOCK the western approach (0 the port.

The incomplete BrSO became FR.35 in the Italian Fleet lin September .1943 she was seized by the Germans and converted into a smoke-making platform for use in Toulon. The hull was later torpedoed by II U-bcaton June 28,. 1944.

The Germans captured the unfinished hulls of T MERArnE and l'INTRE.PIDE but construction of the two hips was later abandoned.

66

Armamelll;

Complement:

Pro-

gro(ll.me 1932

builder

A. Ch. de 181 loire F. Ch, de Ia Mediterranee

F. Ch, de la Gironde

name

LE HARD[ FOUDROYANT (ex FLEURET) L'ADROlT

(ex L'EPEE) MAMELUCK CASQUE

19.35

F. en. de Ia Mediterranee

L'OPINIATRE F. Ch, de la Gironde

E TEMERA'IRE F. en. de la Mediterranee L'AVENTURIER F. Ch, de 13 Gironde

A. ce. de la Loire F. Ch. de Ia Mediterranec

F. Ch. de la Gi.ronde

1937

LE CYCLONE (ex LANSQUENEll SIROCO

(ex.

LE CORSAIRE) BISON

(ex: LE

FlJIlB U STIER) L'lNTREPIDE

F. Ch, de la Mediterranee

F. Ch, de la Mediterranee

1938

1939

15/10/36 111/37 30/11/36

6/40 6/40 6/40

6/40

e.i
",.
."
-
.~
!I::
v
:J
i:i:l
~
-e
~.
....
""
E'
<;;
~
""
~
." .
....
67 26/10/38 18/2/29 2/11/38

17/12/36 2015/39

31/3/38

14/11/39 6/40

11/3138

14/12/39 6/40

Ug.hl destroyer l'/PH/GENIE.

light d,eslroyer LA POURSUIVANTE.

68

61.0 tons standard; 900 tons full load SOo.70m (oa) x 7.96rn x 3 .. 07m (mean)

2 small tube boders, 2: Parsons or Rateau-Bretagne geared Turbines, 2 shafts, 22,000 HP

Speed: 34.5 knots (trials: . .36.5 knots)

Fuel oil: 170 tons

] ,500/20 knots, 700/34.5 knots (theoretical)

] ,000120 knots, 625/25 knots (in war condit jon) 2-100mm1 (Ix 2). 4-13.2mm AA 2 x 2), 2- 550mm IT

]05 (Officers, 5; Men, 100)

LIGHT DESTROYERS 610 tons, La MeJpomene

Displacemellt:

Dbmmsi(nlS .' Machinery:

Radius ill Nautical Miles ..

. rmament:

kuaiched 2411/35 5/3/35 25/1/J5 18/4/.35 28/1/36

9,/9/36 14/4/36

4/8/36 2313/36 12/4/37 918/37

17/3/37

completed

Complement:

Programme

laid blil/der down At. Ch. de Hrelagnel2/33 At. Ch, de Bretagne 3/34 A. Ch, de La Loire 11/33 A. Ch. de la Loire 12/33 Ch. Marilimes. du 10/34 S.O.

10/7/31 LA CORDEillRE Normand 1934

L'INCOMPRISE A. Ch, de la Seine 1934 Mme.

LA POURSUJV ANTE A. ell. de France 19'34

BOM~ARDE A. Cb. de la Loire 2/r

lBRANLEBAS Normand 1934

31/3/32. BOUeLIE.. R A. eh. de la Seine 1934

Mme.

BAtiSTE A. Cil. de France 1934

31/3/31

name

LA MELPOMENE LA FLORE

LA POMONE L·IPHlGENlE

LA BAYO NAISE

Notes: These small destroyers were extremely manoeuvrable but lacked stability and had bad! sea-going characteristics, which was probably the cause of BRANLEBAS going down 011 December 14, 1940. 25 miles oJif the Eddystone ligh1l:iouse. manned by a British crew. She had been cap tured the preceding July J by the Royal Navy while in a British port with her sister ships BOUCLIER. LA fLORE LA MELPOMENE, LA CORDEllERE and L'INCOMPR]SE, These ships had formerly gained fame at Dunkirk. The FNFL used LA MELPOMENE for a while but she too was manned! by a British crew from 1942-44. During this lime she was joined by the four other 610-ton

hip at Hartlepool, They had not previously seen any service. The five ships ~ere towed to Cherbourg in J 945 and remained there until they were scrapped m 1950.

The fate of the remaining si shlos was more tragic.

LA BOMBARDE, LA POMO E and L'[PHIG£N1E were captured by the Itallans at Bizene, towed to lLal.y and recommissioned under the designations FR.41. FR.42 and FR.43. On Apri I 15. 1943 they were transferred to the German Navy and. again renamed TA.9, TA.l0 and TA.11 respectively. Their ~rmam.ent was modified; torpedo tubes, were removed and the AA armament Illcreased to comprise 2-37mm and 14-20rnm guns.

11930 m.odid.

69

The TA.l 1 was sunk at Piornbino on September 10,1943 just as the Italians surrendered.

The T A.9 was destrcyed at Toulon during an Allied bornbardrneat 0111

August 23, 1944. .

The TA.IO which had sailed to' the Aegean Sea was scuttled after an encounter with the British destroyer HMS CUPSE.

LA BAYONNAlSE, BAUSTE and LA POURSrnYANTE were scuttled at Toulon. The first two were rapidly salvaged by the Italians and renamed FR.M ailld FR.45. They were later mod by the Germans under the designations TA.43 and TA.12. The 'IA.43, whichremained III Tnulon was scuttled in July 19413 jus] as the city was liberated by the French, The TA.l2 was destroyed by HMS ECL1PSE off Rhodes on August 22,. 1943.

Le Fief

Djspiacemellr; Dimensions:

Mac.hinery~

1,010 ton standard; 1,377 tons full load

95m (oa) 9.40m x 3.25111 (light)

3 small tube boilers. :2 Parsons or Rateau-Bretagne geared Turbines. 2 shafts, 28,000 HP

Speed: 34 knots

As, designed: 2,000/200 knots

4-IOOmm AAI (2:-:, 2), 8-37mm AA (2 '. 4), 4-S50mm IT (2 x 2), 2 OCT

136 (Officera, 7; Men, ]29)

laid down 17/1/39 2614/39 26/l/39 11/4/39 11/4/39 1/40 1/40

RadflJ$ in Nautica! MUe.r:

Armament:

Complement .. Pro-

laum:heti 12/3/40 23{S/40

2}S:::O

notes

completed

builder

A. Ch. de Bretagne A. Ch. de Bretagne A. Cb, de la Loire A. Cb. de la Loire A. Ch. deflretagne A. Ch. de.Brecagne A. Ch. de Ia Loire A. Ch. de 13. loire A. en. de la Loire

A. Ch, de la Loire

A. Ch. de la Loire

A. ell. de Bretagne

F. Ch. de la

Mediterranet:

F. h. de ill Mediterranee

NOles: The m3FIl artillery in these destroyers was to be of the dual-purpose type and concentrated in the stem, with the light AA armament grouped forward.

10 June 1940, LE FIER, L'ENTREPRENANT and I.·AGILE were being completed afloat. so thai they could be towed to a free port but they were bombed by the enemy; LE FlER was forced 1.0 beach neal' Oleron lsland, and the others at the entrance of the Giroude river. Their hulls were onty stigb,Hy damaged and by order of the Germans they were brought back to Nantes and eonsrruction was resumed, as were the others left ill the barbour. They were rena meed as follows:

TA.l ~ex-LE FIER) T .4 (ex-L'ENTREPRE ANT)

gramme

name

I.E FIER

l'AGTLE l'ENTREPRENANT LE FAROUCHE L'ALSAC EN

LE BRETON

LE CORSE

LE TUNISIEN LE NORMAND LE PAR[SI

LE PROVENCAL LE SATNTONGEAIS LE xrcors

LE SAVOYARD

1937

(938

1938b

1938c

70

Q U U -' ...,.

'-'

~
!2
.....
'"
!Xl
...
ill
~
'-
'ti
Go
"TO
1;
~I
.....
71 TAl (ex-L'AGIL ) TA.5 (ex-LE FAROUCHE)

TA.] (ex-L'ALSAClEN) TA.6 (ex-LE CORSE)

TA.4, TA.S and TA..6 were launched. later but none of these six ships was ever completed .. They were scuttled by the enemy at Nantes when the city was liberated. Under the German flag their armament was to have comprised

3-105nun (I x J) astern, 2-37mm and 9-20mm AA guns, -

CORSAIR SUBMARINE Snrcouf-' 1 ship

Displacemenl:

Dimensions; M 'achiner»:

3,304 tom (on surface): 4,218 WI'IS (submerged) BOnn x 9m X 9.07m

2 Sulzer Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2 shafts, 7,600 HP (OD surface), 3,400 HP' (submerged)

Speed: 18 knots (on surface), 8.5 knots (submerged) 10,000/10 knots, 6,800/13.8 knots (on surface) 70/4.5 knots (submerged)

2-203mrn (2 x 1)1, 2-3101m AA, 4 machine-guns, 6-5S0rom IT and 4--400m.m IT

Carried a scout seaplane (Besson MBALll type) 118 (Officers, 8; Men, 11]0)

Rndius in Nawical Miles:

Armament:

Complement .-

Pro-gramme 1WIIle builder laid down launched completed

1926 SURCOUF Cberbourg DY 12/27 18/10129 5134

Notes: At the outbreak of war SURCOUF was the heaviest submarine in the world, representing an experimental type not likely to be repeated. She was designed as a Corsair submarine and carried the heaviest guns allowed to submarines under the Washington Treaty,

In June L940 she escaped from Brest, where she was refitting, to gel to a British port. She was captured by the British in June 1940 but was later turned over to the FNFL. After a difficult refit, far from a French Naval base, she carried Out patrols in the North Atlantic. Sae also participated in [he seizure of 8t Pierre and Miquelon with General de Gaulle's foeces, The SURCOUF collided with the US merchant ship THOMSO LYKES in the Gulf or Mexico on February 18, 1942 and subsequently sank.

It was regrettable thaJ she did not. as wa anticipated, reach the Pacific theatre where her powerful armament would certainly have been most effective,

• 1924 c. motlet,

72

Corsair submarine SU.RCOUf, which at ille ,ouibreak IOf hosiiflties in 1939, was the heiwl'est submarine in tne world.

Crxming lower of SURCOUf wNb a Besson MB.411 obse<rvation seaplane being stowed aboard. [ECA

73

c*

[fn.t class .submarine REQU{N.

[JlC ceu,

I

I

I

First class subtnsrlne SOUFFLEUR and CAIMAN anchored at Beirut on June 28, 1941 ,during Syrian campaign, The SOUFFLfUR wa's torpedoed the next day. [JlC Coli.

74

FIRST CLASS SUBMARINES Requin class-> 9 sbips

Displacement; Dimens;iHls." Modi f ne ry:

974 tons (on surface); 1,441 tons (submerged) 78.25m X 6.84m x 5.IOm

2 Sulzer Or Schneider Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2 shafts, 2,900 HP (on surface), 1,800HP (submerged) Speed: 15 knots (on surface), 9 mots (submerged) 5,650j 10 knots (on surface), 105/5 knots (submerged) 1-1 OOm 1Il11 , 2 AA machine-guns, JO-S50mm IT {4lJow aDd 2 stern submerged: 4 above water, revolving in (lairs before and abaft conning tower)

54 (Officers, 4; Men, 50)

RadiuS in N(lll1ical Miles; Armament:

Complement :

Programme

name builder

REQUr Cnerbourg DY

SOUFFLEUR Cnerbourg DY

MORSE Cherbourg DY

NAR V AL Cherbourg DY

MARSOUIN Brest DY

DAUPHIN Toulon DY

CAIMAN Cherbourg DY

PHOQUE Brest DY

ESPADON Toulon DY

lmlllcned 19/7/24 1/10/24 11/11/25; 9/5/25 27112/2-4 2/4/25 3/3/27 ]613/2,6 28/5/']:6

compleled 1926

1926

192/

1926

1926

19'21

1927 1927

1927

1922

laid down 1923 1923 1923 1923 1923 1923 1927 1921 19'27

30/611923

Notes: All the ships of this Class were modernised. including a complete refit of hull and machinery, between 1915--37.

CAiMAN and MARSOUIN escaped from Algiers in November 1941 and sailed to Toulon where CAIMAN was scuttled while her sister ship succeeded in gaining North Africa.

REQUIN, DAUPHIN, PHOQUE and ESPADON were seized at Bizerte on December 8. 1942 (see Wa.r Losses section pp, 161-2 for their later fate).

MORSE struck a mine and sank oW Sfax on June 10, )940.

SOUFFLEUR was sunk by a British submarine on June 29, 1941 during the shod Syrian campaign.

NARVAL was 011 patrol in the Mediterranean on July], 1940. when Naval Staff ordered all French vessels U) return home to the Free Zone port, Her Commanding Officer refused to do this and sailed to Malta, where she was incorporated in the FNFL. She was eventually sunk by a mine off Tunisia on December 15 • 1940.

, 1!J1S model.

Redoetable elas

29 ships

1,570 tons (on surface); 2,084 tons (submerged) 92.30rn. x 8.20rn x 4.70m

2 Sulzer or Sehneider Diesels. 2 electric rumors, 2 shafts. 6,000 HP 0111 surface), 1.000 HP (submerged). The submarines of the 1928-29 programme had 7,200'HP OIl surface and those of the last programme 8,600 HP, 2 shafts

Speed; 17 to 20 knots (on surface), 10 knots (submerged)

Displacement: ..Dimensions;' 1t1achillery."

15

R,adlus ill Nautical Miles: 10,000110 knots 4,OOOfl7 knots (on surface) 100/5 knots (submerged)

Armament: 1-100mm\ 2-1]"2mm AA, 9-550mm TI and 2~mmTI

Complement: 61 (Officers" 4; Men, 51)

PrCF 8,'arl'l1ne 1924

J925

1926

1928-2.9

BOO

name

RED OUTAB LE VENGEVR PASCAL PASTEUR ARCH1MEDE MONGE

FRESNEL

H. POiNCARE PO CELET ACHILLE AJAX AC'TEON ACHERON ARGO PROTtE

PEGASE PJERSEE L'ESPOJR

LE GLORIEUX L CENTAURE LE HEROS

LE CONQUERANT LE TONNA T

AGOSTA

SFAX CASABIANCA BEVEZIERS OUESSANT

SIDI FJERRUCH

bllilder Cherbourg DY Cherbourg DY BrestDY Brest DY eMF, Caen

• Ch, de Ill!

Mediterranee Penhoe[ Lorient DY Lorieat D Brest DY Brest DY

A Ch, de la Lo ire A. Ch. dela Loire Dubigeon

F. Ch, de la Mediterranee A.Ch.delaLorre CNP Caen Cherbourg DY Cherbourg DY Brest DY

Brest DY

A. Ch. de la Loire F. ell. de In. Mediterranee Cherbourg D'Y A. Ch.deIa Loire A. Ch. de la Loire Cherbourg DY Cherbourg DY Cherbeurg DY

l(lid dow" 1925 1925 1925 1925 1927 1927

1927 1925' 1925 1927 1927 1927 1927

1928 1928 1928 1919 1929 19'29 1929 1930 1930

1930 1931 i931 1931 1931 1931

launched 1917128 1/9/28 19/7/28 19/7/28 619/300 2516/29

8/6}29' 10/4/29 10/4/29 28/5/30 2815/30 10/4/29 6/8129

31/7/30 28f7110 23/S}3] 18/1/31 29/11/31 14110J32 14/ W132. 26/6/]4 15/12/34

30/4/34 6/12/34 212.135 ]4/10/35 JO/Ll/36 9/7(37

com· pleted 1931 1931 1931 1932 19'J.2 ]932

1931 193] 1932 1932 1933 1931 1931

1932 1932, 1933 1932 1933 1934 1934 19.35 1935

1935 1935 1935 1936 1937 1939

Notes: Of this Class PROMETHEE was lo l during trials on July 8, 1932 and PHENIX was lost in Iml.o-Cwilese waters on June 15, L939.

VE GEUR.. R'EDOUTABLE; PASCAL, H. POINCARb, ACHERON, L'ESPOIR and FRESNEL were scuttled at Toulon on 27 November, 1942.

AGOSTA, OUESSANT, ACI-fILLE and PASTEUR were scuttled while being repaired in Bre t, when [he enemy entered the port,

PERSJ::E and AJAX were sunk: by the British at the time of the Dakar campaign, the former frOID gunfire 011 September 23, 1940 and the latter by HMS FORTUNE.

PO CELET captured the 5,900-tol.1 German cargo ship CHEMNITZ on September 28, 1939; she was severely damaged by HMS MI FORD HA V N oft· Port Gentil (Gabon) on ovember 8, 19'40 during Genera'! de Gaulle's attempt [0 take over French quatorial Africa. She was scuttled, hergallant Commanding

, 1925 mod~/.

76

"0 u

U -.J

3

77

Officer going down with the hi".

HERO was destroyed by aircraft from HM Snips ILLUSTRIOUS MONGE acd ACfNE during the British campaign against Madagascar on May 7-8, 1942.

JLE CONQUERANT was sunk off Villa Cisneros by US Catalina flying boats, ~nd ~IDI FERRI.JCH was sunk by US aircraft off Casablanca during the Allied mvasion of November 1942. DUling the same operation ACfEON was sunk by HMS WESTCOTf and fRESNEL escaped to Toulon only to be scuttled a few days later.

LE TONNANT escaped from Casablanca during the Allied attack. She was Later 'scuttled 'by her crew off Cadiz, where she had been sheltering to repair her

damage and await fresh orders. .

'SFAX was torpedoed by U.37 off Cap Juby on December 19, 1940. PROTEI: was irnmobilised at AJe aadria after the fall of France, bUI: she

joined the Algerian Government's a al forces in 1943 and was sunk off

Marseilles in December 1943 (cause unknown).

.BEVEZIERS torpedoed and _ so . badly damaged the battleship HMS RESOLUTION at Dakar that she almost 53.11k_ The submarine was sunk at Diego Suarez in. May 1942 and never repaired.

CASABLANCA played a glorious part ill. the liberation or Corsica. She sank the German patrol boat UJ.6076 on Decembe-r 22, 1943, badly damaged the Italian cargo ship CHlSONE em December 28, 1943 and later the German vessel Ul607S.

LEGLORIEUX survived a battle with the Bririsa 'in Courrier Bay in May 1942 and fled to Toulon. She escaped before the Germans captured the port and joined the Al:gerian Government's Naval forces.

PEG SE had been uncommissioned in Indo-China since 1940 and was

eventually scrapped there. •

Roland Morillot dass-8 ships

D;'splac~ment: 1,8JO ton (on surface); 2,4]7 ions (submerged)

Dimensions: l02.50m x8.32m '> 4.58m

Machilll!/"Y: 2 Sulzer Diesels, 2 electric motors. 2 sha fts, J 2,000 H P

(on surface), 2,300 HP (submerged)

Speed: 22 knotts (on surface), 9.5 knots (submerged) 10.000/1,0 knots (on surface)

1-10D.rnmt, 2-13.2mm AA (2 ;< I), lO-55Qmm IT

70 (Officers,S; Men, 65) .

Radius ill Nal/tical Miles:

Armamem:

Complement:

Pro-

laid down 1/37 3/3,8 9/38 6[40 6/40

comlaullched pleted

gramme name blJiltkr

1934 ROLAND MORfLLOT Cherbourg

1937 LA PRAY A Cherbourg

1938 LA MARTINIQUE Cherbourg

1938b {!LA GUADELOUPE D. Ubi.ge. on

l.A REUNION Cherbourg

Q_228 Dubigeon

1/4/40 '0.229 Dubigeon

'0.2.30 Dubigeon

Notes: ROLAND MORILLOT was scuttled at Cherbourg all June 19 1'940-

the day before she was due to be launched. '

LA PRAY A and LA MAR TJNIQ U 'were bum l oar on the adjoining sli pway the same day.

I }91r5 "'001"'.

78

SECOND CLASS SUBMARINES

600 tons, (Sehneider-Laubeuf type)-4 sbips

615 tons (on surface); 776 tons (submerged) 62.48m X 5.40m X 3.90m

2 Schneider Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2. shafts. 1,250 HP (on surface), 1.000 HP (submerged) .

Speed: 14 knots (on surface), 15 knots (submerged) RadiuS in Nautical Miles: 3,500/7.5 knots (on surface). 75/5 knots (submerged)

Armament: 1-7Smml, 2 AA machine-guns, 7-S50mm TI (3 bow, 2 astem, 1 double revolving mounting)

Complemell(; 41 (Officers 3; Men, 38)

Programme name _ builder laid down lauJU:!ted completed

{CIRCE Schneider 2/23 29/10/25 1929

1912 CALYPSO Schneider 2/23 1511/26 1929

THETIS Schneider 7123 30/6/27 1929

DORIS Schneider 7/13 25jH/27 19'30

Notes: The DORiS was torpedoed and sunk b)' the German. submarine U9 off

the Netherlands coast on May 9, 1940. __

CIRCE and CALl'PSO were seized at Bizerte on December 8. 1942. The farmer was scuttled! by the enemy on May 6, 1943 and the latter was sunk by Allied bombs on January 30, 194].

The THETIS was scuttled at Toulon,

Displacement ;' J)imellSiom; :

Machinery:

I }9]8 model.

Second class subm.arlne THETIS.

[1M a

79

600 tons (Lolre-Simonot type) 3 ships

Displacement Dimensions:

Machil1ery;

R_adiu; in Nautical Mili!s:

Armament:

Complement:

Pro-

gramme name

{SIREN

!L922 NAlADE

GALATHEE

609 tons (on surface); 757 tons (submerged) 64m x S.20m x 4.30m

2. Sulzer Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2 shafts, 1.300 HP (on surface). 1,000 HP (submerged)

Speed: 13.5 knots (on surface), 7.5 k.n015 (submerged) 3,500/7.5 knots (on surface), 75/5 knots (submerged) 1--75mm. 2: AA machine-guns, 7-550[1101 IT (3 bow. 2 astern, 1 double revolving mounting)

41 (Officers, 3: Men, ]8)

bulkier

A. Ch. de la Loire A. Ch, de 13 Loire A. Ch. de la Loire

laid dowt« 2/'1.3

2/23

7/23

Jml'ncit.ed 6/8/25 20110/25 18/12/25

completed 1927

1927

1927

Notes: These three submarines were scuttled at Toulon on November 27, 1942, and NYMPHE of the same Class. was. scrapped in ]938.

600 tons (Normand-Fenaux type}--3 ships

626 tons (on surface): 787 tOIlS (submerged)

65.98m x 4.94rn x m

2 Normand-Vickers Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2 shafts. 1,200 ill (on surface), 1,000 HP (submerged) Speed: 14 knots (all surface), 7.5 knots submerged) Radius iJ.1 Nalltical Miles: 3,500/7.S knots (on surface), 7515 knots (submerged) Armament: 1-75mml, 2 AA machine-guns" 7-550mm IT (3

bow, 2 astern, I double revolving mounting)

COIrlplenumr: 41 (Officers. 3; Men, 38)

Progl'amme name builder laid dow« launched

{ARlANE Normand 2/23 6/8/25

EURYD[CE Normand 1[23 31/5/27

DANA£ Normand 7/23 11/9/27

Notes: ONDlNE of this class was lost off Vigo on October 3 [928 after having collided with a Greek merchant ship.

ARIA E. which was out of commission, was scuttled at Oran 011 November 9, 1941.

EURYDICE was scuttled at Toulon OD November 27,1942.

Displacement .. D.imerlSions,' Machint!ry:

1922

l 1928 mod"l.

compler-ed 19'28 1929 1929

630 tons (Schneider-Laubeuf type~5 ships

Dl.8p'Jacemenf .' DimellBions:

MacMnery:

Radius in Nautica] Miles:

630 tons (Oil surface): 798 tons (submerged) 63.40m >< 5.18m x J.61m

2 Schneider Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2 shafts, 1.300 HP (011 surface), 1,000 HP (submerged)

Speed: ]4· nets (on surface), 9 knots (submerged) 2,300/13.5 knots, 4,000/10 knOIS (OD surface)

82/5 knots (submerged)

80

81

n

Armament:

1-7Srom', 6-550mm 'IT (3 bow. t double revolving mounting, 1 amid the triple revolving mounting astern), 2--400mm IT (revolving mounting: a tern)

41 (Officers, J; Men, 38)

Complement:

Programme name builder laid down launched complered
1926 {ARGONAUTE Schneider 4/27 23/5/29 6/32
ARETHUSE Schneider 4/28 8/8/29 7/33
]927 ATAl.ANTE Schneider 1/28 5/8/30 904
]929 {LA VESTALE Schneider 1/30 25/5/32 9134
LA SULTANE Schneider 1/30 2/8/32 6/35 il

Notes;' ARGONAUTE was sunk (Iff Oran by HM Snips A'CHATES and WESTCOTT on November 8, 1942.

LA sm T ANE attacked and probably sank an enemy patrol boat in I he Mediterranean on May 9, [944.

'192 <1iode.l.

630 tons (Loire-Simon.ot type)

Displacement:

Dimensions:

Machinery:

656 tons (on surface); 822 tons (submerged) 64.40m x 5. J 8m x :3.90m

2. Sulzer Diesels, 2: electric motors. 2 shafts, :1,420 H]? (on surface), 1,100 HP (submerged)

Speed: 14 knots (on surface), 9.20 knots (submerged) 2,300/13.5 knots, 4,000/10 knots (on surface]

82/5 knots (submerged)

1~75mm\ 6-550mm IT (3 bow, 1 double revolving mounting, I amid the triple revolving mounting astern),

2 m.m IT (revolving mounting astern)

41 (Officers, 3; Men. 38)

Radius in Nauticai Miles:

Armament:

Complement :

Programme name

1928 {ORION

ONDfNE

builder laid down launched

A. Ch. de la Loire 11/28 21/4/31

Dubigeon J l/28 4/S131

completed 7/32

7/32

Notes: These two submarines were captured by title Royal Navy at Portsmouth on July 3. 1940. They were not put into service due to their deteriorated condition but served as sources of spare parts for JUNON arrd MINERVE. They were phased mIL in 1943.

I 1928 madrl.

630 tons (Normand-Fenaux type}-9 ships

D lsplocemem " Dimenslons:

Machinery:

651 Lon (on surface); 807 tons (submerged) 64.40m • S.18m ., .l.9Jm

2 Normand-Vickers Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2 shafts, J ,300 liP [on surface), 1,000 HP (submerged)

Speed; 13.7 knots (on surface), 9.2 knots (submerged) Gas oil: 53m~

2,300/13.5 knots, 4,(100/10 knots (on surface) 82.5 knots (submerged)

1-7 5mml. 6-550mm IT (3 bow, I double revolving mounting, "1 amid the triple revolving mounting astern)', 2--400mm 'IT (revolving mounting astern)

Radills ill Nautical Miles:

Arnwmel'lr:

I 1928 model.

82

Complement: 41 (Officers, 3; Men, 38)

',·nln·e builder laid down kumched completed

Programme •• , I 13/5/30 9/37

1926 DlANE Normand 427· ., -

~ MEDUSE ormand 4/27 26/8/30 932

AMl'l=LITRrrE Normand 1/28 20j 12130 1/33

19:27 ANTIOPE Worms 3/28 19f5{JO lO/32

AMAZONE Worms 0/28 28/12/31 10133

1928 ORPHEE Normand 11J28 10/H/31 6/33

OREAnE Worms 11/28 23/5/]2 11/34

19251 LA PSYCH£: Normand 1/30 4/8/32 12/33

LA SYBILLE Worms 1/30 28/1/32 12/34

Notes: Tile DIANE was scuttled at Oran 011 November 9 1942; she was later refloated but finally scrapped.

MEDUSE was so badly damaged by bombs south of Mazagan(Morocco),oIl :November 10, 1942, that she had to be beached.

AMFH1TRITE was lost at Casablanca on November 8, 1942.

ORPHEE, re-armed after the Allied landings in North Africa, executed special missions ill the Mediterranean. She sunk lhe, patrol boat FA UeaN at the entrance to Toulon harbour on December 7, 1943,

OREADE was sunk at Casablanca on November 8, 1942.

LA SYBILLE was lost off Casablanca on the same day.

LA PSYCHE was also sunk in the same port by aircraft from the Task force 34.

Second class submarine OREADE.

[MB

83

Minerve (Standard Amirau,tl~)

Displacemenc:

Dimensions:

Machinery:

662 tons (01'1 surface); 856 tons (submerged) 6&.JOm x ;.60m x 3.66m

2 Normand-Vickers or Schneider Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2 shafts, l,BOO HP (011 surface), 1,230 HP (submerged)

Speed: 14.29 knots (on surface), 9.30 knots (submerged)

4,000/10 knots, 2,500/13 knots (on surface) 85/5 knots (submerged)

1-75rnm!, 1-13.2mm AA, :2 machlne-guns, 6-- 550mm IT and 3-400mm IT

42 (Officers, 3; Men, 39)

Radius ill Nautical Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

Programme name builder laid dowrl launched completed

iMlNERVE Cherbourg DY 1/31 23/10/34 9/36

1930 JUNON Normand 1/32 15/9/35 9/37

VENUS Wonns 1132 6} ./35 1I/J6

{IRIS Dubigeon 1/32 23/9/34 9f36

CERES Worms 3/36 9/12/39 1939

PALLAS ormand 3/36 25/8/38 1939

Notes: The MINERVE was in Cherbourg completely stripped Gown, including the engines. when tile Germans broke through at Sedan on May 19, 1940. She was hurriedly repaired and put to sea. before the azis arrived there. She was seized! by the British at Plymouth in company with lONON. These LWO submarines were later transferred to the FNFL. MINERVE carried out numerous hazardous patrols in the Norwegian Sea and the Arctic, The JUNON participated in the TlRPITZ chase and also engaged in difficult missions along the Norwegian coast.

The VENUS was scuttled at Toulon.

The IRIS esc-aped from Toulon just before the Germans arrived and went to Barcelona where she was interned until the war ended.

CERES and PALLAS were scuttled at Gran on November 9, 1942 and then refloated, They appeared on the disposal list in 1945.

1936

1 193/1 madel.

Second class submarine MINERVE.

[MB

84

Aurore class-IS sbips

. . 893 tons (on surface); 1,170 lens (submerged)

r:.I!P~QICS~;~~I.It. n-50m x 6.50m x 4.20m lectri t 2

ymr~/;' .' 2 'Sulzer or Schneider Diesels, :2 e ectnc rno ors,

Maclllner) . shafts, ],000 lIP (on surface), 1,400 HP (sub~erged)

Speed: 1 S .51) knots (on surface), 9.3 knots, (submerged)

.Rl:1dius ill Nemrical Miles; 2250/15 knots, 5,600/10 knots (0:0 surface)

SOl5 knots (submerged) _

1-100rmn\ 1-13.9mm M, 9-)SOmm IT 44 (Officers, 4; Men, 40}

name builder

AURORE Toulon DY

LA CREOLE Normand!

LA BAY AOERE Normand

LA FAVORITE WOmlS

L' AFRl.CAINE Worms

L' ASTREE D'llbigeo'l'I

L' ANDROMBlE Dubigeon L'ANUROMAQUE Worms

L ANTIGONE Schneider

L' A.RTEMISE Normand

L'ARMIDE Worms

L'J=lER.M10NE Normand

1.LA <GORGONE Non;nand

LA CLORINIDE Uublgeoll

LA CORNEllE cancelled

Noles: L'AURGRE was scuttled at Toulon on November 27, 1942. I BTilish LA CREOLE was towed to England III June 1940 and seized by me

on July 3. b!Jt she was not completedbefGore the endhof_thsheeW~s onlv one-third

L'AFRICAINE was captured by the ermans w en • tb

buill, Construcdon was resumed under the designation UF.l, but due to e

Al"mOlllenl:

Compleme"t,

Ptagramme 1934

1'937

1938

1918

1 J 936 mode'l,

laM down 12/35 U!37 12/37 12/37 12/37 11/38 11/38 H/3S 11{38 5/39 5/39

launched 2617139 816{40

completed

5/11/42 7/12146 3/.5/46 111 I 1/49

28/6/42

Second class submarine AURORE.

85

Seco'nd class submerin« DORIS I(elf-HMS VINEYARD).

B6

[JLC Call.

efl'ort- of the Resistance movement, work progressed so slowly that she could not be launched before the war ended.

LA FA VQRITE, on the other hand was completed by the enemy and renamed Uf'.2; she was posted as a target, ship to the ASW school at Gdynia where she was scuttled on July 5, 1944.

L ASTREE, alLhougb renamed UF.3 was not launched until after the war,

a5 was L' ANDROM£DE.

The construction of L'ANTIGONE was not resumed and the ship was

scrapPled after ehe war.

LA nAYADERE. LA GORGONE and L'HERMlO E were demolished

under various pretexts by the builder during the German occupation.

LA CLORINDE was eventually launched on July 8, 19'43, but she was only an empty hull. Her construction was resumed after the liberation.

Phenix class-13 sbips

DiSplacement:

Dimensiolls:

Machinery:

1 056 tons (OIl surface): 1 ;252 Ions (submerged) 74.90m x '6.40m x 3.90m

2 Sulzer Diesels. 2 electric motors, 2 shafts. 4,200 UP (on surface), 1,400 HP (submerged)

Speed: E B; knots (on surface), 9 knots (submerged) 8,000/10 knots (on surface)

J.---40rnm A.A, 1-20mm AA, IIJ-550mm TI 45 (Officers, 4; Men, 4))

bllilde/' Toulon DY Normand NOITIla:nd

onnand onnand Worms Worms Worrn.s Worms Schneider Schneider Schneider Schneider

RadiUs in Nautical Mfle·s:

Armament:

Compl(!mem~

Programme 1939

4!J940

name

PHENIX VENDEMIAIRE BRUMAIRE FRIMAIRE NIVOSE PLUVIQSE VENTOSE GERMINAL FLOREAL PRAIRlAL MESSIDOR THERMIDOR FRUCTIDOR

NOles: These submarines were designed for use in warm weather zones, out were never begun building.

Ex-British U dass-3 ships

Displar:eme11t:

Dimensions.' Marl!illery:

Radlrts in Nalltical Miles:

Armament .Compleme.!Jl :

626 tons (on surface); '721 tons (submerged)

60m (CURIE), 62.80m (the others) x 4.8!1m ,. 3.38m Electric propulsion (2 Paxman Diesels. 2 electric motors), 800 HP (on surface), 760 HP submerged)

1-76mm 4-533rnm TT (bow), 8 torpedoes

37 (Officers, 4; Men, 33)

87'

PI"O-

{aid down

com« launched pleted

23/1/43 1944

gramme name! builder

WW2 CURlE } (eN HMS VOX. ex P.67)

DORIS Vickers-

(ex HMS VINEYARD) Armstrong

MORSE

(ex HMS VORTEX) 19/8144 1944-

Notes: These submarines of the British U Class were transferred to the French Navy dunng ] 943--44.

The CU RfE was manned by the F FL She unk the German cargo ships ZAR "~RDINAND and HRUNHILn (ex-French BACCUS-2000 GRT) in

the Mediterranean. '

All the ship were returned to the Royal Navy on September 'II, 1946.

E -Itatian-l ship

Dlsp/ucemellt,' Dimensions: 1111 'achtnery ..

8/5/44

]944

7.4 tens (on surface); 864 tons (submerged) 6O.i8m (oa) .< 6.49m x 5.16m

2 Tosi Diesels. 2 Marelli electric motors I '(}()O HP (on s~rface), 800 HP (submerged) " .. Speed: 14 knots (on surface), 7 knots (submerged)

Radius in Nautical Miles:

Armament:

1--75mm, 2-20mm AA. 6-533mm. TT (4 bow. 2 stern)

541 (Officers, 5; Men, 49)

builder {aid down lautlclled completed

Tosi 9JLI/41 ~942

ComplemefJt :

Pl'ogramme name NAltVAL (ex·:BRONZO

ex-HMS P.714) Taranto

No res: This subma~i~e,was, captured by the Allies at Agusta (S.icily) and was transferred by the British to the French Navy .. on January 29, 1944.

M

ELATING SUBMARINES Sapbir (Normand-Fen8UX type)-6 ships

Dl::spll1c~meTlI: 761 tons (on surface); 92:5 tons (submerged)

Dlme'!slOlZs: 65.90m 7.12m '" 4.30m

M(JrJ.1IlIery: 2 Normand-Vickers Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2 shafts, 1,300 HP (on surface), 1 100 HP (submerged)

Speed: 12 knots (on surface), 9 knots (submerged) Radim, [n NUl/tical Miles: 4,000/12 knots, 7,000/7.5 knots (on surface)

80/4 knots (submerged)

1-75mm£.I-J3.2mm AA. 2 machine-guns, 2- 550~ IT (bow), J-550rnm and 2-400mm triple revolving mounting, 32 mines

42 (Officers, 3; Men, 39)

builder laid down

Toulon DY H/2S

Toulon DY 1926

AI"mamel1f:

Compleme"t:

Programme name

1925 {SAPHIR

, TURQUOISE

lau1lched '20/12/28 1615/29

completed 11/30 1.1/30

1 1928 model.

88

1926 J927 J928 1929

NAUTILUS RUBIS DIAMANT PERLE

21/3/30 30/9/31 18/5/33 ],0/113,5

1/37 4/33 6/34 3}37

9/26 l/2.8 12/29 ]}31

l'oulonDY Taillon DY Toulon DY Toulon DY

Nore~: Of all French submarines, these ships were probably most .suited to their task. Mines were stowt:cI in wells in the outer ballast tanks which had direct

release mechanism.. , ,

In J ul,y J 940, t~e Commanding Officer and crew of the R L! DIS joined General de Gaulle. The ships later carried OUl numerous dangerous minelaying cperauons in the Bay of Biscay and along the I orwegian coast. JwenlY-~oO sorties were made causing H.e destruction of as enemy vessels: BLAMMARRE (May 28, ]940), JADA.RLAND (May 3J, 1(40), SVER.RE SIGURDSON (June 10, 1~10), UJ.D (July 7, 1940), V.406 (August 18, 1942), KNUTE ELSO. CLARE HUGO STINNES and UJ.H]5 (September 27, 1944), WEICH SElL LA D, 0].1113, UJ.1116, the minesweeper RAOl and two others 'Yhi~h were not identified in December 1944. She also torpedoed and sank "the Finnish merchant ship HOGLAND.

SAPHlR took pan in a minelaying operation off' Cagliari on June 13, 1940.

She was disarmed at Bizerte and seized by the Germans on December 8, 1942; she was, then towed to aples where she was scuttled 011 September IS, .1943.

TURQUOISE, after a rninelaying operation off Trapani on June 14, 1940. wa.salso disarmed at Bizerte after the Armistice, She was captured by the Germans there on December 8, 1942 and scuttled on May 6. 1943 .

NAUTILUS participated in rninelaying off Tripoli on. June ~4, 1940. Taken cut of commission at Bizerte she was seized as were her SIster ships and sunk by bombs on January 30. 1943,

DIAMANT was scuuled at Toulon on November 27, 1942, me was refloated but was bombed and sank in 1944.

PERLE was accidentally attacked by British aircraft and sank on July ,1944.

Mirielaylng submarine TURQUOISE.

[MIB

89

Emeraude c]ass-4 hips Displacement; Dimensions: i\1acililfel".l' :

Radius in Nomteo! Miles:

A,.mamenl;

862 ton (on surface); 1,1]9 (OIlS (submerged) 72.70m x 7.36m x 4JOm

2 Schneider Diesels. 2 electric motors, 2 shafts, 2,000 HP (OD surface), 1,270 HI' (submerged)

Speed: J 5 knots (on surface), 9 knots (submerged) 5.600/12 knots (on surface); 90/4 knots (submerged) I-H)Omm1, 2~13..2rnm AA. (2 .r I), 4-550mm IT, 40 mines

43 (Officers. 4; Men, 39) bulkier Toulon Schneider Schneider

Schneider

on the slipway and the other three ships

ComplemeIVi .' Programme

193'7

laid down 5.38

name

Eli.1ERAUD£

{L'AGATE

LE CORAIL L'ESCARBO CLE Nates: EMERAUDE was scuttled

did not begin building.

1938

I 1936 model.

FRlGATES

La Combattante (ex-British Hunt class)-l ship

Displm:emf!JIt :

Dimensions :

Maehinery:

904 tons standard; 1,490 tons full load 82.90m (oa) . 8.6Om x 2.40m

2 Admiralty boilers, 1 Parsons geared Turbines, 2 shafts 19,000 HP

Speed: 26 knots

2,000/12 knots, 850/25 knots

4-102mm (2 X 2), 4-4Omm AA (1 x 4), 2-20mm AA, DCT and racks

168

Radius in Nautical iHiles:

Armament:

Complement:

P,.()~

gramme ,wme builder laid dOWll launched completed

ww.rr LA COMBATfANTE Fairfield 2j4/42 1942

(ex-HMS HALDON)

Notes: This ship was taken over by the FNFL on December 15" 1942. She took part in battles with enemy E-boats on December 1. 1943, April 20, 1944 and April 26" 1944. On the latter dale he sunk ODe ship and damaged another. She was badly damaged accidentalr by the British MTB7s2 on May 28, 1944, but later participated in the orrnandy landings. She was mined! and sunk in the Humber river on February 23, [945.

Ex-British River dass-6 ships

Disp'lacemcm:

Dimensjons:

Mm::ililler)':

1.J25 tons standard; 2,130 tons fullload 93.5001 (ca) x U.16m x 4.36m

2 of 3-drum type, 2. triple expansion, 2 shafts. 6,OOOHP

Speed: 19 knots

Fuel oil: 645 tons

90

~»-Bf;ash Huni class frigate .tA COMBA TTENTE (ex-HM.S HALDON).

fJC-B'fitish River class frigate LA SURPRISE (ex-HMS TORRIDGE).

91

CSKte2'6"7)'1iewdof Ri,'{er dass frigales CROIX ,DE. LORRAINE. (K258)1 L'ESCARMOUCHE

an TONKINOIS (K25l1). ""

Ex-BrWsh Flower class corvette MIMOSA (e)(·HMS MIMOSA).

[ECA

92

Radius in Nautical Miles: 1,700/12 knots, 5,600/16.5 knot

A.rmament: 2-L02mm (J x 2), 11-20mm AA, 4 nCT. 2 racks

(depth charges: 150)

Complement: 115 (Officers, 10; Men, 105)

Programme

WW.2

laid cO in-
!lome builders down launched pleted
L'AVENTURE Wm. Simons 1/ 2/42 30/1.1./43 21/1/44
(ex HMS BRAID) Co. Ltd.
CROIX DE LORRAINE Henry Robb 15/7/42 8/3/43 3017/43
(ex HMS STRULE, ex Ltd.
GLENARM)
LA DECOUVERTE Henry Robb 17/11/42 18/6/43 3111/43
(ex HMS WINDRUSH) Ltd.
L'ESCA.RMOUCHE Blyth. S. B. & 30jSJ42 1/6/43 3/3/44
(ex HMS FROME) D. D. Co. Ltd.
LA SURPRISE Blyth,S.B. & 17/10/42 16/8/43 6/4/44-
(ex HMS TORRIDGE) D: D. Co. Ltd.
TONKINOISl Smith's Dock 9/1/42 27/8/43 15/1/43
(ex HMS MAYOLA) Co. Ltd. Noles; These frigates were transferred to the French Navy in l'J44--45.

LA DECOUVlERTE-Allantic and Channel convoy escort. Took part in. the

ormandy landings.

L"AVENTURE-Cnannel convoy escort. TOOK part in the Normandy landings

then joined French Naval Task Force.

L'ESCARMOUCHE-Cbannel convoy escort. Took pan ill Nomurndy

landings,

LA SURPRISE-Channel convoy escort. Participated in Normandy landings.

She was damaged by a mine on June 20, 1944 and towed to Portsmouth. She

later joined the French Naval Task Force.

CROIX DE LORRAINE-Channel and erth Sea convoy escort.

1"oNKINO[S-Cb.alllnel Rod North Sea convoy escort.

I itelllJm"d tater LA CONRANCE.

CORVETTES

Ex-British Flower class-12 ships

Dlsp{acemeflt:

Dimensions:

Mach lnery;

Radius ill Naullml Miles.' Armament .'

925 tons iandard; 1,290 tons full load 62.S0m x to.1Om x 5.50m

2 drum-type boilers, 2 lripk expansion, 1 shaft,

3,00() HP

Speed: 16 knots

Fuel oil: 245 tons

5,500/9 knots, 2,900/15 knots

l-102rnm, 2-57rnm. l--40mm AA. 2-20mm AA, DCT and racks (72 depth charges)

78 (Officers, S; Men, 71)

laid dow«

Compiemel1t:

Pro-

gramme

builder

Smith Docks Smith Docks

comImmclied pIe-ted

2] 13/40 1940

21/6/40 1940

name

LA MALOUfNE LA. DIEPPOISE

93

LA PAIMPOLArSE Smlth Docks 4/7/40 194{)
LA BASTIAISE Smith Docks 8/4/40 1940
MIMOSA Smith Docks
(ex-HMS MIMOSA)
Al.YSSE Geo. Brown 3/3/41 1941
(,ex-HMS ALYSSUM) 31/3/41
ACONIT Ailsaship J941
(ex-HMS ACONfT) Building
ROSELYS John Lewis 28/5/41 194[
(ex-HMS SUNDEW) 25/6/41
RENONCOLE (ex- W. Simons 1941
HMS RANUNCULUS) Co.
LOBELIA Alexander J 5/7'/40 14/2/41 1941
(ex-HMS LOBELIA) Hall
Cdit. DETROY AT H a 11 Runel 9/614] 1941
(ex-HMS OORIANDER)
Cdt. DROGO (ex- Harland & 11/4)41 1941
HMS CHR YSAN- Wolff
THEMUM) Notes.' After the Jail of France, LA DIEPPO]SE, LA MALOUTNE and LA PAJMPOLAISE which were being completed for the French Navy, were incorporated in the Royal Navy and renamed HM ships FLEUR DE LYS, MAlOUINE and NASTU'RTIUM respectively.

LA BASTIA1SE was. sunk by a mine during her rrials on June 22, 1940.

The other nine corvettes were transferred 10 the FNFL in 1941--42. They carried out many dangerous convoy escort trips, mainly m [he North and South Atlantic.

While participating in one or the e escort sorties ACONIT engaged two enemy submarines (U.432 and U.444) in March 1943. and sank both of tbem-by ramming.

ALYSSE was torpedoed by the U.654 on February 8, 1942. while all. Atlantic convoy duty, she sank two days later,

MIMOSA was torpedoed and sunk iby (he U.124 on June 9, 1942, also while on Atlantic escort duty.

LOBELIA sank the U.609 00 February 7, J943 after a three-day chase, wbile

she was escorting Convoy S.118 with British ships. -

RDSELYS attacked and rammed a German U-boat during One of her escort onies between the United Kingdom and the USSR.

94

DESTROYER ESCORT

Ex-US Destroyer Escorts-6 ships

I 300 tons tandard; 1,650 tons fu LI load 93m (oa) X 11.17m X 3.25m

Diesel Electric, 2 shafts, 6,000 H P Speed: J9 knots

Gas oil: 300 toas

_D.adiu[I in Nautical Miles; 11,5_00.·/11 knots, 5,5(0) /12~Ol' AA 12-20mm AA

"- 3-760101 AA (1 '< 3 , .. rnm, •

Armnme17t.' 4 DCT, 2 racks (126 depth charges)

Peace: 150 (Officers, 10; Men. l~) War: 185 (Officers, 10: Men, 17.)

Di 'Placement':

DiRII.Ulsj.ons:

Machinery:

P'ro-

completed 2/1/44

laid dow"

launched 28/11/43

u 111/43

2/1144 2/1/44

"lal~, ~ builder

°ranWI€ " ,,~

" ALGERIE Dravo

(ex-DE. 107) Corporation

SENEGALAIS Dravo

(ex·DE.l06) Corporation

SOMALI Dravo

2 (ex-DE.lll) Corporation

WW. D

HOVA ravo

(ex-DE. 11 0) Corporatlon

MAROCAIN Dravo

(ex~DE.I09) Corporation

TUNISIEN Dra 0

(ex-DE. 108) Corporation

NOles: These ships were .acquir~d iin519]~ (while in the Mediterranean) by an

SENEGALAIS was dh1tf on l~Y ci~ru1 slJbmarine U.37L Though badly

acoustic mine lau.nche .. rom. ,ern PRIDE and CAMPBELL and HMS

damaged she ass~stc~ the US s ps. .

BLAKENEY W IHf!k her attacker'b Pence iand:ing and later 'in operations

The five other ships took part In".C rov .

along the Italian coast.. . . orated in the French 3v31. Task Force and

SOMALI and HOV A w,ere incorp .. .

shelled German shipping 111 the Atlantic.

13/2144

2211144 1/1/44

2/1/44 2/1/44

l7/12j43

1/1144

FIRST CLASS SLOOPS (Rated as Al'i os Coloniaux) Bougainville class

Displaceme'it:

Dimensio,/u: ]I,{ (JciJ ilwry ;

1 969 tons standard; 2, I S6 tons normal

1b3.70m~ (oa) X L2.70m .:. 4.50rn .. ? ~

2 Sulzer or Burmeister Diesels, 3.200 HP, _ screws Speed: 15.5 knots

Fuel oil: 60 tons

Gas, oil: 220 ions

9,000/] 0. knots

light ag-ain t bullets

95

Radius in Nautical Mtles:

Protection:

First class sloop DUMONT .D'URVlLLE as she was.in 1942.

First cla'ss sloop DUMONT .D'URVILL£ as she was at the end of lhe war.

96

[MB

l

ArmClJ11lmf:

Complemelll :

Pro-

,ramme name

1 BO UGAfNVILlE

1927 DUMONT

D"URVlLLE SAVORGNAN DE

1928 BRAZZA

D'ENTRE CASTBAUX RJGAULT DE

GENOUILLY AMlRAL CHARNER

O'IBER VILLE VliLLE D'YS:

BEAUTEMPS· lBEAUP.RE LAPERQUSE

1930

1937

1938

3-D8mm (] X 3)1, 4---37mm AA. 6 rnachlne-guns, stowage for 50 mines

Gourdon-Leseurre 832 Boat plane

135' (Officers. 14; Men. 121)

laid dow!! 1927 1927

bllilde,.

F. Ch. Glronde F. Ch .. Gjrnnde

comlau1lched pie led

2114/31 1932

21/3/31 1932

eM. Sud Ouest 18/6/37 1932
eM. Sud Quest 22/6/.31 1933
A. Ch. de Provence 18/9/32 1933
F. Ch. Gironde 7{I0/32
eM. Sud Ouest 2319134
A ell. de Provence 2216/39
A. Ch. de Provence
F. en. Gironde Noles: BOUGAINVILlE was disabled off Libreville on November 9, 1940" by her sister ship SA VORGNAN DE BRAZZA. manned by tbe FNFL.

RIGAULT DE GENOUILLY was torpedoed by the British submarine KMS PANDORA otT Algiers on July 4, 1940.

SAVORG AN DE 13RAZZA was captured by the British on July 3,1940.and later, manned by the FNFL, she took part in the abortive attempt to take Dekar, Sbe sunk: her sister ship BOUGMNVJLlE off Libreville.

D'ENTRECASTEAUX, which had captured the Italian ship FORTUNATA on June 14, 1940 was later severely damaged while defending the Naval base of Diego-Suarez against the British in May 1942. She Was later refloated but condemned ror scrap on October 19,1948.

AMIRAL CHARNER and DUMONT D'URVILLE took part in the brilliant Koh-Chang campaign. The former was scuttled in. the Mytho river, Inde-China on March 10, 1945.

D'IBERVILLE was scuttled at Toulon on November 27, 1942. BEAUTEMPS~BEAUPRE had not been completed and was scuttled in tile Gironde river on June 24, ]940, to prevent her falling into enemy hands.

LA GRANDIERE was ill North Africa at the time of the Allied Iandinss, LAPEROUSE was cancelled.

I 1924 mode),

a She Ii'a.&' 7INI11I1H!t/ U GRANI)/ERE(J!~'4m .

1)

• llJ.arIi..... . ,.~ .. " ~t}Iioi-..-k:

, .... :;ilr:or..

OLD FIRST CLASS SLOOPS (Rated as Avisos de ler Classe Ville D YS-c 1 ship

Displocemen(," DI'",ensions:

Machinery:

Radius ;11 Nautical Miles:

Armament.' Complement :

Pro-

gramme name

WWJ VILLE D'YS

(ex ANDROMJ5DE)

1.,121 tons staudard 835m (oa) x 12m x .5m.

1 set 4-r;ylinder triple expansion, 2,500 HP Speed: 17 knots

Coal: 270 IOns.

2,400/10 knots

3-100mm (l X 3), 2-75mllil. 2-47mm 103 (Officers, 6: Men, 97)

laid

builder down

Swan Hunter and

W. Richardson

camlallflc/!ed pleled

6/]7 19'17

Notes: She was put out of commission in overnber 1940 at Fori de France.

Marne class- 3 ships

Displacement:

Dimensions:

Machinery:

Radius ill NUII#c:ai Miles:

Armament:

Compiemem:

Programme name

{SO .. MME

WWl YSER

MARNE

576 tons (MARNE: 601 tons) 7,8m X a.90m X 3.40m

1 Du Temple boilers 2 geared Turbines, 4,000 HP, 2 screws

Speed: 20 knots Fuel oil: 135 teas 4,000/10 knots

JOOmm (I x 4), 2--65mm

107 (Officers. 4; Men, 1(3)

bllildel" laid down

Brest DY

.Rochefort DY

Lorient DY

launched 3/17 J/17 11/17

complewd 1917

1917

1917

Notes: YSER was scuttled at Tculon 011 November 27, 1942, she was refloated and lowed, in a. very bad state, to La Ciotat on June 12, 1943.

MARNE took part in the Koh-Chang campaign and was scuttled in the Cantbo river. Indo-China on March 10. 1945.

SOMME look part ill ASW patrols in the Bay of Biscay during the winter of 1939-40, but was disarmed at Port Liautey on October 31, 1940.

Arras class--ll ships ..

Displacemellt:

Dimell.'1irUls:

Machinery.'

644· tons standard

12m x 8.40m x 3.10m

2 Normand or Dn Temple small lube boilers. 2 Parsons geared Turbines. 5,000 HP, 2 screws

Speed; 19 knots

Fuel oil: 200 tons

98

Radills;n Nautical Miles:

Armw1UmI:

CC1l'tW1eJ'l'lem:

Progl·oJhme

3,000/11 knots

2-13Smm (1 x 2),7-75mm J 03 (Officers, 4; Men, 99)

Completed

laid down

launched 7118 7/18 3/19 7/l9 9/19 3/19 6}i9 8/19 8/[9 5/19

19L9

buildt?r Brest DY Brest DY LorientDY

Ch. de Bretagne Cb. de Bretagne Ch. de Loire Penhoet Penhoet Penhoet

F. Ch. de la Mediterranee

F. Ch, de la Mediterranee

Notes: ARRAS was at Dunkirk. She was seized by the British ill July L94fJ and later transferred to the FNFL. with whom she was used as a barracks.

BELFORT was at Dunkirk. She was captured by the British at Plymouth and

[Owed to Cherbourg after the war on September 27, 1945.

LASSlG Y was put 00[ of commission on October 10, ~940_ LES EPARGES was scuttled at Toulon on November 27. 1942 .

T AHURE took part in the Koh-Chang campaign and was sunk off the coast of Indo-China by the US submarine FLASHER on April 29, 1944.

COUey was seized by the British in July 1940 and used as a training' ship. EPINAL took part in the operations off Dunkirk. She was captured by the British and returned to France in 1945 ..

VAUQUOIS was sunk by a magnetic mine off Brest On June 18., 1940. AMJENS was equipped with a twin telecornrnanded, semi-automatic 37'mm AA turret during the winter of 1940_ She was at Dunkirk. and later seized by the 8ritish at Portsmouth in July 1940. The ship was returned to france in 1945.

flame

ARRAS ¥PRES BELFORT LASSIG NY LES EPARGES TAHURE COUCY EPfNAL VAUQUOJS AMIENS

CALAIS

H/19

WW.1

AileUe-l ship

Displacemem:

Dimensions:

MachilJery.'

492 tons

74m x 8.30m x 3m

2 Du Temple boilers, 2 geared Turbines 5,000 HP, 2 screws

Speed: 20 knots Fuel oil: 140 tons

4,000/10 knots, 1,400/15 knots

4--100mm en x 4), 1~76mm AA. 2 machine-guns 107

Radlus ill Nauttca! Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

Prognllllme name bllildel' laid down luwrdied c"lJlnpleted

WW.L AILETIE Brest DY 3tHI 1918

NOles: Before the war this ship was <::mployed as a "Fishery Protection vessel. Dmmg Ute early months of the war sbe look pan in ASW patrols in the Bay of "Biscay. but she was later disarmed in Morocco.

99

~cre class---2 s~ps

Dis1J/acemlmt:

Dimensiofls:

Machinery:

Radius itl Ntllllical.Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

Programme n.ame

WW.l {ANCRE

SUIPPE

('om-
lilllllched pteted
27/7/38 ]939
26/]/39 9/39
25/2/39 12/39
L6/l/39 8/39
16/2/39 9/39
19/4/39 2/40
25/1/40 4/40
2/5/3'9 4{40
17/8/39 5(40
llJU/39 1940
22/8/39 3/40
9'/39 1940
30/11/39 ]'940 604 Ion

,BOrn (oa) X 8.9Sm x 3m

.2. Du Temple boilers, 2 geared urbines, 2 shafts, .5,000 HI?

Speed: 20 knots

Fuel oil: 140 IOns

4,OOOjl0 knots

4-100mm (l x 4), 1~75'll1m AA, 2 machine-guns 107 (Officers, 4; Men, 99)

builder laid down Iaunched completed

Lorient DY 1918

4/Jl8 1918

Notes: SUIPP12 was sunk by bombs at Falmouth on April 4, 1'942. She was later salvaged but phased. out of service.

SECOND CLASS SLOOPS (Rated as A visos dragueur de mines) Elan dass-15 ships

Displacement: 630 tons standard; 740 tons full load

Dimensions: 78m (oa) x 8.48rn X 1.38m

Machinery: 2 Sulzer Diesels, 4,.000 HF, 2 screws Speed: 20 knots

Gas oil: 100 tons

Radius in Nautl:cal Miles: 10,000/9 knots. 9,000/14 knots

Armament: 1 o:r 2-100mm AN, 8-73.2mm AA (4 x 1.2 x 2)

Complemeflt..·

Pro- laid

gram.me name builder d.owl'l

1934 ELAN Lorient DY 8/36

CDT DORY A. Ch. de France Jtl/36

1936 CDT DELAGE A. cu. de France ]1/36

CDT DUDGe Dubigeon 12/36

CDT RIV1ERE A. ell. de Provence ]1/36

LA CAPRJCIEU E Dubigeon ]/38

LA MOQUEUSE Lorient DY '9/38

CDT DOMINIE Dubigeon 2/38

(ex LA RIE USE)

[937 L'IMPETUEUSE A. Ch. de France 4/3i!

LA CURfEUSE Lcriem. DY 8/38

LA BATAJLLEUSE A. Ch. de Provence 12/37 LA BOUDIEUSE A. Ch. de France 3/38 LA GRACfEUSE A. Ch. de Provence 2/3B

Noles: These ships were fitted our as minesweepers. 1 1925 r1Iod~/.

101

ELAN captured the German cargo ship R.OSTOCK on February 10, ]940. She took part in the short Syrian campaign and was later interned in Turkey until December 23, L944.

COT BORY took pad in tile destrueuon or the B ta I ian submarine PROY ANA on June 16" 1940 arid later in the Provence landings.

CDT DELAGE was at Dunkirk and then went to North Africa just as the Allied Invasion began. She ruse took part in the Provence l:anmngs.

CDl' DUBOC and CDT DOMINE were seized by the British in July 1940 and later traasferred to the FNFL. They took part in the unsuccessful. attempr to take Dakar in September 1941) and continued operati onal throughout hostilities, CDT RIVIERE was at Dunkirk and was captured by the Germans at Bizerte OIl December 8, 1942. She was taken out of commission and later towed 10 Leghorn where she was sunk by aircraft fire on May 28" J943.

LA CAPRICIEUSE was captured by the Britlsb in Portsmouth on July 3" 1940. LA MOQUEUSE was also taken by th.e British and was later manned by the FNFL.

L'IMPETUEUSE was scuttled at Toulon on November 27, 1942. She was refloated and renamed FR.54 Iby the Italians, On September 4. L9'43 she was captured by the Germans in Toulon and towed to Marseilles where she was again

scuttled, .

LA CURIEUSE rammed and SUllie the Italian submarine PROVANA on June 16, ] 940. She was scuttled at Toulon and refloated by the Italians as FR.55 in April 1943 .. She was later captured by the Germans and manned. as the escort ship SG.25. Finally she was scuuledar Toulon in. J 944.

LA BATAll.LEUS]E was seized at Bizerte on December ,8, 1942 and later Lowed to Naples. Renamed FR.57 by the Italians she was scuttled at La Spezzia on September 9, 194J. Later she was salvaged by the Germans and towed! LO Genoa where she: was scuttled 0011 April 25, 1945.

LA BOUDEUSE took part in Lite opera lions off Dunkirk; he was also in North Africa during the Allied invasion and later participated in the Corsica and south of France landings.

LA GRACfEUSE took part in operations in North Africa and later in ~lile Provence landings.

The construction of another ship of this class named LA TROMPEUSE was eancetled.

Chamois c1ass-9 ships,

Displacemerrl.' 647 tons standard: 750 tons full load

Dimensions: 78m X 8.48m X 2.88m

Machtnery: 2 Sulzer Diesels, 4,000 HP, 2 scr-ews

Speed: 20 knots Gas oil: 100 tons

10000/9 knots, 4,000/14 knots

lor 2-JOOmm AN, 8-13.2mm AA (4 x J, 2

Radius ill Nautical Miles.Armament .-

Complement :

Pro-

laid dow" [ ]/36 6/37 51)? 4/38 4/38

completed 1939 9/39 10/39 2/40 3,/40

laullched 2914/38 11/6/39 17/6/39 11/6/39 17/6/39

gramme name

1935 {g~~Ol&L

GAZELLE ANNA MITE

1'934 LA SURPRISE

(ex BAMBARA) I J9lS /lIOf/r/.

builder

llariO.! DY

102

2)

MATELOT 8/39 10/4/42
LEBLANC
RAGEOT DE LA A. en. de 8/39 2{9{42
]938 TOUCHE Provence
AMIRAL SENES I Port de Roue 8/39 1942
ENSEIGNE 8/39 25/5/42
:BALLANDE Noles: These, ships were fitted out as minesweepers,

L.A SURPR[SE was SUlIk off Oran Oil November 8, 1942 by EMS :BRIL· LIANT. when the Allies invaded. North Africa.

CHlEVREUTL was captured by the British in July 1940 and later transferred to the FNFL.

CHAMOIS was scuttled at Toulon on ovember 27, 1942 and later refloated by tae Germans who commissioned her as an escort ship under the pendant number S'O .. .21. She was sunk by a bomb 011 November 23. [943; reticated yet again and was finally sunk by US destroyers on August 15, 1944.

MATELOT LEBLANC was finished building by tile Germans; was launched on July 10. 1942 and completed in April 1944. She was sunk, probably by a bomb, south of Capri 0111 August 24, 1944. She had been renamed SG .. 14.

RAGEOT DE LA TOUCHE was also finished building by the enemy.

Renamed SG.15 she was sunk oil' Genoa by HMS UNIVER:SAL.

AMIRAL SENES was towed in an incomplete state from Port de Bouc to Marseilles by the Germansand scuttled there as SC. 16 on August 21, 1944.

ENSEIGNE BALLANDE was launched by the Germans, in May 1944 when [bey had completed her construction, but she was scuttled at Port de Boue on A ugnst 20, 1944 as SO. 17.

Sec,and clsss sloop ANNAMITE.

[JLC Coli.

103

OLD, SECOND CLASS SLOOPS (Rated as Avisos de deuxieme classe) Conquer ante-l sbip Dlsplaceme/H :

Dinumsiolls; Mar:hill€r}' .'

374 LOllS standard

66.40m (oa) x 7.90m x 2..80m

2 Sulzer Diesels, 1,500 HP, 2 screws Speed: 1 i knots

Radius in Namic.al Miles;

Armament: 2-100mm (1 x 2)

Complement: 54

Programme name builder

WW.l CONQUERANTE Brest DY

laid down /mlllciled 1911

camplered 1918

Notes: CONQUERANTE was seized! by the British at Falmouth in July 1940. and was 'sunk. by bombs in this port on April 14, 1941.

Diligente class-3 ships

Dispiacemellf :

Dimensions.' Machinery;

315 tonsstandard (except LUR.ONNE: 266 tons) 66.40m x 7m x 2.80m

2 Sulzer Diesels" 900 lIP, 2 screws (LURONNE had 2 Fiat Diesels. 650 HP)

Speed: 141cnots,

'Radiu« ill auttcai Miles:

Armament: 2-100mm

Complement: 54

Pl'ogramme name Builder

{DILlGE TE }

WW.l ENGAGEANTE _ Brest DY

LA LURONNE

Notes: DILIGENTE took part in the Dunkirk operarions and was takee by the British on July ::l, )940.

laid dOll/ll launched

completed

1917

Old second class sloop ENGAGEAN'TE.

[JLC Coli.

104

LA L RONNE was taken out of commission in Morocco and scrapped in pril 1941.

ENGAGEANTE was in North AFrica when the Allies invaded. She later escorted coastal convoys and was taken OUl of commission at Algiers in 1944.

GranU c1ass~2 ships

Displacement: 354 tons standard

JJime~ioll.s: S7.60m ;- 7.91Jm y 2:.30m

Machinery: Triale expansion, 550 HP, 2 screws Speed: 12.5 knots

Coal: SO tons

Radilts ill Nautical Miles.'

Armament: 1-65mm. Fitted as minesweepers

Compleme.nt: 63 (Officers, 3; Men, 60)

Programme name builder laid down launched eompieted

WW.1 {GRANIT 1918 [919

MEULIERE 1.918

Notes: MEULIERE was beached and lost at Alaceio on May 29, L941.

GRANIT was scuttled at Toulon on ovember 27, 1942. She was refloated on July 17, 1943 and rowed to Genoa. Commissioned as German SG 2[; fate unkncwn.

Dobounlieu dass-2 Ships.

Displa.cement _" Dimensions,' Mac" htery:

433 lons

65m x 8.2m x HOm

2 DIJ Temple-Guyot boilers, 2 Breguet geared Turbines. 2 - hafts, 2,.000. HP

Speed: 16.7 knots

Fuel oil: 143 ions

1,985/16 knots

1-138rnrn, J-WOmm

74 (Officers. 4; Men, 70)

Radius ill Nauneal Miles:

Armament:

Camplemimt:

Pro-

gr:uftllne name buikie« laid down launched completed

WW.1 {DUBOURDIEU Lorient DY 4/18 1918

. ENSHGNE HENRY Lorient DY H/18 19(8

Notes: ENSJEIGNE HENRY was scuttled at Lorient on June 18,1940.

DUBOURDIEU was out of commission in Casablanca where she was Slink on. November 8" 1942.

Ardent class--4 ships

Displcwemellf: 266 tons standard (except ETOURDI: 310 tons)

Dimerrriolls.' 60.2001 (oa) x 7.2m x 2.90m

Machill-eI"Y; Normand or Du Temple. boilers, reciprocating, 1;.500 HP

Speed: 14 knots

Coal: 85 tons

2,OOOjLO knots 2-100mm (I x 2) 60

Radius in NOli! ical Miles:

Armamesu :

Complement,'

105

Pro-

gramme name builder I(Hd down

{ETOURDT Lorient DY

WW.l DEDAIGNE SE F. eh. Gironde TAPAGEUSE } A. en, de

AUDACfEUSE Provence

launched 19 6 1916 1916 19]7

completed 1917

1917

1917

1918

Note»: ETOUR_DI was scuttled at Brest on June IS, D 940.

DEDAIGNEUSE was scuttled at Toulon; refloated by the Italians and renamed, FR.56. She W!l:S seized by the Germans on September 9, 1943 but her final fate is unknown,

PATROL BOATS Ex-British traw]ers-8 ships

Displacement ,. Dimellsions:

Machinery:

A = 738 tons, B = 590 tons

A = 5450[11 .. 8.40m x Srn B = SOm x 8m '< jm I drum boiler. 1 reciprocating. shaft. 8UOHP (A), 750 HP (B)

Speed: 10 knots

RadilU ill Nauttcal Miles:

Armamem: l-I02mm, depth charges

Complemeiu :

Name

(A) P.B6 L'AlACIEN (ex·MlLDEN HALL) P.BS LA TOULQ NAISE (ex-H.t\MPSHIRE) r.us LA SETOISE (eN-ORI NTAl STAR)

(B) P.132 LA CANCALAISE (ex-SAINT AMANDUS) P.B3 LA HAVRAlSE (ex-SAINT ATTALUS)

P.B4 LA LORL NTAISE ex-SAINT ANDRONTCU P.B5 LA NANT AJSE (ex-SAINT ARCADIUS) P.B7 LA BONOISE (ex·CA ADIAN PRINCE)

Notes: These trawlers, fitted with asdic, were transferred from the Royal avy in 1940.

106

LA CANCALATS struck a mine and sank in the Channel on May 1, 1940. LA LORfENTAlSE was scuttled at Boulogne on May 21, 1940.

LA HAVRAlSE was scuttled at Toulon on NOII'~mbe~ 27, 1942. She was refloated and manne-d by the Germans under the designation 01.6078 but was sunk, possibly by the submarine CASAB~CA onJune 9,1944. ..

LA NANTAISE took part in the Dunkirk operations. She was seized by the Royal Navy ·on July 3, J 9401 and later sUJOk, wbile under [he British flag, after a

collision Olll July 8, 1945. ... .

LA. :BONQ]SE, LA SETOISE, LA TOULONNAISE and L'AJACCIE~ were scuttled at Oran on November 9, 1942. The two latter wert'. refloated 10 1'945 and resumed their escort duties until the war ended.

Ex-US trawlers-6 ships

Displacemem: 738 tons. GRT 409 tons

Dimensions: 42.S0m X 7.50m x 4.30m

Machinery: 1 drum boiler, 1 reciprocating, 1 shaft, 550 HP Speed: 9 knots

Radius if! Nautical Miles:

Armamelll: 2-100mm, depth charges

Complement:

Name

P.54 L'AD...GEROIS.E (ex-COOn P.56 L'ORANAISE (ex·BRANOn P.S.7 LA QillMFER.OISE

P.SS LA SABLAli.SE (ex-LOON) P.59 LA SER ANAISE

P.55 LA CHERBOURGEOISE

Notes: LA QUIMPEROlSE was captured by the enemy in June 1940 at Lorient. Her final rate is not known.

l.A CHERBQURGEOlSE was cuttled off Verdon on June 23, 1940. L'ORANAISE was seized by the British on July 3, ] 940 and fitted as B. boom defence vessel,

Ex-US Navy submarine chasers of the PC typ _ 32 ships

Displacemellt: 325100 slandard;_430 LOIl~ Iull load

Dimensions: 52.95m oa) x 7.IJ:>m x 3.25m

J"VIachim!ry: 2 General Motors Diesels, 2 shafts, 3,600 HP

. Speed: 19 knots Ga oil: 62 tons

RadillS in Nautica! Miles: 6,000/10 knots, 2,300/18 knots

Armament: 1-76mm, I Omm AA, 5-20mm AA, 2 DCT, 2 racks (depth charges: 24)

Compleme1l.l: 63 (Officers. 4; Men. 59)

Pro-

gramme name

{SAB'RE (ex-PC. 1248 ww.u C]METERRE (ex-PC. 1250) PIQUE (ex-P .1249)

{aid dow/!

launched HI/I/44 9j3/44

9/2/44

Completed 1944 1944

1944

buttder

Nashville Bridge ashville Bridge

Nashville Bridge 107

(DAGUE (ex-PC.1561) leathern D. Smith 15'/4/44 1944 "0
COllTELAS Leathem D. Smith 4/2/44 1944 u
~ex-PC.15(0) U
-'
JAVELOT Leathem D. Smith 8/6/44 1944 -:.
~
(ex- Pc. 1 5(2)
EVEELLlt (ex=PC.471) Defoe 9/6/44 1944
L'f\RDENT Defee 7/7144 1944
(llx-PCA73i
L'ENJOU Defoe 15/7/44 R944
(elt-PC.482)
L'INDISCRET Defoe ]/6/44 1944
(ex-Pc.:.474)
LE RE-SQLU Defoe 23/6/44 1944
(ex·PC.475)
LE RUSE (ex-PC.472) Defoe 30/6/44 .ll944
L'EFFRONTE Defoe 16/6/44 1944
(ex-PC.4BO) 21/7/44 1944
LE VOLONT AIRE Defoe 8/6/44 1944
(ex-PC.549)
LE VIGILANT Leathem D. Smith 15/6/44 1944
(ex-PC.S50)
.t' A TTENTlF Jeffersonville 30/,6/44 1944
(ex-PC.S51)
BUSSARD Sullivan 26}1O/44 1944
fex-PC.ll35)
LEGIONNAIRE Leathem D. Smith 601/44 1944
WW.11 (ex-PC. 1226)
DRAGO (ex-PC.557) Luders Marine 25/10/44 1944
GOUMIER Defoe 17/10[44 1944
(ex-Pc. 545)
CARAB[N[ER Luders Marine 19/10[44 1944
(ex-PC.625)
FANTASSIN NashyiUe Bridge 30/10/44 1944
(ex-PC.621)
GRENADlER Jeffersonville 16/10/44 1944
(ex-PC. 625)
nRAlLLEUR Defoe 30/6/44 ]944
(ex-PC.S42)
VOLTIGEUR Jefferscnville 6/10/44 1944
(ex-Pe.S59) Leathem D. Smith
LANCIER 18/11/44 1944
{ex-PC 1224
FRA CTIREUR Defoe 1/6/44 1944
(ex-PC.546) Leathem O. Smith
MAMELUCK L9jIO{44 ]944
{ex-PC-551 ) Io.i
IANSQUENET Jeffersonville II/1U44- 1944 :J
iD
(ex-PC.626) '«
CAVAliER Jefferson ville 28/10/44 1944 Q
(ex~PC.627) -
SPAID (ex-PC.S91) Leathem D. Smith 1/10/441 1944 .8
-
Notes: These little ships, Quilt from 1942-44, were' transferred to the French Navy 1:1
~
in [944. All were filled out as minesweepers. IJ..
108 109 L'ENJOUE was torpedoed and sunk by the German submanne U.B70 On January 9, 194.5.

L'ARDENT was lost after a collision offCasablanca on Jarurary J 1,1945. SABRE sunk the Italian MAS.531 OiU December II, 1'9414. Thls PC and her sister ships PlQUE, ClMETERRE, COUTELAS. DAGUE, JA VELOT and VOL TIGEUR took part in the south or France landings and later operated with the Flank Force along the Italian and French rivieras,

SUBCHASERS

C.2S class (ex-WWl US type)-8 ships

Displacement: 60 tons standard

Dlmensians: 33.50rn x 4.7{lrn x 2.30m

Madlblery:

Radius iii Naurital.Mile.s.'

AI'ITlru1U!m: 1-15mm

Complement:

Programme name builder la;ddr.Hwl fall1lched completed

C.15

C. 5 L Walter E. A brams

C56

WW.ll C.58

C.74 C.S,1

C95 Mal.h:is Yacht

C.98

Notes; C.25 was scuttled at Toulon on November 27, 1942.

CSt was scrapped on November 10, 1939. C56 was scrapped on December 29, 1939. C.58 was scrapped on October to. 1939.

e.Sl was at Bizerte. where she was seized by the Germans on December 8, 1942 and was scuttled: in this port om May 6, 1943.

C.95 was scrapped no. October 10, 15139.

C.9S was at Dunkirk and wasthen seized by the British in July 1940,

C.I06 rC1ass-l ships

Displacemelli :. Dimensions:

Machinery;

128 tons standard

43.30m (oa) X 5.2Sm x 2.S0m

2 Normand boilers, recipreearing, I shaft, J,300 HP Speed: 16.5 knots

Radius ill Nautical Miles:

Armament: 1-75mm

Complement .:

Progmmme .name WW . .1 {C.l06 C.W7

builder Calderwood Annapclis Yaehr

laid down. launched completed 1920

1920

Notes: C.lll and c.n2 were rated as river gunboats and renamed COT BOURDAlS and. AVALANCHE.

Clm was sunk after a coli is ion on April 12, 1940.

(:;.106 was at Dunkirkand later seized by the British on July 3. 1940.

110

CR.I type-4 smps

Di.splacemelit:

Dimeusions:

Machinery:

148 tOI1lS standard

48.05m (oa) x 5.40m x L&Om

2 MAN or Sulzer Diesels .• .2 shafts, 2,000 HP Speed: 20 knots

Radlus in Nuufical Miles:

Armamem; 1-75mm, 2 machine-guns

Cumplement: 33 Officers and Men

Progmmme flame builder laid cWWrI lauflcJied compiefrd

- CH.1 A. Ch. de Bretagne 1932 1933 19B

CH.2 A. en. de Bretagne 1932 1933 1933

CH..3 A. eh. de Bretagne 1932 ] 933 1933

CHA A .. ell. de Bretagne ]933 1934 1934

Notes.' CR.1 was scuttled at Toulon 01'1 November 27, 1942.. She was refloated

anly to be cur in half by a bomb on August 6,. 1943. _ .

CH.4 was also scuttled at Toulon and was refloared on January 24, 1943. As German VI 6077 she was sunk by a bomb 01'1 July 5, 1944.

Subchaser eM3.

[JLC: Coli.

CH.5 type---12 ships

DiSpwcemen!':

DinUJUs.ions:

Mac:Jlil1ery:

Radius ill Nautical Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

107 tons standard; 135 tons full load. 37.Wm (oa) x 5.S0m >< 7.95rn

2 MAN Diesels, 2 shafts, 1,100 HP Speed: 16 knots

1,200;8 knots. 680/13.6 knots

J-7Smm, 1---40mrn, 2-20mrn AA. depth charges

111

Pro-

Ilr:amme !l(JIIIl!

CH.S (CARENTAN) CH.6

CH.7

CH.8 (RENNES) CH.9

CH.IO (BAYONNE) CH..U (BOUlOGNE) CH.12 (BENODET) CH.n (CALAIS) CH.14

CH.l4

CH..15 PAIMT'OL CH.16

builder

laid down

campiefed

A. 01. de France 1938

1939

1940

F. Ch. de la 1938

Mediterranee

1939

19400

Worms 1938

1939

1940

816/40

N~t~s: .Cl-L5 (CARENTAN) was operational at Dunkirk and seized by the BntlSn III July :J!940. She was later transferred to the FNFL but was lost in rough weather on December 21, 1943 between Poole and Weymouth.

CH.~ and CH.7 were sunk in the Channel in October ]940, while sailing under the Polish flag.

eR.a (RENNES) was sunk by bombs in the Channel on July 13 1942 while

manned by the FNFL. . ,

CR.9' was bombed and so badly damaged off Dunkirk that she was forced to beach on May 21. 1940.

CH.lO (BA YO~, CR.t 1 (BOULOGNE), CH.12 (BENODET) were eaprured ~Y the British in July 1940 and late. transferred to the FNFL. They took part m raids on Brunerval Oil February 28. 1942.

CH.B (CALAIS) was manned by the FNFL.

CH.15 (pA1MPO:t) was completing in Le Trait in June J940; she was towed to Cherbourg and later to Great Britain where she was seized on July 3, 1940. She was later manned by the FNFL.

CfI.16 was launched just before the Germans arrived at Le Trait. She was towed to Cherbourg and then to Brest; finally she was scuttled in the Groix Road on J une J 8, 1940.

CH.41 class-8 ships

Displacelllen f:

DimellSfotis:

Machinery:

RadiliS in Nal/fleal Miles:

A r mlll1l(i'11I :

]26 tons standard; 160 Ions full load 37m

1. M.4N Diesels, 2,shafes, 1,100 HP Speed: 16 knots

Uoo/13 knots, 500/[5 knots

1-15mm. 1--40mrn AA, 2-20mm AA, Depth charges: 24

29 (Officer 1; Men, 28)

112

Complement:

name

AUDIER- E (ex-<CH.41) LARMOR (ex-CH.42) LAVANDQU (ex-CH.43) CH.44

CHAS

CHA6

CH.47

CH,48

Noles: These little ships were specially designed for use in coniunciion with

eaplanes. .

CHAI (AUDJER· E), CH.41 ( ARMOR) and eRA) were seized by the

British in July 1940. Later they were manned by the FL and participated in

the abortive but glorious landing at Dieppe on August 19, 1942. .

Construction OF CH.44, 45 and 46 was resumed by tbe enemy as RA.2, RA.3 and RA.4 respectively. The fate of RA.4 is unknown. CH.47 ami 48 were cancelled.

Ex-US SC type-50 ships

110 tons standard; 138 tons full load 33.70m. x 5.70m X 2m

2 General Motors Diesels, 2 shafts, 1,000 HP

Speed: 15 knots Gas oil: 15 tons

2000/10 knots. I,150j15 knots

1-40mm AA, 3-20mm AA, 2 DCT, 1 rack (depth charges: 18)

25 (Officerv l; Men, 24)

Programme

blil/del' laid down launched

Ch. de Nermandle 1/5/39

en. de orman die l8/9/]9

ell. de ormandie 23/3/40

10/6/40 1941 24/10/42

Completed

com~ pteted 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 i943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943

Disp/ClcemenI :

Dimensions:

Macilfrrer), :

Radius ill Newt ical Miles; Protection:

Armament:

Complement .Pro-

luid down Icnmcfled

name

CH.5 (;:x-SCl359) CH.6 (ex-Sen31) CH.51 (ex-SC.J336} CH.5Z (ex-SC.I 335) CR61 (ex-SC.1345) CH.62 (ex-SC.1344) CR71 (ex~SC.])37) CH.72 (ex-SC.1346) CH.81 (ex~SC.5J6) CH.82 (ex-SC.Sl7) CH.83 (ex~SC,519) CH.84 {ex-SC.S29) CH.8-5 (ex-SC.S07) CH.91 (ex-SC.649) CH.92 (ex-SC.691) CH..93 (ex-SC.6J.9} CH.94 (ex-SC.971) CH.95 (ex-SC.S08) CH.96 (ex.SC.497) CH.Wl ~ex-SC.S24)

builder Calderwood Rice Bros.

Rice Bros.

Rice Bros.

Rice Bros,

Rice Bros.

Rice Bros.

Rice Bros. Elizabeth City Elizabeth City Villeya.rd Mathis Yacht Mathis Yacht Delaware Bay Daytona Beach Elizabeth City Simms Bros. Marhls Yacht Westergard Malhi Yacht

gramme

ww.u

1113

CH.102 (l,:x-SC.525) Mathis Yacht CH.103 (ex-SC.532) Luders Marine CH.IM (exftSC.S33) Luders Marine CH.IO.5 (ell-SC.676) W. A. Robinson CH.I05 (ex-SC.690) Annapolis Yacht CHJ07 (ex-SC.693) Calderwood CH.UI (e,,-SC.S22) Annapolis Yacht CH.ll2 (ex-SC,S03) Rice Bros.

CH.I 13 (ex.SC.506) Luders Marine CH. L 14 (ex-SC.526l Mathis Yacht CH.115 (ex-SC.530) Westergard CH.1l6 (ex-SC.638) Elizabeth City GUll (ex-Se.SiS) Elizabeth City CH,] 22 (ex-SC.S34) Luders Marine CH .123 (ex-SC. I 029') Donovan CH.124 (ex-SC.77I) Seabrook: Yacht CH.125 (ex-SC.1043) Rice Bros. CH.126 (,ex-SC.1044) Rice Bros. CH.U1 (cx-'SC.692) Calderwood CH.132 (ex-SC.69l) Annapoll Yacht CRIll (ex-SC.695) Dayrona Beach CH.134 (ex~C.666) Wea.ver

CE. l3S (ex-SC.6S1) Westergard

CR. 136 (e::<:-SC.1030) Donovan

CH.]4[ (ex-SC.nO) Seabrook Yacht CH.142 (ex-SC.498) Westergard CH.143 (ex-SC.535) Luders Marine CH.144 (ex~SC655) Westergard CH.145 (ex~SC.97S) Simms Bros. CH.146 (ex-SC.979) Simms Bros.

WW.II

AUXILIARY PATROL BOATS

At thebeglnning of the war, numbers of small merchant ships and trawlers were requisitioned by the French avy and utilised as auxiliary patrol boats.

The largest were rated as QVi.W)s auxillaires, the others as pat~·OIIiUem's. After the Armistice, the greater part of these snips returned to their normal duties but some were captured and fitted Out by the Germans, Those which had taken refuge in British ports were seized by the Royal Navy until -lhe cessation of hostilities.

Ex-Mercbant ships

P.5 CAP CORSE

GRT: 2,444

Dimensions: 85.20m Y 11.53m x 5.75m Machinery: Reciprocating, 3,000 HP

Speed: 15 knots

Armament: 5-100mm. 3 machine-guns

P.2 CYRNOS

ORT: 2,405

DimensiQlls: 85,34m x 12.54m '- 5.75m Machinery: 2 Diesels. 3;500 HP

114

Speed: 16 knots

Armamet«: 5-100mm, 6 machine-guns ..

P.l MARJ'GOT

GRT: 4,048

Dimensions: 99.24m X 15.99m X 6m Machfnery: 1 geared. Turbine, 4.,000 HP

Speed: 16.7 knots

Armaml?lu: 4-100mrn, 2 macniDt·guns

P,i PASCAl. PAOLI

GRT: 33'78

Dimensions: 96m x 14_s.~·m X 5.20m Machinery: 2 geared Turbines, 5,300 HP

Speed: 17.75 knots

Armamem: 5-IOOmm,2 machine-guns

P.8 SAMPIERO CORSO

GRT: 3,823

Dimensions: lOO.50m x l4.63m X 5.40m MacMne'l'Y: 2 geared! Turbines, 5/000 HP

Speed; 17.75 knots , . .

Ammml?nf: S-lOOmm, 4-I3.2mrn AA, 2 machine-guns

P.] SIDl OBKA

GRT: 2,884 _

Dimensions: JOO.76m x 13.1311.1 5.60m

Machinery.' Reciprocaling, l,900 HP

Speed: 15.5 knots

Armamelll: 5-IOOmm, 6 machine~gllns

PA VILLE D'AJACClO

GRT: 2,443 _

Dimem'ions; 82m x 12.S3m x !i.75m Machifler.I',: Reciprocating, 3,000 HP

Speed: 15 knots

Armament: 5-10Gmm,2 machine-guns

NOles: CYRNOS was seized in 1943 and used as ~ submarine chaser under the

SG.13 pendant number. She was scuttled at Ma;.;ellies. 8/44. ...

PASCAL PAOLI and CYRNOS were also seized .by the Germans, The latter was manned later by ltalians and cuttled at ~ S~e~l~ (15{9/43). The former was renamed SG.5. She was scuttled at La Spezia 15/9/4).

Ex -Coasters

P.20 BARSAC (llll])

Pll. CERONS (1923) P.19 LEO VILLE (]922) P.22 SAUTERNES (1922)

GRT: 1,049

Dimensiolls: 6S.S2m x 9.33m x 4.52m Machinery: Reciprocating, 800, HP

Speed: 12 knots ..' '. ,

Armament: 4--l Olnm, 2-)7mffi AA. 4 rna Illne-gum,45 depth charges

P.26 USTRAC (1907)

'15

P.23 PESSAC (1907)

GRT: ns

Dimensions: 6O.27m x 8.S2m x 3.95m Machinery: Reciprocating, 600 HP'

Speed: 11.2 knots

A:mameut· 4-1 OOmm, .2-.3 7mnl AA, 4 machine-guns 4:5 d I h

P.24 MEDDe (1930) ., ept 1 C arges

f.25 POMEROL WHO)

CRT: 1,1.65

Dimensions: 72:.JOm x to.36m A 4.90m Machinery: Reciprocating, 900 HP

Speed; 12.6 knots

Armament: ~lOOmm,. 2-37mrn AA, 4m!lchine-gun8, 45 depth charges

Notes: P .20 was wrecked ofT Vigo (7/1 /40).

P.21 was shelled and sunk by German shore batteries off Fecarnp (12/6/40) P.2l foundered off Faroe Islands OJll/41). . . P.l9 was manned. by FNfL.

The others were manned by RN after L940.

Ex -Trawlers GRT> l~OOO

P.38

MERCEDlTA (1934), Bordeaux

qRT: 1,.162

Dimensions: 66.62rn x 10.52m x S.9Qm Ma"hinery: Diesel, J,OOO ill

Speed: 12 .. 5 knots

Armament: 3-100m:m, 2-17mm AA, 40 depth charges JUTLAND (1934)., Bordeaux

ORT: I,J60

Dimensions: 66.30m. x LO.94m X 6m Muchlnery : Diesel. 1,000 HP

Speed; 12. knots

Armament: 3-100mm, 2-37mm AA 2' machine-au 40 cI - I

h . > . "'I ",uI1S,.' ept 1

enarges

MINERVA (l931), Le Havre

GRT;' 1,160

Dimensions: 66.62m. X to . .:'i2m X 5.60m MachiNery: Diesel, 1,000 HP'

Speed: 12 knots

Armament: . 3-]lIDmm, 2-37mm AA, 40 depth charges VIKINGS {.I.9J5}, Pecarnp

GRT' 1,150

Dtmensions: 63.69m x lO.53m x m

Macltiner),: RedproC:atil1g, 925 _HP

Speed: 10 knots -

Armament: l-LOOmm, 2-31nun AA, 40 depth charges

GROENLAND (1930) } ,

PRESIDENT HOUDUCE (19JO) Fecarnp

GET: 1,179

Dlmenslon.t: 65.,64m x 10.55m x 5.43m

Machinery: Diesel, 925 HP .

116

P.37

P.42

P.41

P.29 PAO

Sp,ee.d: 10 knots

Armament: P.40 from 1939 to 1942: 3-100mm, 2-37mm, 4 machine-

guns, .2 racks

Dating from. 1942: 3-WOmm, 2-20mm AA, 4 machine-guns, 2 racks, 2 OCT

1'.43 SERGEN"T GOUARNE (ex-JACQUES CARTIER) (1928), La Rochelle P.45 ASPIRANT BRUN (ex-JEAN BART) (192S), La, Rochelle

GRr: U31

Dtmensions: 663201.":: .10m x 5.iOm Machille,..': Reciprocating, 850 PIP

Speed:' II knots

Armament: PA3: )-lOOmrn, 2~13.2mm AA, 4 machine-guns, 24 depth charge;'),

P.4S: from L939 to 1942: J-.lOOmm, 2-3.7mm AA. <1 machine-guns, 2 Tacks, 2 ncr

post 1942: 3-100mm. 2-37mffi AA. 1-20mm AA 2-lJ.2mm AA, 2 racks, 2 OCT

P.2S HEUREUX (1930), St Malo

GRT: 1.116

Dinwuio1l.s .~64.17m x 1O.42m x 6.lOm Macllinel'Y: U[esel. BOO HP

Speed,' 10 knots

Armament: 3-IOOmm, 2-J7mm AA, 40 depth charges

P.82 VIV AGEL (ex-SAHlP V. ex-ALFRED ViEU) (1927), Boulogne

GRT: 1.096

Dime1/S1'mu:: 63.4Lm x W_27m x 5.75m MadliTiery: Reciprocating, 1,250 HP

Speed: 1.0 knots

Ar"mmefl(: 2-iOOmm, 2.-37ITlIll AA, depth charges

P.1 1 CAP NnW (ex-[SLANDE), 1926. Fecamp

GRT: 1,033

Dimensions: 64.Hm X to.38m X 6m Macirirl'er)': Reciprocating, 1,250 ill

Speed: 1 0 knots

Armament: 3~IOOmm. depth charges

P.I? CAP .FAGNE'f (ex,-LUCJEN FONTAiNE) (l926), Fecarnp

GRT: 1,017

Dtmensions: 64.33m· IO .. 38m . 6m Machine.')'_' Reciprocating, L250 HP

Speed: 10 knots

Armament: 3-100mm, depth charges

Notes: P.38 was beached off Le Verdon after she had been mined. Salved (718/40) and paid off OlfJ2/40).

P.]7 was derequisitlcned (to!40).

PA2 was laid-off in September 1940. Captured in 1'942 by tine Germans and

utilised as subehaser UJ 2209. Lost olT Leghorn (16/3/44).

P.L"1 and P.l!! were paid off.

P.29 was captured by RN in June 1940 .. PAO was mal'!l1:eti by fNFL.

P.43 torpedoed German submarine off Alboran (26/3,,43). P.32 was captured by enemy. Mined off He de Re (3L/8/40).

P.I [ was captured by enemy, As UJ 2107 she was sunk by British MTB off

Sestrl Levance.

117

GRT> 800

P.J2 TEM RAlRE TI (1926), Le Havre

CRT: 965

Dimensions: 64.'93m x 9.33rn Machinery: Reciprocating, 850 HP

Speed; 1 D . .5 knots

Armament: 3-IOOmm, 2-37mm, depth charges

.P.IS CLArRVOYANT (ex-JOSEPH VANDEVALLE) (1922) St Malo

P.16 HARD! n (ex-.JULES BLAY} (1921), Sot. Malo '

P.14 VAILLANT (ex-EDOUARD WATTEAU) (1922)1, 5t Malo

GRT: 94.3

Dimensions: ~)_13m ,.{ 10m x 5.40m Machinerv: Reciprocating, 940 HP Speed: .. 10,5 knots.

Armament: J-lOOmm

P.B VICTORIA (1'928), Bordeaux

CRT: 849

Dimensions: 6O.Dm x 10m x 5.40m }Vlach/ner},: Diesel, 1,000 HP

Speed: 11.9 knots

Armamo«: 3~IOOmm

Notes: P.IS was captured ill 1943. Torpedoed as UJ 6075 by HMS U T.RING Sunk off Toulon (27/4/44). ..

PJ6 was captured! by Germans and utilised as subchaser UJ 2m I· fate

unknown. '

P.J 3 was shelled and forced .t(? .beach ~OTlh of Fidalah l8/11/42) by Brnish ships. P.32 and P.14 were derequlsitloned 111 1940.

GRT> 600

P.l8 TERRE- EUVE (1921). Fecarnp

GRT; 7800

Dimensions: 6O.83m· 9.15m x 5.50m Madliner',!: R,eciprocaling. 800 HP

Speed: ] I knots

A rmamenr: 2- I OOmm

P.36 PATRIE (920), St Malo

CRT: 7SJ

Dimensions: 60.9601 'X 9.75m . 5. SOm Machinery: Reciprocating, 794 Hf

Speed: l 1.5 knots

Armament: 3-IOOrnrlll,2- 7mm,4 machine-guns

P.J2 CAPRICOR E (19.21), Bordeaux

GRT: 742

Dimensions: 57.m!m . 9.D2m 4.50m

Machiner)': Reciprocating, 750 HP Speed: 10.5 knots

Armament: 3-IOOmm

P.lS ATLANTIQ E (920), SI Ma.la

GRT: 659

Dimensions: 5.190m >< 8.87m »: 5.30m Machinery: Reciprocating, 794 HP

Speed: 11 knots

Armament; 3,-IOOmm, 2-37mrn AA

118

P.39 REINE DES FLOTS (ex-BOIS ROSE), Fecamp

GRT.: 607

Dimension«: 52.09m X 8.24m X 4.80m MI1c1linery: Reeiprocating, 750 l-IP

Speed: 1 [.2 knots

Armament: 2-100mm. 2~37mm AA

Notes: P.IS was sunk at Mers-EI-Kebir (617/~)'

'.35 and P.J6 were captured ill June 1940 by the RN. .

P.39 was captured in June 1940 by RN and later transferred to FNFL.

GRT> 400

P.30 CAPITAINE ARMAND (ex-SiMON DUHAMEL) (1920), Boulogne

GRT: 584

Dimensions: 52.09m X 8.24m x 4.15m Machinerr "Reciprocating, 150 HP

Speed.' 1l.2 knots

Armament: 3-l00mm, 2-37mrn AA, 2 machine-guns, 24 depth charges

P.1O CAZOAR (1915), La Rochelle

ORT: 5tH

Dimemions: 48.59m x 9.22m Macnillery: Diesel. 1.3(10 HP

Speed: 15 knots

Armament: 2-100mm, depth charges

P.34 ASIE (1914), Boulogne

GRT: 551

Dimensions: 50,86m x 8.38m x 4,87m Machiner),: Reciprocating, 800 HP

Speed: 10.5 knot

Armament; }-I{)()mm, 2-37mm AA

1?95 NOTRE DAME DE FRA CE (1931). Boulogne

GRT: 433

Dimension»: 45.96m x 8m X 4.S0m Machiller),: Reciprocating, 690 ill

Speed: 11.5 knots

Armament; 4--75mm. 4 machine-guns

Notes.' P.10 was utilised by Germans as subchaser.

P.34 and P.95 were captured by RN in June 1940.

GRT> 300

P.63 PETIT POiILU (1920), Boulogne

GRT: 356

Dimensions: 43.26m x 7.40m kfachilU!I'Y: Reciprocating, 600 Iff

Speed: II knots

Armament:

P.M DUPERRE U917), Boulogne

P.67 MONT CASSEL (1917). Bculngne Armwnenr:

P.69 EXCELLENT (ex-W1l..LTAM LEECH) (1918), Boulogne

GR'T: 336,

Dimensions: 44.88m x 7.26m

119

Mcrchinf!I'Y: Reciprocating, 600 HP

Speed: 10 knots

Armament: 4--75mm, 2-37mm AA

P.90 SAINT PIERRE D'ALCANTARA (ex-:tvIERLU) (19J8) Boulogne P.65 JEA FREDER[C (ex-JAMES HULBERT) (1919), Boulogne

CRT: 329

Dimensions: 42.30m x 7.22m X 4.80m Machinery: Reciprocating, 600 HP

Speed; II knots

Armament: 4-----7Smm, 2-J7'mllil AA

PAS AMBROiSE PARE (1906), Boulogne

GRT: 326 .

Dimensions: 44.30m x 7.08m Y 4.30m Machinery: Reciprocating. 520 HP

Speed; 1 L8 knots

Armament: 2-37mm AA JEANNE fARIE (1919). Boulogne

GRT: 314

Dimensions: 43.4lm Y 7.22m x 4.20m Mac:hirxery: Reciprocating, 520 HP

Speed: 11.5 knots

Armament:

P.68 PIERRE ANDRE (ex-ROBERT CAHILL) (1921), Boulogne

CRT: 307

Dimensions: 42.0Sm X 725m X 4.50m Macllillery: Reciprocaring, 600 HP

Speed: 10 knots

Armament: 4-75mm, 2-37mm AA

PA7 NOTRE DAME D'ESPERA CE 0919), Boulogne

GRT: 311

Dimensions: 43.21m c 7.25m X 3.75m Machi"ery: Reciprocating, 515 RP

Spe,ed: J 2 knots

Armament: 3-100mm, 2-37mm AA.

P.46 AIGLON (1907)

GRT: 305

Dimensions: 45m ,t 7m

Maclliflf"ry: Reciprocating, 535 HP

Speed: 12 knots

Armament: 2-100mm. 2-37mm AA

P.49 MOUETTE (1906), BOlllogne

GRT: 30)

Dimensions: 4J.29m x 6.98rn ." 3.45m Machinery; Reciprocating, 520 IRP

Speed; 12 knots

Armamen«: 2-J7mm AA

Notes: 1'.69 captured in 1940 bv Germans, she became U.1804.

P.90 was captured in 1942 by Germans, she became U.2.ol.

P.65 W~ seized by R . Slink by German aircraft off Start Point (5/5/41). P.48 , 68,47 and 46 were also seized by the British,

P.49' scuttled at Brest (J 8/6/40). Refloated by the enemy; fate unknown.

120

GRT> 200

P.70 LES ILLATES (ex-JONES LYONS) 19J7}, La Rochelle

GRT; 294

DimensiO/u: 38.25m X 7.18m x 5.20m Machinery: Reciprocating, 480 HP

Speed: 10 knots

Armament:

P.?3 NAZARETH (ex-JACQUES rr, cx-WILUAM CARR) (1918), Boulogrre

ORT: 29]

Dimensions: 37.69m x 7.01m x 4.4{Jm Machinery: Reciprocating, 4.20 HI'

Speed: .0 knots

Armamem: 4-75mm, 2-31mm AA

P.62 ORIENT (1908)., Boulogne

CRT: 282

Dimensions: 42.74m x6 .. 95m Macililrery: Reciprocating, 520 HP

Speed: 12 knots

Armamens:

P.6Qo SURMULET (1905), Boulogne

GRT: 253

Dimensions: 41.45m X 6 .. 68m x 4.25111 Machillery: Reciprocating, 4500 HP

Speed: 11 knots

Armament: . '. _e..- B ('r/8/44)

Notes: P.70, German Navy.Bombed and sunk by .llied aircran at resi r.o '.

P.?3 was seized by Royal Navy. . . .

P.62 was manned by Germans as U.180S. Sunk by Allied aircraft off Memel

([ 1/11/44).

P.60 German Navy V. 1 8008.

Sailing Vessel and Yachts P.140 EROS (Yacht)

GRT: !,lOO

Dtmensions: 6111.1 x 9.76m x 4.:50m Madu:llerv: DieseJis, 1,500 HP

Speed:' 1.2 knots

Armament: ]-JOOmm

P.1OO MURAD (Sailing vessel) ORT;

Dimensions:

Machine",: I auxiliary DieSel, 140 HP

Speed:. .

ArmaJTumt: ]-75I1m1, l-37mm, 1 machine-gun

Nate: MURAD was wrecked off Leb:rnon coast. P.98 L'ALPHEE (ex-Yacht NLMET ALLAH) Dtsplacemem: ] .060 tons

Dimensions: 7J.2m X 9.6m x 4m

Machinery: Diesels

Sp(tl'd: 14 mots .

Armament: 1-75rnm, 2 machine-guns

1 ote: She became the German subchaser UJ.6073.

121

The French Navy also requisitioned three small boats belonging to Air France:

AIR-FRANCE r. AlR-FRANCE J U and AIR-FRANCE IV. They were renamed P.126" P.12S and P.J29.

CRT: 480

Dimensions." 59. SSm x 7"'8m X 1.50m Machinery; Z Diesels, 1,350 HP

Speed. 15.8lrnots

{in 1939: ~-l00mm

. in 1941: 1 __ 75m.m. 2-13.5m:mAA. 6 machine~gul:lf

Armamem: P.126 In Mar.ch 1944: 1-75II1m, J-25rrun AA, 2 DCT at the end of 1944: l-i'5mm. 1-20m.m AA Oerlikon, 1 nCT

HARBOUR DEFENCE MOTOR LAUNCHES Ex-British HULM class-25 ships

Dtsplacemem .Dimensions :

Machinery:

40 tons standard; 52 tons full load 21.60m X 4.6Sm x 1.80m

2 Gardiner or Thornycroft Diesels, 2 shafts, 300 HP Speed: 12 knOLS

Gas oil: 6.2 tons

2.200/10 knots

1-20mm AA, 4 machine-gulls, PALMYRE and BAALBECK had a 47mnl gun

8

RadillJ ill NOUlfcal Mlfes:

Protectian:

Armament:

Complement:

Pro~

laid dow"

CQmlaunched pleted

gramme

name

VP.I (ex-HDML.]249) VP.2 (ex-HDML..Il138) VP.3 (ex-HDML.1223) VP.4 (ex-HDML.1240) VP.5 (ex·HDML.l 166) VP.6 (ex-lIDML.1228) VP.1 (ex.HDML.U33) VP.S {ex-HDML.1 132) VP.9 (ex-HDMLJ 124) VP.I0 (ex-HDML.1250) VP.II (ex-HDMLllS2) vr, 12 (ex-HDML.1225) VP.l3 (ex-HDML.U42) VP.14 Cex-HDML 1136) VP.IS (ex-HDMl..lI44) VP.16 Cex-HDML U39) VP.ll (ex-HDMIL.I072) VP.23 (ex-HDML.114l) BAALBECK (VP.31) (.ex-HDML.I 1 66) PALMYRE (VP.32) (e·HDMLU43)

VPAl (ex-HDML.1425) VPA2 (ex-HDML.1457)

builder

122

12.3

EX-BRITISH MOTOR LAUNCHES

In the spring of 1941 the British Navy transferred the following four motor launches to the FNFL: ML123 ML.245, ML.246 and ML.247. They were renamed SAINT-RONAN, SAINT-GUENOLE, SAINT-YVES and SAINTALATN respectively. They were incorporated itn a Brhfsh Floulla and during the following winter escorted numerous convoys along [he Channel coaSL-a monotonous but vital task,

At the b<;:ginning of 1942 31 second batch of four ships. was delivered: SElN o(ML.1B2), MOLENE (ML205), BEN1GUET (ML.269) and OUESSANT (ML.303).

These eight motor launches composed the entirely French 20th Flotilla: the unit was changed in August 1942 to become the 23rd MTB Flotilla ( ee Motor Torpedo Boats, p.12i).

REQUISITIONED HARBOUR DEFENCE LAUNCHES

At the beginning of the war the French avy requisitioned 86 trawlers. They were fitted out as light minesweepers and harbour defence launches ; they carried the pendant prefix leiters VP followed by a number.

COAST AL MINESWEEPERS Ex .. US YMS type~31 ships

Displacement :

Dimensions:

Machinery:

Radius in Nant tea! M iles .. Armament _.

Complement .-

Pro-

gramme 'lame

D.202, (ex~YMS.77) D.301 (ex-YMS.169) D.3U {ex-YMS.36) D.312 (ex-YMS.6:3) D.313 (ex-YMS.58) D.314 (ex-YMS.226)

, D.315 (cx-YMS.28) D.316 (ex-YMS.:!7) 0.317 (ex-YMS.13)

ww.n D.31S (ex.YMS.78) D.321 (.ex-YMS.S6) D.322 (ex-YMS.16) lU23 (ex- YMS.,62) D.324 (ex~YMS.43) D.325 (ex-YMS.S2) D.326 (ex-YMS.63,) D.327 (ex-YMS.20) D.33l (ex-YMS,55)

203 tons standard; 325 tons full load 4L45m (oa) x 7.47m . 3.65m

2 Diesels, 800 H1'

Speed: 12 knots

.2,500/12 knots

1-70mm AA, 2-20mm AA, 2-13mm AA )0 (Officers, 2; Men. 28)

laid

bulider do IVIl

Stadium (Cleveland) Daehel-Carte r

Gibbs Gas Engine

Gibbs Gas Engine

Gibbs Gas Engine

Frank L Sample Greenport Basin Hllrebrant

Rice Bros.

Stadiur» (Cleveland) Hiltebrant

Rice: Bros.

Gibbs Gas Engine Wheeler

Stadium (Cleveland) Stadium (Cleveland) Greenport Basin Gibbs Gas Engine

124

COIn{awu;hed pleted

[D.332 (ell.-YMS.18) Herreshoff. .

D.333 (ex-YMS.27) Greenport Basin

D.334 (ex-YMS.)3) Hiltebrant .

0.335 (ex-¥MS.29) G~eenport Basl~

0.336 (e:<.-YMS.64i) G!bbs .Gas Engine

D.331 (ex-YMS.63) GIbbs Gas Engine

WW.lH D.388 (ex-YMS.15) Rice Bros. .

lD']51 (ex- YMS.23) Greenport Bas!TI

D.352 (ex-YMS.26) Greenport Basin

D.353 (ex-YMS.)~) Greenport Basin

D.354 (ex-YMS,207) Robert Jaco? D.355 (ex-YMS.208) Robert Jacob

D.356 (ex- YMS.227) Frank L. S~ple .' I

Notes: These coastal minesweepers wer!! !Xansferred [rom the S Navy In 1,944. D.301. 311. 311 and 371-373 were originally numbered D.201, D.211. D.213

and D.271-D.2i3. . . 0 t b 1944

The D.2.o2lex-YMS.77) was unk by a nune III coer ..

Ex-British MMS type-14 skips

D" lacement: {(A) 16. 3 to .. ns 'S.tandard; 200-210 tons full load

IIp (B) 354 tons standard; 425 tons full load

Dimensions: (A) 37.50m x 6 . .86m x 3m

(B) 42.62m x 7.92m x 3.71m .

Macbille/')': Generally 1 Harland & Wolff Diesel

Speed: 11 knots

Radius ill Nautical Miles: 2,500jLI knots . . ,

Armament: 2-13mm AA. 4 machine-guns

Complement: 18 (Officers. 2; Men, 16) laid

Programme

lA)

builder

down

comlaunched pItHed

name

D.361 ex-D.241 (ex-MMS.2L)

0.362 ex·-D.242 (ex~MMS.184) D.363 ex-D.251 lex-MMS.47) D.364 ex-D.252 (ex-MMS.9) D.365 ex-ID.261 (e~-MMS.J 16) D.366 ex-D.262 (ex-MMS.ll8) D.367 ex-D.29L ( ex-MMS.133) D.368 ex-D.292 (ex-MMSJ 34)

fB) :0.341 (ex.MMS.1039) D.342 (ex-MMSJ032) D.34.3 (.ex-MMS.I024) D.344 (ex-MMS.I040) D.345 (clC-MMS.lIB3)

D.346 (ex-MMS .. I036) ..

. otes: All these minesweepers were transferred from the Royal Navy during

1944--45.

125

A coastal minesweeper (ex-US YMS type).

[JlC Coil.

Auxiliary minesweeper AD 85 NOTRE DAME DE. LORETTE.

[ECA

126

AUXILIARY MINESWEEPERS

At the beginning of the war the 'French Navy requisitioned a great many fishing trawlers for minesweeping duties. They all had a pendant designation beginning with the letters Afh, followed by a number. Their displacement varied from 50-250 tons and armament differed between the vessels. 'Wooden trawlers were equipped for detecting magnetic mines when this weapon appeared.

It is not possible in lhis smallbook to give the names of all the snips. However, they played a great and glorious part in the figliilli1g in the North and suffered heavy losses, A Est of these will be found in the War Lossessection on page j 69.

Five sea-rescue vessels had alsn been purchased from Air France and fitted out

for minesweeping duties, they were:

PRlMEVERE (450 tom) FAUVETIE II (315 tons) CAP OURONNE

JEAN RlGAUD OOLONEL CASSE

The FAUVETTE IT was cuttled at Toulon,

MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS

In 1939 [he French avy possessed a small number of motor torpedo boats,

VTB 8, 10, 11 and. 12

These little ships were built by Chantlers et Ateliers de Ia Loire and Sllbur Meulan.

Dispiacnnent: 28 tOI1S

Lellgth: 20m

Engines:' 2 Lorraine; 2,200 HF

Speed: 45 knots

Armament: 2 DAR 400mm torpedoes, 2 DARNE 7.5mm machine-guns, 6-3Skg depth charges

VTB.ll and VTB.I2 took part in operations in the Channel. They were seized by the British in July 1940 and renamed MGB.98 and MGB.99 respectively. The former was sunk at Gosport during a bombardment in March 1941 and the latter was struck off the: rolls in 1945.

VTB 13 and 14

Were of the same type and had only just begun building: in 1940: they were dismantled on the slipway.

VTB 15 to VTB 22

The order for these ships was cancelled while the results of trials on VTB.ll and VTB.12 were being studied.

VTB 23 to VTB 40

These were ordered from the British Power Boat Company.

D'isplacemenf: 20 tons

Speed: 45 knots

Armament.: 4-----4OOmm torpedo lubes. 2-13.2mm Hotchkiss machineguns, 8-.35kg depth charges

Only VTB.23-28 were ready in Lime to participate in the Channel operations; they were taken over by the Royal Navy at Hythe in July 1940 and later commissioned by the British as M.A,/SB.50-5l and th~n as MGB.50-53. The VTB .. 27, which bad not completed her trials, in July 1940 was also seized by the British and reclassed as M.A.JSB.:54 and then MGB.54. The remaining MTBs were not delivered to the French avy,

'27

MTBs

At tile end of 1942 the British transferredeight Vosper-type MTBs (MTB.90,

91,92,94,96,98,227 and. 239) to the FN L: .

Displacement.' 60 tons full load

Dtmensions: 21.30m;.: 5.5m X L85m

Engines: 3 Packard, 3,600 HP

Speed: 42 knots

Armament: 2-533mm torpede tubes, J-20mm Oerlikon gull, 2 heavy machine-guns, 2 light machine-guns, 2-200kg deeth

charges .

Complemem: .14 (Officers, 2; Men, 12)

. These. little ships which formed the 23rd flotilla, together with their British Sister ships and MGBs attacked enemy coastal traffic in the Channel arid North Sea .. Man), enemy ships were sunk or badly damaged. They also rook pan in special nussrons to France and other occupied countries.

RIVER GUNBOATS Tourane class-2 sbips

Displacemellt; Dimensions:

Machinery:

95 tons standard

35m loa) X 5.3Sm x O .. 9(}1D 1 Diesel, 1 shaft, 250 HP Speed: 10 knots

500/10 knots

1-75rnm,l-37rnm AA, 2 machine-guns, 1 mortar

Rodil1s ill Nautical Miles:

Armament:

Complemenr:

Pmgramme flame builder laid down launched compleied

TQUR.ANE Saigon DY 1931 ]933 1934

MYTHO Saigon DY 1931 1933 1934

Notes: The TOURANE was scuttled in the Donnal (Cochinchina) during the Japanese attack on March 9, 1945.

MYTHO was scuttled ill. the Mekong deltajust before the Japanese assault.

Francis Gamier-c-I ship

Disp/acel'flenl,' Dimensions:

Machi/Ie,.), :

639 tons standard

52.50m X l0.30m X 2.20m

2 Du Temple boilers, 2 reciprocating, 2 sbafts 3,,200 HP ' Speed: 15 knots

Radius In Nautiea! Miles:

Protection: light against bullets

Armament: i-lOOmm, 1-75mm AA, 2-31mm. 2 machine-guns

Complernelll: 103 Men

Name builder laid dow" launched completed

FRANCIS GARNlER en. avals Francais 192·6 12/27 1931

Notes: This river gunboat was scunled in Indo-China on March 9'. 1945.

Dondart -de-Lagrce class-2 ships

Displacement:

DimeruiOllS:

201 tons standard 54_40rn x 7m x l.40m

128

gl'amme flame DOUDART-DELAGREE

BALNY A. Ch. de Bretagne 6/14 1920

/'fares: These two river gun bears wer~ assigned to duty on the Yangtse-Kiang nver. The former was phased out rn 1939 and the latter at Tchoung-King ill 1940.

Afachillery:

Radius ill Nal/fical Miles:

Protection .Armament:

Complement :

Pro-

2 Fouche boilers, 2 reciprocating, 2 shafts, 900 HP Coal: 75 tons

light against bullets 2-75mm,2-37mm

59 (Officers, 4; Men, 55)

laia dow»

comiUll1lciled pleted 1909

bllilder

A. Ch. de Bretagne

eDT Bourdais class-2 ships

128 tons standard

4J.30m (oa) x 5.25rn x 2.50m

2 Normand boilers, 1 reciprocating, 1 shart 1 300 H P Speed: HiS knots

Coal: 28 tons

1-75mm

31 Men builder

laid down laullched completed 1920

1920

name

eDT BOURDAIS (ex-C.lll) AVALANCHE (ex~C.U2)

Displacement :

Dimensions:

Machinery;

Radius in Nauli'cai Miles:

Armnme1'lt:

Comptemem:

Programme

Notes: The e were ex-old subchasers utilised as river gun boats in Indo-China.

CDT BOURDAIS was cunled at HaIphong on Marcl19, 1945 just before the Japanese attack .

. _A.VALANCHE was shelled and sunk at My-Tho 011 March 9, 1945 by the AMl1lAL CHARNER to aVOId her capture by the Japanese.

Argu ·-2 ships

D.ispiacemellt:

D imensiass:

Macfl{l1er,lI:

218 tons standard

51.80m (oa) x 7.20m x l.20m

2 boilers, 2 recipeocating, :2 shafts, 600 HJ) Speed: 12 knots

Radius ;11' N(;mliral Mtles:

ProtecTion.' light against. bullets.

Armament: 2-75mm. 2-37mm, 4 machine-guns

Complement: 42 Men

Progrmnme name builder laid down' lal11ldied completed

ARGUS. Toulon DY 1922

VIGILAN1"E Toulon DY J922

Notes: ARGUS was nOL commissioned, although she was at Haiphong ill! L940. She was scrapped in 1941.

VIGILANTE was scuttled at Haiphong on March 9,. 1945.

129

E

Rivet gUl'lboa.ts rOURANE and MYTHO at Ha(pnong.

[JLC Coli.

River gunboat AVALANCHE

[JLC Coli.

130

131

-e U

~ SURVEYING VESSELS

Amiral Mouchez

132

719 tons standard; 970 tons lull load 62m (oa) x 10.60m x 3.90m

1 Suber Diesel, 2 shafts, 800 HP Speed: 13 knots

Radius ia Nantica; Miles: 3,400/13 knots, 5,000/11 knots

Armamem: 2-JOOmm (1 x 2), 4--20mm AA, 2-B.2mlll AA,

4 DCT, 2 racks (32 depth charges)

Comptement: 91 (Officel'S 4; Men; 87)

Pro- laid com-

gramme name builder down launched plered

1932 AMlRAL MOUCHEZ Cherbourg DY 1/35 3/8/36 1937

Notes: This ship was fitted out as an escort vessel during the war. She was incorporated in the French aval Task Force illl 1944 and fought German shipping in rne Atlantic.

D isplac,emf!ll t :

Dimensions:

Macliinery;

Le Goeland e1ass-6 ships

IJiJp!ace:menl.Dimensions:

Machinery,-

Radius ill NaLtlical Miles.Armament:

Comptement:

Programme

No details available,

1938

name

LE GO ELAND L£ PEUCAN

l..E CORMORAN LA MOUETTE l..'IEIS

LE BE GAZI

Noles: These six small survey vessels did not commence building.

President Theodore Tissier

Di'splaceme111 :

Dimensions:

MacMllery:

965 tons tandard; 1,240 tons full load SOm (oa) x a.75m ' 4.80m

1 M.A. ,Diesel. 1 shaft, 800 HP Speed: 11 knots

Fuel oil: 250 tons

This survey ship had a remarkable radiu • equal (,0 100 days COOtilll101J5ly at ]0 knots

Radiws in Nuurical Miles.'

Armament:

COl'll_f}iemcIlJ' :' Pro-

gramme name builde,.

PRESIDENT Worms

THEODORE TISSIER

laid down launched complefed 193,)

133

Notes: The PRESIDENT THlEOIDORE nSSIER was a.t St Valerv-en-Caux dluing the unsuccessful attempt to evacuate the Allied forces trapped there from June 11-H, 1940. She was seized by the British on July 3, 1940 and later manned by the FNFL.

Chimere (ex-tug Zelee}-l ship

Displacement :

Dimen:~iOIlS' :

Madlillery:

613 rons 48.15m

Reciprocating engine, I shaft, 900 HP Speed; 12 knots

Radtlls in Nautical Miles:

Armametu:

Complemelll :

Programme 11.0"1£ CHIMERE

laid dawl! lauI/ched

completed J901

budder

NOli'S: This old survey ship was scrapped just after the beginning of the war.

Laperouse-vI ship

Displacement: J8:l tons standard

Dtmensions: 63.60m x 8.50m x 5.50m

Machinery: L drum type boiler, 1 reciprocating engine, 1 shaft, ],100 HP

Speed: ] 1 knots

Fuel oil: 132 tons

Radius ill Naill leal Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

Programme name LAPEROUSE

1-7.5mm

104 Men

butlder Brest DY

laid down launched completed 21/11/l9 1920

Notes: An ex-Navy transport of the Coetlogon class, this ship was lengthened prior to beginning survey duties. She was fitted with a new boiler in 1938. She was scuttled in the Cantho river (indo-China) on March D, 1945, when tbe Japanese attacked,

Astrolabe class-5 ship

Displacement z DimelisiOlts:

Machillerp:

3,15 tons standard; 460 tons full Load 43.50m x 7.3001 x 3.60111

2 boilers, reciprocating engine, 1 shaft, 450 HP Speed: ]0 knots

Coal: 120 tons

Rod/liS in au/ical/\lUtes:

Armament.' 2-47mm (I x; 2)

Complemel!t: 32

Programme ,rame builder

ASTROLABE

GASTON RIVIER 'OCTANT

ESTAFETTE SENTINELLE

Jaid dow« ImUlched completed 1918

1918

19]8

1918

1920

134

NOles: These little ships were fined out as patrol boats during the war.

ASTR.OLABE was sunk by US aircrafu at Tourane (Indo-China) Oil

February 24 •• 944.

OCTANT was sunk by aircraft from Task Force 438 on January 12., 1945. GASTON ruVIE:R was at Dunkirk. and was later seized by the British. ESTAFETTE was disabled by the USS TILLMANN on November 8, 1942

and Forced to beach at Boaznika (Morocco).

SENTINELLE was in North Africa when the Allies invaded the COUO[ry.

ARMED MERCHANT CRUISERS

In September .939, the French Navy requisitioned five passenger ships and six fruit ships, commissioning them as auxiliary cruisers.

Their armament generally comprised B8mm gums, of the 1924--7 model, or 150mm guns from ex-German light cruisers which had! been incorporated into the French Navy after World War I. This armament varied between the ships, according to their size and the so1idity of their decks,

Ex-Passenger Ships X.OJ ARAMIS

GRT: 17 •. 5]1

DitnensioJis: 165.40m x 21.20m x 8.65m Machinery: Diesel engines. L4,100 HP-two shaIts

Speed: 14 knots

Armamenr: 8-13 mm, 2-75mm AA, 2-31mm AA

This passenger ship was derequisitioned ill Indo-China ill L940. Later she was captured by the Japanese and sunk as TEILA MARU by USN submarine RASHER.

X.17 EL DJEZATR

GRT: 5,190

Dimensions: 118.88m x 16.40m x 5.52m Maclll11ert: 2 geared Turbines, 12000 HP

Speed: 22.75 knots

Armametu: 7-138mm (1 x 7), 2-75mm AA, 4-13.2mm AA (2 x 2). 4 machine-guns

This ship took part in the Norwegian campaign hut was released from duty in 1940-41 see War Losses, p. 168, for her later rate).

X.IO COLOMBIE

GRT: 13,390

Dimensions: 147.73m X 20.3401, 7m Machinery: 2 geared Turbines, 8,800 HP

Speed: 16.75 knots

Armament.' 7-150mm (1 x 7), 2-75mm AA, 2~37mm AA, 4- 13.2mm .6;A (2 x 2)

X.16 EL KANTA'RA

GRT: 5.,079

Dimensious: H6.351m X 16.4m x 68111 Machillery: 2 geared Turbines, 8,000 HP

Speed: 2J knots

Armament: 7-B8mm. 2-75mm AA, 2-31mm AA

This ship took: part in the Norwegian campaign but was released from war duty in 1940 or 1941 (see War Losses, page 168. for her later fate).

135,

X.06

EE.. MANSOUR

GRT; 5.818

Dimensions: 117.98m X l6.47m X :5.51m

Speed: 22 knots

Armament: 7-138mm (1 x 7), l-75mm AA, IJ.2mm AA (2 X Z),

4 rnachlne-guns

VILLE D'ORAN

GRT: 10,172

Dimensions:I40.79m x 19.26rn x 6.56m Machinery: Reciprocating engine" 1,8,,000 HlP

Speed: 23 knots

Armament: 5-138mm, 2 machine-guns

KOUTOUBIA

GRT:8,790

Dimensions; 130m 17.80m x 728m

MachillerJ': 2 geared Turbines, 8,000 HP

Speed: 18 knots

Armament: 8-138mrn (1 x 8), }-37mm AA, 1-25mm AA. 12- 13.2rnm AA, 4 machine-guns

X.05

X.04

X.l9 HARFLE UR

GKl': 3,1,00

Dimensions: l02.6m X 13.9m X 5.7Sm Machinery: Diesel

Speed: 16 knots

Armament _. 1939-41: 7-1S0mm (I x 7), 2-75mill AA, 4-37mm AA, 8 machine-guns

1943-45: 2-150mm (1 >( 2); 2-75mm AA. 6-20mm AA 1945: 2-150mm (l '< 2), 2-75mm AA, 6-20mm AA, 4 x 13.2mm AI\.

This auxiliary cruiser was in commission until 1945. Her armament was removed at the end of that year and she was later employed as a transport ship.

X.3 CAP DES PALMES

3;082

I02.30m x )3.43m x 5.50rn ] Diesel, 4,500 HP

17.5 knots

1941--42: 2-90mm guns

19'43: 2-151mm (l x 2), 12-20rnm AA, &-533 torpedo tubes, 4, ncr

This ship was cap tu red by the Royal Navy in 1942 and re-armed with British weapons in. ]943.

GRT:

D'itnel'ukms:

Ma.c1lin:erv:

Speed: . Armament;

X.21 ESTEREL GRT:

3,100

9'.1.50111 X 13.9m X 3.1m I Diesel, 3,.700 HP

15.5 knots

7-138mru (1 x 7), 2-75mm and a number of n.2mm AA maehin e-gun

This auxiliary cruiser was released from duty in 1940 ( ee War Losses, p, 168. for her later fate).

Dimensions .' Machinery.:

Sp'eed:

Armament,

136

X.20 Q ERCY GRT:

Dimensions:

Machinery:

Speed:

ArmCJ:l1Ielll:

3,100

98.50m X 13.20m X 5.2m 1 Diesel, 3,700 .HP

15.5 knots

Similar to ESTEREL but in 1941 was re-armed willl 3- B8mm. 8-37mm AA and ]0 machine-guns and later with only L-138mm. 2-J7mm AA and 8-20mm AA.

Armed merchant cruiser QUERC'Y. She was in commission unfil 1947.

[Me

x.n CHARLES PLUMIER

CRT: 4,500

Dimensions: I ]4.50m X IS.SOm x 5.9m Macliillel"}': Diesel, 5,200 HP

Speed: 17 knots

Armament." 7-150mm (1 x 1), 2-75mm, 2-37rnm AA, 4 machinegullS

This auxiliary cruiser was released from duly in 1940.

X.7 BOVGAlNVTLLE (ex.vICIOR SCOELCHER)

GRT: 4,500

Dimensions: 114.50m X 15.80rn x 5.9m Madrillery.: Diesel. 5,200 HP

Speed: ] 7 knots

Armament: 7-13Smm. (1 x 1), 2-75rnm AA, 2-37mm AA

Renamed "BOUGAlNVlLLE in hcneur or the first class sloop of that name sunk at Libreville, she was destroyed by British ships and aircraft at Diego Suarez Oil May 5, 1942.

137

SUBMARINE DEPOT SHIP J ules Verne----l ship

Di.fp.laceulf.'ll( :

Dimensions:

Machi"ery:

Radills ill Nautical Miles:

Armament:

Complemem:

4.,347 Ions standard; 6,340 tons full load 122m (oa) x J1.20m x 6.75m

2 Sulzer Diesels. 2 shafts, 7,000 HP Speed: 16 knots

12,000/15 knots, IS:,500/11 knots,

4-90mm AA (L x 4). 4-37mm AA (1 x 4), II machine-guns

286 (Officers, 12; Men, 274)

Programme name builder laid down launched completed

4/8/26 JULES VER E Loriem DY 1929 1931 1932

Notes;' The JULES VER E was equipped for the supply and maintenance of'a flotilla of six submarines, with accommodation for their personnel of 265 in addition to the hip's company. She was in service at Bizerte (November 1940), Dakar (March 1941), western Mediterranean (January 1944) and was later employed as a transport ship.

Submarine depot ship JULES V.ERNE.

MINELAYERS PoUux-l ship

Displacement ; Dimensions:

Machinel:)';

Radius in Nautical Miles;

2,46.1 UOIlS standard

64.2.0m (oa) X J S.50m X 6rn

6 cylindrialil boilers, triple expansion engine, 2 shafts, 41,000 HP

Speed: 14 knots

Coal: 367 tons

2,300/8 knots, 1,470/14 knots

138

139

140

Atmament:

Complement:

4-100mm (1 < 4), 2-37mm AA, 236 mines 162 (Officers, 5; Men. 157)

Programme name builder laid down launched campleted

POLLUX Swan Hunter 1917 ~918

Notes: The ex-Russian ice-breaker IL YA MUROMETZ, thls vessel was converted into a minelayer by Lorient Dockyard during 1928-29. She was used for rninelaying operations in the Channel and North Sea from September] 939 and June 1940. On July 3, 1940 she was seized by the British and converted ill to a training ship; she was returned to the French Navy in June 1946.

Castor-l ship Disptacemen: :

Dimensions .' Machtnery:

3.150 tons standard

{:I.. 20m x n.30m x 6.40m

6 S.E. boilers, 3 sets of triple expansion engines, 2 shafts, 6,,400 HP

Speed: 14.5 knots

Coal: 686 tons

2,300/14.3 knots, 4,500/10 knots

4-100rnm (l x 4), 2-37mm AA (1 2)' J68 mines

167 (Officers, 5; Men, 162)

Radius ill Nautical Miles:

A rmamen: :

Complement:

Programme name builder laid down launched cmnp'let'e'd

CASTOR Swan Hunter 19],6 1916 19m?

Notes; The ex-Russian ice-breaker KOZNA-MrnIN. this vessel was converted into a minelayer by Lorient Dockyard during 19'18-29. Disarmed after the Armistice he was seized by the Germans at Bizerre on December 8, 1942 and SCuttled in that port on May 6, 1943.

ETLAYER

Le Gladio:teur-l ship

Displacement:

Dimellsions .' lvlachiTlery:

1,858 tons standard; 2,293 tons fullload 113m X 12.70m x 3_SOm

2 Indret boilers, 2 Parsons geared Turbines. 2 shafts, 6iOOO HP

Speed: 18 knots

Fuel oil, 399 tons

Radius in Nautical Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

Pro-

gramme name builder laid down launched completed

1929'-30 LE GLADJATEUR Lorient DY 1932 10/4/33 1915

Notes: LE GLADJATEUR was scuttled at Toulon on November 27, 1942. She was rel'loaled by I heenemy on March 3,0, 1943 bUI was later sunk -by bombs.

4-90mm Ai\. (1 x 4),6 machine-guns 132 Men

141

TARGET VESSEL L'Impassible--l sbip

Displacemem.' va IJ tons

Dimeru;ollS: 1 CIOm x 12m x 4m

Machillery: 12,000 liP

ProgrQrmne IT{lme tmil.der laid dO'II'.1I launched compleled

L IMPASSlBLE Lorient DY 3/37 6/39 5/40

Notes: This ship had pot completed bt?lding at Lorieut when she &a!1~ for Great Britain where she took refuge during the war. She was not commjssioned by the -Royal Iavy and. was returned in 1946 when she was towed to Brest. Her building was not resumed and she was later IlSCO as a breakwater at Mers-elKebir,

LITTLE SEAPLANE SUPPORT SHIPS Petrel class~8 ships (:nwnbered nom 1 to 8)

Displucement:

Dimensions :

Machillery:

Radilt.r in Nautica} Miles:

Armament:

Complement .-

NOires: These eight small ships were employed as seaward defence launches or patrol boats.

80 tons

26.20m x 4.35m x O.95m 1 Diesel, 1 shaft. 270 HP Speed: Il.S knots

SEAPLANE TENDERS Sans Seuei class.-4 ships

Displacement.- 1,372. tons standard; 1,500 ions normal; 2,100 tons full load

95m (ea) X 11.16m x 3.2.0m

2 Sulzer Diesels, 2 shafts, 4,200 HP Speed: 16 knots

Gas oil: 230-240 Ions

7,OOOfl5 knots, 12,000/1 0 knots As dles~g[led, 1-75rnm (see notes)

D imensions .Machinery:

RadilH/ I'll Nautiea! Miles:

ArmlJment:

Complemen t .Pro-

gramme {lame

fSAN SDUe SANS PEUR

1937 'SANS PAREIL

lSANS REPROCHE (ex-SANS CRAINTE)

Notes: These four ships were laid down as, seaplane ten~cr~. They were still building; when the Germans captured them. Their construction was resumed and

142

builder

} .. nhO,"

laid down Immchi'd

completed

1940

see notes

seenctes

they were renamed URANUS (ex-SANS SOUCI), SATURNUS (ex.-SANS REP ROCHE), JUPITER (ex-SANS PAREIL), and MERKUR (ex-SANS PEUR). They well! reelassed as schn'ell gelefboDte (fast escorts).

SATURNUS was sunk by bombs in the Gironderiver in January 1944. JUP]TER was sunk by aircraft off Yeu Island on AUgllSI6, 1944.

The construction of ehe other two was almost finished when France was liberated and they were completed as survey vessels and renamed BEAUTEMPSBEAUPRE and LAPEROUSE respectively. Their armament was 2-105mm 1 x 2) of German type, 4-4Omrn AA (4 x I) and 4--20mm AA guns.

OILERS

La Dordogne---l ship

Displacemelll :

DimensiollS :

Machinery:

7,]33 tons standard ~ 15.160 tons deadweight 161.54m x 20.40m x B,80m

Reciprocating engine, 4,150 HP

Speed: 11.7 knots

Radius in Nautical Miles:

A rmament:

Complement: SO Men

Programme name builder laid don'T! ItllIIte-lIefl completed

LA DORDOGNE Armstrong 1'914

(eX-SAN ISIDO.RO)

Notes: This old tanker was scuttled at Brest on June J8, 1940; she was already on the disposal list.

La Garonne-l sbip

Di!lplacemem .DimellSiQflS; Machinery:

3,513 tons

120m x lS.40m x a.30m Reciprocating engine, 1,600 liP Speed: 1 I knots

Radius Iii Nautical Miles:

Armamem:

Comptemem:

Programme nome LA GARONNE

.2-IOOmm (] x 2) 65 Men

builde-r

laid down knmched

compleied J912

ales: LA GARO N"E was scuttled at Toulon on November 27, 1942. She was refloated by the Germans on April 21, 1944 and sunk by them to block [he ncrtb side of Toulon barbour on June 20, ~944.

Le Loin,g-l sbip

Displacement ; DimenslOtlS:

Machinery:

Radius in Nautiea! Miles:

Armament, Complemenr :

.1,481 tons standard; 9.,900 tons full load 153.45m X 15.40m "( 7.60m

2 Burmeister & Wain Diesels, 4,lOO HP Speed: 135 knots

2-100mm (1 x 2), 2~75mm AA (1 x 2) 70

143

Programme name builder laid down launched completed

LE LOrNG Ch, Seine Maritime 4/4/27 ]928

'otes: This oiler was voluntarily damaged in La Pall ice Roads on June 18,1940.

She was captured by the Germans (WANG RLAND) and scuttled aL Nantes in 1944.

Rhone-l ship

Displacement:

Dimensions:

Machinery:

2,785 tons

112.47m (oa) x B.70m x 7.60m Reciprocating engine, ] shaft, 2,100 HP Speed: 11 knots

Radius ill Nautica] Miles:

Armament:

Complement: 57

Programme name builder laid down Iauncbed completed

RHONE 1910

Notes; This old oiler was torpedoed and. sunk by the German vessel U.37 off Cap Juby on December ]9, 1940.

Anbe class-3 ships

Displacement; I,OS5 ions

Dimensions: 74m x l!l..58m x. 4.30m

Machinery; Breguet Turbines, 1,100 HP

Speed: 10 knots Radius if! Nautica! Mile: 1 ,5i80/10 knots

Armament: 2-15mm AA (1 x 2)

Complement: 70

Programme /lume bulkier laid dow« launched completed

AU:BE Lorient DY L920

LA DURANCE Lorient DY L920

LA RANCE Lorient DY L921

Notes: LA DURANCE and LA RANC were scuttled at Toulon on November

27, 1942.

LA DURANCE was refloated on May 7, 1943 and her wreck was found at

La Seyne In August 1944.

LA RANCE was refloated by the enemy on May 30. 1943 and towed to-

Marseilles on July 31, 1944 where she was scuttled.

AUBE was renamed DROME on May 10, 1940 and was damaged by bombs

at Bari in December 1943.

Le Mekong class-4 ships

Displucemellt: 5,482 tons tandard: l5,1:50 ton full load

Dimensions: 139m (oa) x IS.80m x 7.90m (mean)

Mac.hinery: 2 Burmeister & Wain Diesels, 4,850 HP

Speed: 13.5 knots Radius ill Nautical Mites:

Armament: 2-l00mm (1 X 2). 2~31mm AA (l X 2.)

CompfemenF: 75

Programme lI1JJne bllilder laid down launched completed

LE M KO G Penhoet 31/8/28, .11929

144

~ ID III
~ :;;
~ uj ....
0 <:
Il: 0
"<:( l:
I.D It
~ ...
(§ ~
Q 145

DUer HORN,

[JLC Coil.

14/3130

1930

i.E NIGER Ch. Maritime du Slid Ouest Deutsche Werft Hambourg Deutsche W~rft Hambourg

Nelles: ElORN and VAR were buill in Germany as part reparation for World

War r losses. . 21 1940

LE NIGER was set ablaze by bombs at Dunkirk on May ,. "

1930

1931

ELORN

1931

1932

VAR

Ni vose-l ship

Displacement .DirflensioflS :

MacMllery:

Radius in Nautical Miles:

8,500 tons standard: 14.160 tons deadweight 142 .. 34m (oa) X la.8rn .c a.75m

Quadruple expansion, 1 shaft, 3.400 HF Speed: 1 1 knots

146

Armament: L-]OOmm (l X 2), 2-37mm AA 2 x 1)

Complement:

Programme flume buitde» laid down launched completed

NlVOSE Deutsche Werrt 1931 1932

NOles: This oiler was purchased in 1934. She was torpedoed by German aircraft off Telles on November 11, 1943.

L' AdoUJi" chlls'S-6 ships

Displacement :

Dimensions:

Machinery;

Radius in Nautical Armament :

Complement:

Pro-

4.220 tons standard; 7.400 tons deadweight 132m (oa) x 16m x 6.20m

2 boilers. 2 Parsons geared Turbines, 1 shaft, 5,200 fIT> Speed: ] 5 knots

Miles: 10,000/10 knots

2-100mm (I . 2), 2-37mm AA (1 x 2)

laid down

completed 1939 1939 1939

gramme [8/8/36 1936 1937

builder

La Crotat

A. Ch, de France A. Ch, de France Worms

WomlS

name L"ADOmt LE LOT lE TARN

{LA CHARENTE LA MAYENNE LA BAISE

Notes: lE LOT was torpedoed and unk by a German submarine off Cap Juby on JUlI1e 22, 1943.

LE TARN was seized by the enemy at Bizerte on December 8, ]942 and towed to Genoa where she was scuttled on September 9', 1943"

L'ADOUR was torpedoed at Beirut by British aircraft in June ]941. She was later interned in Turkey.

The other ships did not begin building.

launched 9/10/38

1938

La Sa,one class-4 ships

Displacement:

Dimensions:

Muchinery:

19,900 tons full load 160m X m.. m Diesels, 14,750 HP Speed: 18 knots

l-IOOmm (I 2), 2-37rn:m AA (2 x 1)

Radius in. Natnicot Miles:

Armament:

Complement:

Pro-

gramme name

15)'38 {LA SAON"IE

LA SEFNE 31/12/38 {LIAMON .. "E

. MEDJERDA

Noles: Construction of LlAMONE and MEDJERDA. was abandoned, The other two oilers. were O!l, the stock in 1945 in an incomplete stale.

laid

baade, down

At. Ch, de France

comItwT1ched plete«

147

Com- Displaee-
BuiMers p/t!wci men!' Dimenskrns Machiaery Speed A rl~lt1.mellf
1917 620 nons 45mx7.30mx Triple expansion II
3.80111
Ch. de Bretagne 1919 622 Ions 57.20m x 7.90m Triple expansion 12 2-Jool11 01
x5.l8m 1,200 HP (I x2)
ell. cle Bretagne 191.9 622 tons 57.20m x 7.90m. TrIple expansion 12 2-100mm
x 5.18rn l,;WO HP (1 x 2)
Ch. de la Seine 1924 ~.!!20 tons 84mx 12m_.( Triple expansion 10
Maritime 6.20m 1,700 HP TRANSPORTS (requisitioned ships not included)

Name

JEANNE Elf GENEVIEVE

COt;TlOGON FORFAIT

AUlDE

Tr<Ulsport AUO£. (Me

F. Ch. de J81 Gironde

]2.5 2-75mm. 2-37111111 AA

GOLD

! 933, 2,152 tons 89m x 13 .SOm x 2. Burmeister &

4.70m Wain Diesels :1,850 HP

AUDE and GOLO were scuttled al Toulon (27/Ln/42), FORFAIT and COt:.TLOGON were transferred to Merchant Navy in 1941

REFRIGIERA TOR SHIPS (requisitioned ships not included)

CHAMPLAIN

Brest DY J919 511 tons

51.25m x Sill X Triple expansion

4.211] 1.,[00 HP

9 2.-75mm

_" HAMEliN IE

Ch, de Brctagne '1919 622 tons

51.20m x 7.9m Triple expansion

X .5J8m [,200 HP

11 2-10Omm (1 x 2)

AUSTRAL (ex-trawler LEON PORET

La Ciotat

1921 2,234 tons 63.4011:1 X JO . .20m Triple expansion II 1-75mm x4.S0m

La Ciotat

1927 2,234 Ions 63.40m x IO,20m Triple expansion 11 }-75I11m x 4.5001

BOREAL (ex-trawler REMY CHUlNARD)

CHAMPLAIN and HAMELIN were scuttled at Touloa (.27/11 (42); AUSTRAL and BOREAL were transferred 'to the Merchant Navy in 1941.

NAVAL WEAPONS
1. Heavy and Medium Guns
Lengrh Muzzle Weight of We(ght or Maximum Maxim~m
Calibre Model Ships of bore Velocity Projectile explosive Rote oj fire Range ill ceiling
calibre m]» it! kg c hm:g;e in kg metres
380 193,5 Richelieu and Gascogne Classes 50 820 884 1 35,000
340 1912 Bretagne and Lorraine Classe 4S 790 576 21.69 1 23,000
330 1933 Dunkerq ue Class 50 800 540 Beyond 30,000
305 1910 Courbet Class 45 783 432 1 23,000
203 1924 Heavy Cruisers SO 850 127 8 4 3]iOOO
203 1924 Surcouf 50 850 134 2 31,000
155 1921 Duguay-Trouin Class 50 770 56.5 3.34 4, 21,600
Jeanne D'Arc
152 1936 Richelieu and Gaseogne Classes 54 .. 3, 870 56 3.34 4 21,600
152 1930 Emile Bertin-La Galissonniere 54.3 870 54.3 ll,SOO
Class
138 .19'34 Mogador Class 50 800 40.6 6 only by gun 20,000
owing to fragili-
ty of the loading
system
DB 19'29 Le Fantasque Class 50 800 40.2: 12 20,000
138 1927 La Tour D'Auvergne and 40 700 40.2 or 1'1/15 ]6,650
Vauquelin Classes 39:9
First Class Sloops
(4 lIiso.~ cololfia{Jx)
138 1924-27 Auxiliary Cruisers 40 700 40.5 5,6 18,000
138 1924 Guepard and Valmy Classes 40 700 40.4 5/6 18,800
130 19]5 Dunkerque and Lc Hardi Classes 4:5 800 32.[ J4/15 19800 12,000
130 ]922 Chaeal and L' Adroit Classes 40 735 32 4/5 18,700
130 1919 Bourrasque Class 40 735 32: 4- 1.8,:500
100 19]6 Aurore arid R. Morillot Classes
150 151 Triple 152mm turrets of fast ba'itleship RICHEUEU In 1942,

[JLC CIlII.

152

Forward t30mm guns of,a 'r,500~ton destroyer',

[JLC Coli,

153

Length MIl:;zle Weight of Weigllto! Maximurn Maximum
Calibre Model Ships of bore Velodq Projectile explosive Rare a/fire Range in ceiling
calibre mrs if! kg cirarge i~i kg metres
100 1930 Melpomene Class 40 755 I 15 10 15,000
100 AA 1931 Algerie and Richelieu Class 45 755 15 10 15,800 10,000
100M 1927 Cdl Teste 45 755 15 s 16,800 ]0,000
100 AA 1925 First Class Su bmariaes=-Oil ers 4S 760 13.5 6 15,000 10,000
90 AA 1926 Colbert, Foeh, Dupleix and 50 850 9.5 0.9 6/8- 15,600 9,000
Jules Verne (in twin mounts)
75 1928 Second Class submarines 34,5 6.5 10,500
75 AA 1922-27 Duguay Trouin Class, Suffren 50 850 5.9 8. 14,000 8,000
Tourville Class and 1.500-ton
destroyers F,orward t55mm turret of light cruiser JEANNE D'ARC. 154

[.ILC Coli.

Forward' f52mm guns of ifght cruiser Gl.OIR'E.

[JLC Coli.

1'55

2. French lightano .. aircraft equipment

The following types of AA guns equipped the ships: Weight of Rate af
Muule
Caiibre Model Muullling Velocity Projeettle fire pel'
mis in kg mOlmring
37 1933 Twill 810 0.725 ,85
37 1925 Twin 840 0.725 30
37 1925 Single 840 0,,725 20 The prototype of a telecomrnanded twin 37mm AA turret was tested aboard ihe old Erst Class sloop AMIENS. It was used to good purpose at Dunkirk.

Tile French Navy also utilised single Dame 7.5mm. single, twin and quadruple MAC 7.5mm; single, twin and quadruple 8mm Hotchkiss rnachine-guns: twin and quadruple Hotchkiss 13.2mm heavy machine-guns and single and twin 15mm Hotchkiss automatic guns.

3., Allied anti-aircraft equipment

The most effective were the 40;n:n Bofors guns in twin or quadmple mountings and the 20mm Oerfikon gun.

4. Torpedoes

Big surface ships: 1929 Model D 550mm

Performance: Slow speed-20,OODrn/2.9 knots High peed-l4,OOOmJ35 knots

Aboard corure-torpilleurs and torpilleurs: 1923 Model DT Calibre: 550mm

Weight: 2,105kg

Weight of the explosive charge: 415kg Performance: Slow speed-14.000m/35 knots

High speed-1.0,OOOm/39 knots

Submarines: 1924 Model V Cailbre; 550mm Length: 6.63m Weight: 1,490kg

Weight of the explosive charge: 310kg (Tolite) Submarines: 1926 Model V (air turbine motor) Calibre: 400mm

Performance: Speed-l,400m/44 knots Aircraft;

[11 1939 the French Navy used the 400mn1 DAR torpedo, which had a rnaximum range of 1,OOOm at 35 knots. on board Lareeoere floarplanes. This torpedo was also employed aboard MTBs.

5,. Mines

During the war the French a:vy used mainly the following types of mines: .

Ca) Breguet B2. BJ., 84 M (l60kg) and. Sautter Hade H5 (360k.g) 001 board urface ships. 'there was also a 700kg Breguet spherical type.

(b) Breguet 220kg types for launch from submarines,

156

(Upper lelO A HIOmm gun aboard an aUl(ilia~y patrol boat. (Upper .right) Shfp-,D1!lSed lwin Hotchkiss heavY' machine-gun. (Lower left} A twin 550mm torpedo lube: (Lower right) A 340mm twill turret shore gun at Cap Cepet nea'! Toulon. [ECA

6. Shore-based ArtU~ery

During the war the shore batteries were generally equipped with old model Navy guns; occasionally slow-tire Army guns were used, especially in the Colonies.

The most efficient were:

the 1902 Model [94 with a maximum range of 25,00000, and the 1893-96 Model ,164 with a maximum range of l'9,OOOm.

Toulon was defended by a powerful 340mm twin turret situated at Cap Cepet,

The guns of the 1912 Mo(lellJ:ac.l a range of 38,OOI)m.. .

For the anti-aircraft defence of vitalmiiHtary installations the French Navy selected the 90mm Schneider gun. This weapon was the most modem and powerful mobile AA gun available at the time, II was similar to tile famous dual-purpose 88mn1 German gun, but unfortunately there were not sufficient numbers of them to' fully-equip all three services.

Bay~ri ehe $taatJ" ,j, J.hek Mlll"!cnen

WAR LOSSES Battleships BRETAGNE

PROVENCE DUNQUERQUE

STRASBOURG

Seaplane carrier eDT TESTE

Heavy cruisers COLBERT

FOCH

DUPlJE1X ALGERIE

Light cruisers LAMOITE-PICQUET

PRIMAUGUET

LA TOUR D'AUVERGNE

LA GAUSSONNIERE

JEAN DE V1ENNE

MARSEILLAISE

U Large destroyers JAGUAR

CHACAL LYNX PANTHERE

Blown up and capsized at Mers-EIKebir

Scuttled Toulon

SCUUIed at Toulon and later dismantled

Scuttled at Toulon Refloated

Sunk by bombs

SClIUI.ed at Toulon Refloated but not repaired!

Scuttled at Toulon Scu tt led at Toulon Scuttled at Toulon Scuttled at T oulon

Sunk by aircraft of US Task Force 38 at Saigon

Disabled at Casablanca

Lost as a result of an internal explosion at Casablanca Scuttled at Toulon

Relloated by Italians and renamed FR.12

Se1i:zed by Germans SUM. by bombs Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated and renamed FR.ll by Italians

Seized by Germans Sunk by bombs Scuttled at Toulon

Torpedoed and sunk by German MTB, S.21 and 8.23 otT Malo-I.esBains

Sunk by bombs off Cap d'Alprech near Boulogne

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated but not repaired Scuttled at Toulon

ReHoated by lLali3J1S, towed to La.

158

'311140 21/11/42

27/11/42 27/11/42

17/7143 18/8/44

27/11/42

27/lJl/42 27fH/42 27fll/42 17/11/42

12/1/45 8/11/42

181'9/39

27/11/42

9/9143 1818/44 27/]1/42

13/2/43 9/9/43 24111/43 .1.7/11 liE ~l

.2JjS!40 24/5/40 27/11/42 22/1/44 27/11/42

LEOPARD BISON VALMY

VERDUN

GUEPARD

VAUBAN LlO

AIGLE

VAUTOUR

GERfAUT

MILAN BPERVIER

VAUQUEUN KERSA1NT CASSARD TARl'U

MAILLE BREZE

CHEVALfER PAUL l'AUDACIEUX

L"INDOMPTABlE MOGADOR

VOLTA

Spezzia as FR.22 and scuttled in thi port

Beached and badly damaged ncar Tobruk

Sunk by bombs 65° 42 and 07° 1 i E Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated and towed to Savone as Italian! FR.2:4 .. Scuttled a.l Genoa Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated

Not repaired

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated

Sunk by bombs Scuttled at Toulon Not refloated Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated and towed to La Spezzia as FR.21. Scuttled at Genoa Scuttled at Toulon

R.efioa.ted

Sunk by bombs Scuttled at Toulon Refloated

Sunk by bombs

Scuttled at Toulon Refloated for demolition Sunk by bombs

Hit by a 406mm shell at Casablanca she had EO be beached. Not salvaged Badly damaged by cruiser HMS AURORA off Oran. Beached Refloated and scrap pen

Scuttled at Toulon

Scuttled at Toulon

Seuttledar Toulon

Scuttled at Toulon

Sank as the result of explosion or one or iller torpedoes at. Greenock Torpedoed and sunk by a British aircraft off Lattaquie

Set on fire and badJIy damaged by Australian cruiser AUSTRALIA at Dakar

Refloated and towed to Bizerte For repair. Sunk by bombs

Refioated but not repaired Scuttled at. Toulon .

Badly damaged at Mers-EI,·Kebir. Towed to Toulon and repaired, Scuttled in this port

Refloated but not repaired Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated later but not repaired

159

9/9/43 27/5/43 3/5140 27/11/43

1945 27/11/43 2919/43

21/U/42 4/9/43 11/3/44 27}11}42

27/11/42 1945 27/11/42 10/7/43 24/11/43 27/11142 17}7143

4/2/44 27/11/43 7/6/43 7/3/44

8/11/42

9/11/42 27/11/42 27/11/42 27/11/42 27/11/42

]0/4/40 16/6/41

23/9/40 7/5/43 27/11/42

27/11/42 27/11/42

lr Destroyers

DRAGE TRAMONTANE To.lRNADE

BO URRASQUE

STROCO TYPHON CYCLONE

LA PALME

LE MARS

LE BORDELAIS L'ADROIT

LE FOUDROYANT BOULONNAIS FOUGU UX BRESTQ]S

FRONDEUR

LA RAILLEUSE LE HARDI

LEFOUDROYANT (ex-FLEURET)

L'ADROH (ex-L'EPEE)

MAMELUCK

CASQUE

L- CYCLONE (ex-LANSQ UENET)

LE SIROCO

(eK-LE CORSAIRE)

Sunk by bombs at Boulogne Disabled by BriLish action at Oran Disabled by British action at Oran Shelled and mined off Nieuport near Dunltirk

Torpedoed and sunk by German MTBs 8.26 and S.23 near West Binder Scuttled er Oran

Scuttled at Brest where she was

repairing

Scuttled at Toulon Refloated but not repaired Scuttled at Toulon Refloated but [10[. repaired Scuttled at Toulon

Sunk by bombs at Dunkirk

Sunk by bombs off Dunkirk

Sunk by gunfire oflf Casablanca

Sunk: by gun fire of!' Casablanca Capsized in the harbour of Casablanca after fi,ghbng with US Task Force 34 Capsized in tbe harbour of Casablanca after fighting with US Task Force 34 Sunk by internal explosion at Casablanca

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated and towed to Genoa Scuttled by Germans

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated and renarned Flc.Sf Sunk by Germans lO block the seuthern entry of Toulon Scuttled at Toulon

ReHoated and renamed FR.33 Broken up

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated Badly damaged by bombs Not repaired

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated but not repaired

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated and towed to Imperia as Italian PR.34

Seized and named TA.J4 by Germans Scuttled at Genoa

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated and towed to Genoa as Hal ian F'R._32

Seized by Germans

Scuttled

160

23/5/40 8}1 n/42 SJlI/42

30/5/40 31/5/40 9jlJJ/40

18/6J40 27/lJ./42 26/12/43 27/Uj42

6/5/44 27/11/42 21/5/40

]/6/40 3/1 1/42 8/11/42

8/12/42 8/12/42 24/3/40

17/11/42 7/9/43 24/4/45 27/11/43 20/5/43

8/45 2:7/.11/42 20/4/43

27/11/42 6/8/44

27/11/42 27/11/42 31/8143 9/9/43 1945 27/11/42

10/6/43 9/9/43 28110/44

BISON

(ex.-LE FLIBUSTIER)

Scuuled

Refloated as FR.35-Pol1toolll SUl1k by II German submarine

Seized at Bizene

Towed as Italian FR.43 10 Italy Transferred to Germans and renamed TA.IO

Scuttled after fight with HMS ECLIPSE (Island of Rhodes)

Seized ai Bizerte

Towed to Italy as FR.41 Transferred to Germans and renamed T A.9

Destroyed at Toulon by Allied bombs

Seized at Bizerte

To,wedi to Italy as FR.43 Transferred to Germans and renamed T A..II

Sunk by Italian MTB at Piombino

Capsized at sea 25 miles off Eddystone Lighthouse

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated as Italian FR.44 Captured by Germans

Renamed T A.D

Scunled at Toulon

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated as Italian FR.45 Captured by German

Renamed TA.12

Destroyed by bombs in Aegean Sea.

Scuttlecil at Toulon

Refloated and later sunk

Sunk after she collided with US Cargo ship THOMSON LYKES ill Gulf of Mexico

Seized at Bizerte

Towed to Genoa as FR. 1 13, Seized by Germans

Broken up later

Sunk during the Syrian campaign by submarine HiMS PA_RTHlAN

unk by mines off Kerkenna

161

27/11/42 2.6/6144

8112/42 2.&/12/42

27/9/43 8/12/42 28/12/42

5/4/43 23/8/44

8/12{42 28/[2/42

10/9/43 14/12/40 27/11/42 28/4/43 9/9143

2518/44 27/11/43 ]315143 9/9/43

22/8/43 27/11/43 1/1}43

18/2/42

8,/12/42 9/9f43

25/6/41 15</12/40

l Light destroyers LA POMONE

LA BOMBARDE

L 'JPHllGENIE

BRANLEBAS

LA BAYONNAISE

BALISTE

LA POURSurrv ANTE

Corsair submarine SURCOU.

.." \ First class submarines

REQUIN

SOUFFLEUR

lDAUPHl

CAIMAN

PHOQUE

ESPADO

VENGEUR REDOUTABLE

PASCAL

PASTE R MONGE

FRESNEL

HENRI POINCARE

ACJ-IERO

ACT EON ACHILLE AJAX PROTEE

PERSEE

Seized at Bizerte by Italians Towed to Pozzuoli as FR.US Seized by Germans

Broken up later

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated

Sunk by bombs

Seized at Bizerte Towed [Q Italy Sank during her rust mission as

Italian R.1l1, off Cap Passero (Sicily) 28/]/43

Seized at Bizerte 8/12/42 Towed to Castellamare di Stabia as

FR.1l4. Not commissioned Captured by Germans Scuttled

Scuttled at Toulon

Scuttled at Toulon Refloated

Sud by bombs

Scuttled at TOWOD Refloated

Sunk by bombs

Scuttled! at Brest

Sunk at Diego Suarez by destroyer HMSACTIYE

Scuttled at 'Fnuion

Refloated

Sunk (in the night) R.efloated again Sunk by bombs

Scuttled at Toulon Refloated

Towed to Genoa • Seized by Germans Broken up

Scuttled at Toulon Refloated

Sunk by bombs

Sunk olf Oran by HMS WESTCOTI Scuttled at Brest

Sunk at Dakar by HMS FORTUNE Lost during her secane! mission.

a long the Provence Coast

Sunk by gtIDfire at Dakar from

]-1M Sbips DRAGON, INGlEFIEl.D and FORES[GHT

162

8/12j42 9/9/43

27/11/42 13/2/43 11/3/44

8/12/42

9j9/43 13/9/43

27/11/42 27/11/42 16/5/4] 1113144

27/11/42

5/6/4] ] 1/3/44

18/6/40

8/5/42 27111/42 29/1/43 J 9/2/43 4/5{43 27/11/44

27/11/42 6/43

2/9/43 9/9j43

27/11/42 26/6/43

24/11/43

8111/42 J 8/6/40 24/9/40

12/43

23/9/40

1: SPOIR lE HEROS

LE CONQUERANT PONCELET

LE TONNANT ~GOSI'A SFAX BEVEZIER.S

OUESSANT

SIDl FERRUCH

ROlA D MOR[LLOT

27/11/42 7/5/42 13/1 1{42

Scuttled at Toulon

Sunk at Diego-Suarez by aircraft from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS Sunk off Villa Cisneros by US Catalina fiyirng boats

Severely damaged by HMS MILFORD HAVEN

Scuttled .herself off Port Gentil (Gabon) 8/11/40

Scuuled by her crew olf Cadiz 115/ B 142

Scuttled at Brest 18/6/40

Torpedoed by U.37 off Cap Juby n9/12/40

SU11lk by British aircraft at DIego 5/5/42

Suarez

Refloated 4/43

Scrapped 4/43

Scuttled at Brest 18/6/401

Sunk by aircraft of US carrier

SUWANEE off Casablanca 1l/H}42

Scuttled at Cherbourg just before

her launching 19/6/40

La Second class submarines

NAlADE

SIRE E

GALATHEE ARlA E DANAE EURYDICE

DORIS

CIRCE CALYPSO THETIS ARGONAUTE

DIANE MEDUSE

Scuttled ai Toulon Refloated

Sunk

Refloated

Finally sunk by bombs Scuttled at Toulon Refloated

Sunk by bombs Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated and later sunk by bombs Disarmed at Oran and scnuled in this port

Disarmed at Gran and scuttled in this port

Scuttled ill Toulon Refloated

Slink by bombs

Torpedoed and stink by U.9 off Netherlands Coast

Seized at Bizerte

Scuttled here

Seized at Bizerte

Sunk by bombs il1l the port

cuttled at Toulon

Sunk off Oran by HM Snvps ACHATESami WESCOTI Scuttled at Oran

Reflloaledi and scrapped

Badly damaged and forced to beach. by US ships south of Mazagan (Morocco)

16$,

27/11/42 15/3/43 17)4143 L 7/7/43

24/11/43 27/11/43 l1/7/43 1944 27/11/43 [944

9jll/42 9/11/42 27/11/42

21/6/44 915140 8/]2/42 6/5/43 8/12/42 3011/43 27/11/43

8/1 J /42 9/11142 1944

JO/11/44

A MP1-nTRITE Sunk at Casablanca by aircraft of Old first class sloops
us Task Force 34 8/11/42
OREAnE Refloated and later scrapped YSER Scuttled at Toulon 27/11/42
Sunk at Casablanca 8/11/42 ReHoaled
Refloated ami scrapped FOLmd at La Ciotat as a wreck
I LA SfBYLLE Lost off' Casablanca 8/1)/42 MARNE Scuttled in the River Camho
LA PSYCHE Sunk at Casablanca by aircraft of ( indo-Cl1illa) 10/3/45
II US Task .Force 34 8jll/42 "lES EPARGES Scurtled at Toulon 27/[ 1/42
I VENUS Refloated and scrapped Later destroyed by Germans
Scuttled at Toulon 17/11/42 l'AHURE Sunk off Indo-China by US
AURORE Scuttled at Toulon 27/11/42 submarine FLASHER 29/4/44
LA FAVORITE Construction resumed by Germans VAUQUOlS Sunk by magnetic mille off Brest 18/6/40
as U .2 SUIP'P.E Seized by British 317140
Scuttled at Gdynia Sf7/44 Sunk by bombs 4}4/4]
Salvaged and phased out 18/6/40
, MineJaying submarines E' SHONE HENRY Scuttled at Lorient
SAPHIR Seized at Bizerte 8/12/42
Towed to Naples
TURQUOISE Scuttled in this port 15/9/43 Second class sloops
Seized at Bizerte 8/]2/42
Scuttled there 6{5/43 CDT RIViERE Captured !II Bizerte 8/12/42
NAUTILUS Seized at Bizerte 8/12/42 Sunk at Leghorn by bombs 28/5/43
DIAMANT Sunk by bombs 3 [jJ/43 "l'IMPETUEUSE Scuttled at Toulon 27/11/42
Scuttled at Toulon 27/11/42 Refloated as Italian FR.S4
Refloated 29/3/43 Seized by Germans at 1"0 ulon 9/9/43
Sunk by bomb 1944 Scuttled at Marseilles 1944
PERLE Sunk by mistake 817144- LA CURIEUSE Scuttled at Toulon 27/11/42
EMERAUDE Scuuled on her slipway at Toulon Refloated and renamed FR.S5 4/43
Captured by Germans
Frigates Manned as SO .25
Scuttled at Toulon L944
LA COMBAITANTE Mined and sunk in the Humber river 23/2/45 LA BATAILLEUSE Seized at Bizarre 8/12/42
Renamed F n.s 1 by r tal ians
Corvettes Scuttled at L.9. Spezzia 9 {9/43
Refloated and later scuttled at Genoa 25/4/45
ALYSSE Torpedoed by U.654 8/2/42 LA SURPRISE Sunk off Oran by HMS BR[LLANT 8/11/42
Sunk 10/2/42 CHAMOfS curtled at Toulon 27/11/42
MIMOSA Torpedoed and sunk by U.124 916/42 Refloated and commissioned by
LA BASTIAISE Sunk by a mine off Hartlepool Germans a_ s 8G.21
during her trials 22/6/4fJ Sunk by bomb 23/11/43
Refloated again, but finally sunk by
First class sloops us destroyers 15/8/44
MATELOT LEOLA C Construcuon resumed by enemy
BOUGAlNVILLE Disabled off Libreville by her sister Probably sunk by bombs south of 15/8/44
ship SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA Capri
(FNFL) 9/11/40 RAGEOT DE LA TOUCHE Construction resumed by Germans
AMlRAL CHARNER Scuttled in Mytl:uo river (Indo-China) 10/3}45 and renamed SG.15, sunk off Genoa 2515/44
D'TBERVILLE Scuttled all: Toulon 27/1 ]/42 by HMS UMVERSAL .
R[GAliL T DE GENOUlLL Y Torpedoed and sunk by submarine AMIRAL SENES Scuttled incomplete at Marseilles 21/B/44
HMS PANDORA off Algiers 417140 ENSEIGNE BAU .. ANDE Construction resumed by Germans.
nEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE Scuttled in the Gironde river, before Launched. in May 1944
completing 24/6/40 Scuttled at Pori. de Bouc 2/8/44
164 165 Old eeond class sloops, co QUERANTE

MEULIERE G.RANIT

DtIBOURDIEU ETOURDI IDElDAlG EUSE

Patrol boats L'E JOUE

L'ARDENT

LA CANCALAISE LA LORIE TA.]SE LA HAVRAlSE

LA NANTAISE LA BO OJS£ LA SETOISE

LA CHERBOURGEOTS

Subchasers

C.I07

C.IS

C81

CR.l

CH.4

CH.5 (CAREl TAN) CH.6

CH.7

eH.S (RENNES) CH.9

Seized at Falmouth 3/7/40

Sunk by bombs in this POJrt 14/4/41

Beached and lost at Ajaccio 25/5/41

Scuttled at Toulon 27/11/42.

Refloated and towed to Genoa as wreck .

On disposal lisl ]4/10/41

Sunk at Casablanca 8/Ll/42

Scuttled at Brest 18j6/40

Scuttled at TOIJJOf! 27/11/42

Refloated and renamed FIt.56 by

Italians

Seized bv Germans Final Fate unknown

Torpedoed and slink by German submarine U.B70 off Cap Spartel Lost by collision off Casablanca Sunk by a mine in the Channel Scuttled at Boulegne

Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated and manned bv Germans

as UJ.608 .

Sunk, possibly by submarine CASABlANCA

Sunk under the British flag after a collision

Scuttled at Oran

Scull led at Oran

Scuttled off le Verdon

Sunk after <I collision a! the mouth of the Lo ire

Scunled at Toulon

Seized at Bizerte

Scuttled in this port

Scuuled at Toulon

Refloated, then sunk bv bomb

Scuttled at Toulon .

Refloated

Sunk by bombs

Lost in a rough weather between Poole and Weymo!Jlh

Sunk in the Channel under the Polisb flag

Sunk in the Channel under the Po Ii h flag

Sunk by bombs in the Channel Badly damaged and forced to beach before Dunkirk

166

9/9/43

9/1145 31/1/45 ~/5140 2115/40 27/11/41

9/6/44 8(7145 9/11/42 9/ J lj41 23/6/4()

12/4/40 27/11/42 8/f1142 6/5/43 27/11/41 6/8/44 27/11/42 24/1143 5/7/44

21/12/43

IOj40 10/40 J 3/7/42

2115/40

CH.16

CH.1l6 (ex-US SC-rype)

River gunboats FRANCIS GARNIER TOURANE

MYTHO

COT BOURDAIS AVAI.ANC'HE

VIGILANTE Minesweepers D.202

Minelayer CASTOR

Netlayer

1LE GLADIATIUR

Surveying vessels LAPEROUSE ASTROLABE

OCTANT ESTAFETIE

Seaplane tenders SA S REPROCHE

'SAN PAREIL

Oilers

LA DORDOGNE LA GARONNE

LE LOING

Scuttlled in the Groix Road Sunk, on a mine

Scuttled at Krarie, lndo-Cbjna Scuttled in the Donnai, Indo-China Scuttled in Mekong Della {My-Tho' Scuttled at Halphong

Shelled and sunk at My-Tho by AMIRAL CHARNER to avoid her capture by Japanese

Scuttled at Haiphong

Mined and sunk

Seized by enemy at Blzerte Scuttled in this port

Scuttled at Toulon Refloated

Sunk later by bombs

Scuttled in the Cantho river Sunk by US planes at Tourane, Indo-China

Sunk: by planes of the US Task Force 38, Indo-China

Disabled by USS TILLMANN and forced to b"each at Bcuznika, Morocco

Construction resumed by enemy as SATURN US

Sunk by bombs in the Gironde river Construction resumed by enemy as J PITER

Sunk: by bombs off Yell Island

Scuttled atBrest Scuttled at Toulon Refloated

Sunk

Intentionally damaged .

Refloated and scuttled by Germans at antes

161

18/6/40 11/8/45

9/3/45 9/3/45 9/]/45 913/45

9/3/45 9/3j45

25110/44

8/12/42 615/43

27/IJ/42 )0/3143

12/3/45 26/1/44 12/1/45 8/11/42

6/8}44

6/8/44

1816/40

27/11/42 2114/44 20/6/44 1 i!i6/40

1944

LE RHO E

LA DURANCE

Torpedoed and! sunk b)' _ .37 off Call' Juby

Scut tied at Toulon RefiloaLed

Her wreck found at La Seyne Scuttled at Toulon

Refloated

Seuttjed at M arseilles Sunk at Dunkirk

Torpedoed and sunk by German aircraft off Tenes

Torpedoed and sunk by U.boat off

Cap Juby •

Seized at Bizerte Scuttled at Genoa Scuttled at Brest Scuttled at Toulon Refloated

Sunk by Germans at Toulon

Derequisitioned in ]940-4J Captured by enemy and manned as SG.24

Scuttled at Marseilles

AMPERE (X.81)

]9/12/40 21/11/44 7/5/43 1944 27/11/44 30/5/43 i 944, 21/5/40

] J 111/43 22/6/43 8/12/42 919/43

1816(40 27/11/42 21/4/44 20/6/44

1944

LA RANCE

Auxiliary patrol boats

BARSAC (P.20) Beached and sunk off Vigo

CERONS (P.2]) Sunk by shore batteries oft Fecamp

MOUETTE (P.49) Scuttled off Brest

MURAD (P.lOO) Lost

POULM1C Sunk by bombs in the Channel

SERGENT GOVAR E (P.4]) Torpedoed and sunk off Alboran

TERRE NEUVE (P.i8) Sunk at Mers-el-Kebir

VIKINGS (p.4l) Torpedoed and sunk off Syrian coast (as British U.78)

VICTORIA (P.B) Beached olf Fidalah following exchange of gunfire with British warship

6/1/40 12/6/40 18/6/40 9/3/40 10/40 26/JJ43 6/3/40

30/4/42 8/11/42

LE NIGER

IVOSE

LE LOT LE TARN

LA DORDOGNE lA GARONNE

Transports AUDE

GOLD

Refrigerator ships CHAMPLAIN HAMEL!

Auxiliary minesweepers

Scuttled at Toulon Scuttled at Toulon

27/U/42 27/Uj42

8111/42 19/5/40

Scuttled at Fidalha

ABBE DESGRANGES (AD.339)

AUGUSTm NORMAND (AD.49)

BERYL (AD.305)

Sunk by a. mine at Le Havre

Probably torpedoed by US submarine BOWfl off coast of Annarn, Indo-

China 24/11/43

Lost in a tempest 27/3/40

Set 00 tire and sunk off Dunkirk 6140

Sunk accidentally 6/40

Scuttled at Cantho 1213,/45

Scuttled at Boulogne 20/5/40

Scuttled at Toulon Scuttled at Toulon

27/11/42 27/11/42

Ex-armed merchant cruisers

BLEl MOR (AD.38I) CAP BEAR (AD.409)

CAP CARTERET <AD.4ll) CAPITAINE COULON (AD. 3 14)

CHRISTiANE CECILE IAD.9l)

DEMS PAPIN (AIl.4S) DUONNAIS rAn.33)

DlR. GENERAL PICANlN DUQUESNE (AD.16)

E\\flLE DESCHAMPS (AD.20)

STEREL v (AD.359)

EnE E RTMBERT

(AD .. 24)

ETOILE DU NORD CAD.l) GAULO[S (AD.62)

HENRY GUEGA.N (AD.11) INGENT.EUR REIBEL INTREPIDE

JACQUES COEUR (AD.30) KERGRUlSE (AD. U4) lEAN PIERRE CLAUDE

L DJEZAIR (X.17) (VILLE D'ALGER)

Derequisitioned in ]940-41

Captured by Germans and transferred to the Italians who renamed her

CASSINO

Sunk by Anted planes Derequisitioned in 1940-411

Employed later by Italians as AQUINO

Sunk by Allied aircraft in the icily Canal

Derequlsiticned in 1940-41 Seized by Italians and renamed

A AGNI

Scuttled at Marseilles Derequisitioned in 1940 I

Sunk by German plane at Bougie Refloated later

Derequisiuoned in 1940.-41 Captured later by Germans and

torpedoed by HM Submarine SHAKESPEARE off Cap San Vito and beached near Trapani

BO GAINVTLLE . . Sunk by British aircraft and ship

(ex-VICfOR SCHOELCHER) al Diego-Suarez

25/6/44

EL KANTARA (X.A6}

Sunk at Dunkirk 1/6/40

Sunk at Dunkirk 26/5/40

Bombed and sunk in Tourano Harbour 26/2/44 Sunk by a mine at tile mouth or the Escaut

Sunk at OM Foreland L

2/4/43

L M. SOUR (X.06)

IS/S/4fJ 4/6/40

3/7/40 6/40

Torpedoed at Mers-El-Kebir Scuttled al Dieppe

8/44

KOUTOUBIA (X_04)

24/5/40 6/40 15/5/40 6/40 6/40 21/5/40 .18/6/40 23/11/39

Sunk at Dunkirk Scuttled at Le HavTI:

Sunk in the mouth of the Eseaut Scuttled at Cherbourg

Scuttled ar Le Havre-

Sunk of[ Dunkirk

curded at Lorient

Beached and sunk at Casablanca

13/11/42

ESTEREl (X.2l)

5/5/42

169

168

LEOPOLD SO BUN

AD.27)

LA .BR TONNIERE (AD.56) Scuttled at Le Havre

LA JEANNE (AO.386) Sunk off Dunkkk

LA JEANINE (AD.386) Torpedoed at Mers-EI-Keb:iE

LA MAlO (AD.387) Sunk afi Dunkirk

MARDYCK (AD.26) Disabled at Breskens (Escaut river)

MARlE MAD Mined, Corsica

MARGUERITE ROSE Sunk at Dunkirk

(An.2))

MARIE THERESE (AD.214) MARIE YVETTE (AD.157) .lE MATELOT (AD.8) MIMI .PIERROT (AD.401) MARQUITA MOUSSATLLON (LE)

(AD. 79)

NOTRE DAME DES DU ES Sunk at Dunkirk

OTRE DAME DE Sunk by bombs off Dunkirk

LORETTE (AD.S5) PAUL BERT lAD.315)

PATRICE II (AD.53) Lost at Fecarn,p

PIERRE POCI:IOLLE (AD.44) Lost

PLUVIOSE (AO.63) Scuttled at Lorienr

RIEN SANS PEINE (AD.I07) Sunk at Dunkirk

ROCHE FRANCOISE Scuttled, at Toulon

(AD.Ll9) "

SAlNT BENOIT (AD3) SAINTE CLAIRE SAINTE MARGUERlTE (AD.35)

SAINT JOACHIM (AD5) VENUS (AD.76) VETERAN (AD.6)

YILt OlE BIZIERTE (AD. 234)

Auxiliary harbour defence launches

CHIEN DE MER (vp.64) Bombed by British aircraft in Sousse

Harbour

JEANNE PASCAL (VP.39) Scuttled at Chetbourg

JOSEPH MARTE (VP.31) Lost at Dunkirk

REINE DES FLOTS cvP-18) Scuttled at Le Havre

TROMBE II (VP .. 29) Sunk at Dunkirk

I

I

Scuttled at Boulogne

Lost off Eastia

Sunk accidentally in the Gironde river Sunk at Dunkirk

Sunk at Dunkirk

Scuttled at Cherbol.!Tg

Sunk at Dunkirk

Scuttled at Cantho

Sunk at Dunkirk Mined, North Sea Lost

Sunk by bombs off Dunkirk:

Sunk at Dunkirk

Lost off Ca.!ais iii collision

Sunk by a mine in the Mediterranean

170

21/5/40 11/6/40 25/5/40

3/7/40 27/5/40 . 5/5140 28/11/43 28/5/40

15/7/40 7/3/40 24/5/40 28/5/40 6/40

5/6/40

2515/40 26/1/40

913/45 1116/40 12J6j40 18/6/40 2H5/40

27/11/42

21/5/40 21/11/39

21/5/40 116/40 6/2/40 1.3/5/40

1.8/12/42 2915/40 13/6/40 25/5/40

Abbe Desgranges, 169 Acheron, 76, F62' Achille, 76, 162 Acoait, 17, 94 Acteun, 76, 78, 16] Adour, L', J47

Adroit, L', (Destroyer), 63, 65,160 Adroit, L', ex-L'Epee, (Destroyer), 66,

160

Africaine, L'. 85 Agate, L', 90 Agile, [.'. 70, 72 Agosta, 76.163 Aiglc, 55, 159 Aiglon, J20 Ailette,99

Air France I 10 [V, .122 Alacienne, L', 106, 107 Ajax, 76, 162

Albatros, 35

Alcyon, L', 65, 66 Algerie, 39, f58 Algerien, 95

Algeroise, L', ]07 Alphee, L', 111 Alsacien, 1.', 70, 72 Alvsse, 17,94. 164 Amazone,83

Ambroise Pare, 120 Amiem;,99

Amiral Charrier, 97, 164 Amini. MOIl.Cli:u::Z, 133 Amiral Senes, 103, 165 Ampere, 169 Amphitrite, 83,.164- Anl;;l'e,.lOO Andromaqne, L', 85 Androm.i?de, L', 85, 87 Annamite, 102 Antigone, L', 85,87 Antiopc,83

Aramls.135

ArcllimMe, 76

Ardent, L-, tos, no, 166 Arethuse, 80. 163

Argo, 76

Argonaute, 82, {61 Argus, 1.29

Ari!Ule,80

Arrnide, L" 85

Arras, 9:8, 99

Artemlse, L-. 85

Asie, Jl9

Aspirant Brun, 117 Astree, L', 85, 87

INDEX

Aube, 144

Audacieux, L", 57. 60, 159 Audacieuse, 106

Aude, 14'8, 168 Allci.ieme,1.13

Augustin Normand, 169 Aurore, 85, 164

A us iral, 149

Atalante, 82

Atlantique. 118 Atteiltif. L', 108 Avalanche, 129, 167 Avenrure, " 93 Aventurier, LOt 66

Baalbeck, J 12 Baliste, 69, 70, 161 Balny, 129 Bambara, 102 Barfleur, 136 Barsac, 115, 169 Basque, 11, 65 Bayonne, 112

Beam, 7, 8', j J, 32', 46 Beauiemps Beaupre, 97, 164 Beltort, 99

Beniguet, 124

Benodei, Jll

Beryl. 169

Beveziers, 76, 78, .l63

Bison (large Destroyer), 12, 52, 51, 159 Bison, ex-Le Flimbustier (Destroyer),

66, 161

IUei MO'f, 169 Bomb:;ude,69 Bordelais, 65 Boreal, 149 Bouclier, 69

Bougainville (ex-Victor Schoelcher],

/37, 168

Bougainville, 95,97, 164 Boulogne, 112 Boulonnais, 65, 160 Bourrasque, 62, 63, 160 Branlebas, 69, 160 Brestois, tH, 160

Bretagne, 7, 13, 21, 14, 158 Brurnaire, 87

(".25, J so, 165 CSl, 110' C.:S6.110' C,5S, 110' C.74, 110 C.SI, 110, 166

171

C.95, no

C.98, 110

CI06, IIO

C.I07, no, 1M Catrnan, 75. 162 Calais (Sloop), 99

alais, 112

Calyp 0, 79, 163

Cap Bear, J69

Cap Carteret, 169

Cap Corse. 114

Cap Couronne, 127 Cap Des Palmes, J 36 Cap Fagnel, / J 7

Cap "N oro, 117 Capitaine Armand, 119 Capitalne Coulon. 169 Capricorne, J ts Carabinier, W8 Carentan, 111,111,166 Casablanca, 16" 78, J61 Casque, 66, 160 Cassard, 57, 159 Castor, 14 I, 167 Cavalier, lOB

Cazoar, 1 f 9

Ceres, 84

Cerons, 115, 169

CH.l, 111, 166

CH.2 and CR.), I J I CHA, Ill, 112. !66 CH.5 to CH.9. 111. 166 CH.W to CH.B, 111 CH.16, Ill, 167 CH.4I,lJJ

CH.42,113

CR.43, 113

CH.45 to ChI.43, 113 CH.51 llnd CH.52. 1!3 CH.61 and CH.62, J 13 CH.Bl to CH.8j, JJj CH.91 to CH.96, JJ3 CH.tOI,113

CH.102 to CH.I07,114 CR.Il! LoCH.lIS.114 CH.116, 114. 167 CH.l21 to CH.126, 1I4 CH.131 10 CH.136, 114 CH.141 to CH.14,6,.114 Chacaf, 50, 52, 158 Chamois, 101, J03. 165 Champlain. 149, 168 Charles Plumier, JJ7 Chateau Renault, 50 Chevalier. Pau], 57, 159 Chevreuil, 102, )03 Chien De Mer, 170' Chirnere, 134

Christiane Cecile. 169 Cimeterre, 107, J JO Circe, 79. 163

Clairvoyant, 118

Clemenceau, 8, 27

Coetlogon. 148

Conunandant Bary. 100, 101 Commandant Bourdais, 129, 167 Commandant Delage, 100. 102 Commandant Detrnyat, 94 Commandant Domine, 100, 102

Co rnmand an I Drogou, 94 Commandant Dubee, JOO, 102 Commandant Riviere, 100. J02. 165 Commandant Teste, 7,34, ss, 158 Colbert, 39, 15B

Colonel Casse, /1'1

Colombie, 135

Conquerante, 104, 166

Courbet, 7,20

Coutelas, 108, J 10'

Couey, 99

Croix de' Lorraine', 93' Curie !e;>;.-HMS Vox), 88 Cyclone, 62, 63, J60 Cyrnos, 114

0,202, 124. 167 0.311 ro D.JI!l, 124 D.l::!1 ro D.327, 124 D.J31,124

0.332 to D.337, 125 D.341 W 0.346,115 0.351 to D.356, /15 0.361 to 0..368. 115 D.3,88,125

Dague, 108, uo Danae, 80, 161 Dauphin, 75, 162 Dedaigneuse, 10'6, 166 De Grasse, 50'

Denis Papin, 169

D' Enrrecasteaux, 97 Desa.ix,60

Diamant, 89, 164 Diane, 83, tes D'Jberville, 97, 164 Dilonnais, 169 Diligente .. !O4

Dir. General Picanin, 169

Doris, (Second class submarine), 79, 161 Doris, ex~HMS Vineyard ISecond class submartne), 88

Doudar -de- Lagrec, 129

Dragon, 108

Dubourdieu, i05. 166 Dugnay-Trouin, u. 43, .50 Dumont D'UJ"Ville, 97 Dunkerque, 7, 10, 1 J, 24, 26, 158 Duperre, Ii 9

DupJcix, 39, 158

Duquesne (Heavy cruiser), 18,21.17 Duquesne (Auxiliary minesweeper), 169

172

1?ffrmlli:, L', 1,08 Elan, {DO, 102 EI Biar, u

EI Diezair, 135, 168 EI Kantara, 135, 168

EI Mansour, 12, J36, 168 Elarn. /46

Emeraude, 90, 164

Emile Benin, 18.32,46,50 Emi!e Deschamps. 169 Engagcante, 104, tos EnjoUJe, L·. lOB, I/D, 166 Enseigne 18<1.lIande, ./OJ, 165 Enseigne Henry, 105, /65 Entreprenant, L' •. 70

Epee, 'J 66

Epervier.55, 159

Epinal, 99

Eros. 121

Escarboucle, L', 90 Escarrnouche. L', 93 Espadon, 75. 162

Espoir, L" 76. 161 Estafeue, 134, J 35, 167 Esterel, H6, 168

Esterel V,. 169

Etienne Rimbcrl. 169

Etoile du Nord, 169 Eteurdi, 106, 166 Eu.rydice.80. 163

Eveille, 1:, J08

Excellent, 119

F. ntassin, 108

Fauvette n, 127

Fleurel,66

Florea], 87

Foell, 39, f58

Forbin, 21, 65

Fo,.fait, 148

Fondroyaru, le (Destroyer}. 65, 160 Foudroyant, Le, ex- Fleuret l Destroyer),

66

Fougueux, le, 65

. resnel, 76, 78., 162 France. 20

Franc-Tireur, IDB Francis-G arnier; /28. 167 Frirnaire, 87

Frondeur, Le, 65, 160 Fructidor. 87

Golo, 11/9, 168 Goum.ier, 108 Grana, 105, 166 Grenadier, 108 Greenland, J 16 Guepard, 52, 51, 159 Guicb!!n.50

Hamelin, 149, J68 Hardi II, US

Henri Poincare, 76, 162 Henry Guegarr, 169 Hermione, L', 85, 87 H.ova,95

Hoch.e,60

Hussard, 108

Heureux, 117

Ibis, L', lJJ

Impassible, L" }41 [mpetueuse, L', 100, 102, 165 Inccrnprise, L", 69

Indiscrer, li.:, /08 Indompraale, L', 57, 60, J 59 Ingernieur Reibel, 169 lmrepide, L', 66

Intrepide, J6r;

Iphigenie, L', 69, 161

Iris, 84

Jacques Coeur, 169 Jaguar, 52, /58

Javelor, 108, J 10

Jean Bart, 8, 27, 30

Jean de Vienne, 47. 158 Jea n Frederic. J 20 Jeanne d'Arc, 32, 44. 46 Jeanne el Genevieve, 14B Jeanne Mari,e, 120 Jeanne Pascal, .170

Jean Pierre Claude, 169 Jean Rigaud, 127 Joffre, 8, sz. 3'/;

Joseph Marie, 170 Jules Verne, f}8

Junon, 17, 84

Jutland, 116

Kergevise, J 69 Kersalnt, 57. 159 Kleber, 60 Koutoubia, 136, 168

La. Batse, 147

La Bastialse, 94, 164

La Bacailleuse, 100. J01. '65 La Bayadere, 85, 87

La BayoDllaise, 69, 70, /61 La Bombarde, 69, 161

La Bonoise, 106, 107, 166 La Boudeuse, lOa, 102

173

Gi!..lalhec,/jO, 163 Gascogne, 8, 30

Gaston Ri .. ier, 134, 115 Gaulois, 169

Gazelle, 101

Georges Leygues, 17, ts, 47, 50 Gerfaut, 55, 159

Germinil.87

Gloire, 18,47.50

La Bretonniere, ) 70

La Cancalaise, 106, 107, 166 La Capricieuse, 100, J02

La Cbareme, 147

La Cherbourgeoise, 107, 166 La Clnrinde, 85, 87

La Combattante, /7, 90, 164 La Confiance, 93

La Corlielie.re. 69

La Cornelle, 85

La Creole, 85

La Curicuse, 13, JOO, 102, 165 La Decouverte, f)J

La Dieppoise, 93

La Dordogne, /4J, 167 La Durance, 144, 168 La Favorite, 85, 87. 164- La Flore, 69

La Galissonnjere, 47. J58 La Garonne, l4J, 167

La Gorgone, 85, 87

La Gracieuse, 100, 102

La Grandiere, (e: x -Ville d'Ysj, 97 La Guadeloupe, 78

La. Havraise, J06, 1.07, 166 La Jeanne, j 70

La Jeanine, 170

La Lorientaisc, 106, 107, J66 ]La Lurenne, 104, 105

La Majo, J 7()

lLa Malouine. 93

La Martinique, 78

La Mayenne, 147

La Melpomene, 69

La Moqueusc. 100, 101 La Mouerte, 133

La Nantaise, 106, 107, 166 La Paimpolaise, 94

La Palrne, 63,65, 160

La Pomone, 69, lei

La Poursuivarae, 69, 70, Nil La Praya, 78

La Psyche, 83, 163 La Oulmperoise, 107

La. Railleuse, 61, 65, 160 La Rance, 144, 168

La Reunion, 78

La Rieuse, 100

La Sablaise, 107

La Saone, 147

it Seine, 147

La Servanaise, 107

La. Setuise, JG6, 107. 166 La Sultane, 81

La. Surprise (ex-Bambare), J01, 101,

165

La. Surprise, .93" b Sybille, 83, /64'

La Toulonnaise, 106, J01

La Tour dAuvergne, 43', 44, 158 La Vesiale, 82

Lamotte Picquct, 41, 158

a rider. J 08

Lansquenet (ex-US Sub haser], 108 Lansquenet (see Le Cyclone), 66 Laperouse (FirsL class sloop), 97 Laperouse (Surveying vessel), 114, 16.7

armor, l!J Lassigny, 99 Lavandou, 113 Le Bengali, 133 Le Bre Lon, 70 Le Centaure, 76

Le Conquerant, 76, 7B, {63 Le Cora.H, 90

Lc Conn o ran , 133 Le Corsaire. 66

Le Corse, 70, 72

Lc Cyclone (ex-Lans Quenet), 66, 160 Le Fantasque, 57, 60

Le Farouche, 70. 71

Le Fier, 70

Le Flibustier, 66 Le Fortune, 21, 61

Le Foudroyant (ex-Fleuret), Mi, 160 Le Gladiateur, 141" 16;

Le GIQrie1:jK, 76. 78

Le Goe~and, 133

Le H ardi, 65, 160

Le Heros, 76, 78, 163

e Laing, 143, 144, 167 Le Lot, 147, 168

Le Malin, u, 57, 60 Le Mars. 63. 65, 160' Le Matelor, 110

Le Mekong, )4.4

Le M oussailton, 170' Le Ni~<IIs, 70

Le Iger, 146, 168 Le Normand, 70

l.e Parisien, 70'

Le Pelican, 13'3

Le Provencal, 7'0 Le Rhorie, 144. J68 Le Ruse, lOB

Le Resolu, 108

Le Saintongeais, 70 Lc Savoyard, 70'

Le Sirceo [ex-Le orsaire), 66. f(j() Le Tarn, 147, J68

Le Temeraire, 66

Le Terrible, 57. 60

Le Tennant, 76, 78, 163 Le Tricmphant, 57. 60 Le Tunisien, 7Q

Le Vigilant, 108

Le Volomai re, J08 Legiormaire, 108 Leopard, 17,52, 159 Leopold Souhlin J 70 Leoville, J!5

Liamnne, 147

174

Lion, 52, 53, 159 Listrac, 116 Lobelia, /7, 94

Lorraine, 7, 13, 14, 18,21 Lynx, 52,. 08

Les Eparges, 99, J65 Les UUatcs, 1ll

Maille Breze, 57, J59

Mamell.lck (ex-·US subcbaser), iOfJ Mnrneluck (Destroyer), 66, }60 Marceau, 60

Mardyck, J 70

Marguerite Rose, 170

Mariget, J 15

Marne, 98. 165

Marie Mad, }70

Marie Therese, 170

Marie Yvette, f70

Marocain, 95

Marquita, 170

Marsnuin, 75

Marseillaise, 47, 158

Matelot Leblanc, 101, 165 Medierda. 147

Medoc, 116

Meduse, 83, }6]

Mercedita, 116

Messidor. 87

Meuliere, 105, 166

Milan, 55, {59

Mimi Pierret, 170

Mimosa. J 7. 94, 164

Minerva, 116

Minerve,84

Mistral, 62, 63

Mogador, 14, 60, 62, fj9 Molene, 124

Monge, 76, 78, }62 Montcalm, 17, 18, 47. 50 Mon.1 Cassel, 119

Morse, 75, 162

Morse (ex-HMS Vortex), 88 Monette. 120, 169

Mur~d, 12l', 169

MyUtIO, 128. 167

Naiade, 80, 163

arval IFim class submarine). 75, 161 arval, ex-hal. Bronze, (Se ond class submarine), 88

auihus, 89, 164

azareth, 12!

ivose {Oiler), 146, 147, 168

ivi:ise (Second class submarine), 87 otre Dame des Dunes. J 70

otre Dame d'Esperance, 1.20

otre Dame de France, 1 J 9

'otFe Dame de Lorette, 170 Nymphe, .80

Ocean, 20

Octant, l'34, 135, 167 Ondine,80 Opinlarre, L', 66 Orage, 61, 61, J60 Oranaise, L', 107 Oreade, 83, 164 Orient, 1.21

Orion, 82

Orphee,83

Ouessant (first class subma ririe), 76,

163

Ouessant (MotOT launch>, 124 Ouragan, 62, 61

Pairnpol, I J 2

Painleve, 8, 32, 30J

Pallas, 84

Palmyre, 122

Pant here, 52, J 58

Paris, 7,20

Pascal, 76, 162

Pascali Paoli, J J.5

Pasteur, 76, 162

Paul Ben, 170'

Patrice n, 170

Patde,118

Pegase, 76, 78

Perle, 89, 164

Persee, 76, 162·

Pessac,116

Petit Poilu, J 19

Phenix,87

Phoque, 75, 16

Pierre Alliin!, 120

Pierre Pocholle, 170

Pique, 107, 110

Pluton, 41

Pluvicse ISecond class submarine), 81 Pluvio~e (Auxiliary minesweeper], 170 Po·Uw;:, J 38, J 4J

Pomerol, 116

Poncelet, 76, 163

Prairial, 87

President Houduce, JJ6

President Theodore Tissier, 133, 134 Primauguct,41, J58

Prirnevere, 127

Prornethee, 76

Pro tee, 76, 78, 162 Provence. 7, 14,21.24,158

QLlercy, 137

Rageot de La Touche. 103, 165 Redoutable, 75. 76, 162

Reine de" FlO-IS. n 9, t70 Rennes, 112, J66

Reeoncule, 94

Rcquin; 75, 16/

Richelieu, 8, 14. 18.27

175

Rien Sans Peine, 170

Rigault de Gcnauilly, 97, 164 Roche Francoise, f70

Roland Morillot, 78. }6] Roselys.94

Rubi , 17, 89

Sabre, .107, 110

Saim Alain. 124

Saint Benoit, 170

Sainte Claire, no

Saini Guenole, 124

Saint Joachim, 170

Salnte Marguerite, flO

Saint Pierre d'Alcanrara, 120 Saint Ronan. 124 Saint-Yves, J24

Sampierc Corso, 1 JS

Sans Crainte, 141, 167

Sans Pareil, 141, 167

Sans Peur, 141

Sans Reprnche, 142. 167 Sans Souci, [42

Saphir, 88, 89, 164 Salliernes. 115 Savorgnan de Brazza, 97 Sein, /14

Sentinel le, 134. Jjj Senegalais, 9.5

Sergent Gouarne, } J 7, 169 Sfax, 76, 78, 163

S,idi Ferruch, 76, 78, 163 Sidi Obka, 1/5

Simoun. 62, 6)

Sirene. 80, 163

Siroco (Destroyer), 62, 63. 160

Siroco, ex-Le Corsaire (Destroyer). 66 Somali, 95

Somme, \)8

Souffieur, 75. 1M

Spahi, J08

Strasbourg, 7, 10, 14, 24, 16, 158 Suft'ren, 21, 39

Suippe, 100, 165

Surcouf, 7, J7, 71, 161

Surrnulet, J 21

Tahure, 99, 165

Tapageuse, 106

Tartu, 57, 159

Terneraire II, 118

Tempele,62

Terre euve, 26, lIS, 169

Thermider, 87

Thetis, 79, 161

Tigre. 52

Tiraillelu, 108 Tenkinois. 91

Tnrnade, 62. 61. 160 Tcurane, 118. 167 Tourville, 21,34 Tramoruane, 62. 6J. 160 Trombc, 62. 63

Trombe II. 170 Tunisien, 95

Turquoise, 88, 89 Typhon, 61, 63, J60

Vaillant, 118

Valmy, 53, /59

VaT,146

Vauban, 51, 159 Vauquelin,55 57, 159 Yauquois, 99, 165 Vautour, 55, 159 Vendemiaire, 87 Verigeur, 76, 161

Venus (Second class submarine}, 84,164 Venus (Auxiliary minesweeper), J 70 Vetrtose, 87

Verdun, 5J, /59

Velemn,170

Victoria, J 18. 169

Vigilante. 129, 167

Viking, 17, 116, 169

Ville d'Aiaccio, I J 5

Ville d'Alger, 12

Ville de Bizerte, 170

Ville d'Oran, 12, 136

Ville d'Ys, 97

ViUe cl'Y [c. -Andrcmece), 98 Vivagel, 1.17

Volt;!, 60, 62, 159

Voltigeu.r, 108, J J'()

VP.I to VP.t6, 122'

VP,2l, ]2)

VI?31,112

VIi"_32,122

VP.41 and VP,42, 122 VTB.8, 10 to VTB.n 1:'1 ITS. I) and VTB.14, /17 VTB.IS to VTB.22, 127 VTB.23 [0 VTB.40, 127

Ypres,99

Yser, 98, 165

17'6