Guepard class destroyers (1928)

French Navy – Contre-Torpilleurs de 2400 tonnes. 6 built 1927-1930, in service until 1942: Guepard, Valmy, Verdun, Bison, Lion, Vauban.

The Guepard class destroyers were a follow-up of the Jaguar class built in 1922-25. They were retrospectively called the “2400 tonnes” by contrast to the previous “2100” tonnes and officially were called “contre-torpilleurs”, since the standard or “1500 tonnes” destroyers built in the same decade were called “torpilleurs”. They were not torpedo boats in any way but destroyers. The Guepard were large destroyers, quite unique for their time. Inspirations came from war prize such as the ex-S113 and British RN flotilla leaders of 1917-1918. Their role was very different from the “torpilleurs” as they were essentially scouts for the battle fleet.

The Marine Nationale thus built a serie of uniform classes of such “contre-torpilleurs”, successively 2100, and three classes of 2400 tonnes ships, the Guepard, Aigle and Vauquelin class. They were quite uniform in design and a true departure from the previous Jaguar class. Not only they were larger, but also possessed a better range and four funnels versus three on the Jaguar (also called Chacal in many publications). The Guepard class were those which introduced this new standard, based on the experience gained with the six Jaguar class.

These vessels were called also “conducteurs de flottille” (literal translation or flotilla leaders) as their secondary role was indeed to lead 1500t standard destroyers formations, but also hunt down enemy destroyers and face enemy light scouts. For their missions they required high speed in all weather, good endurance and a powerful armament to attack and defend themselves. The French, in order to give them a qualitative edge, looked at beefing up their capabilities, and instead of the usual 120-127 mm gave them 5.5 inches or 130 mm main guns, and instead of 533 mm or 21 inches torpedo tubes, 550 mm was the French standard. On paper, this gave them a better impact. However at large, with a standard displacement of 2440 tonnes and fully loaded of 3400 tonnes, they looked still a bit under-armed and lacking speed. 36 knots was average, not stellar, but this was their fully loaded speed. On trials they reached 40 knots. This was even beaten in 1932 with the Fantasque class, capable of 37 knots FL as designed, but up to 42.5 knots on trials, with new improved main guns and more torpedo tubes.

The Guépard-class were six ships laid down in 1927 and commissioned in 1930, roughly similar to the previous Jaguar class, but with a larger hull and slightly improved plus a new gun armament with 138 mm guns (5.5 in)/40 of a new design. They were to be all named after animals of prey like the previous class, but by political decision, three were given “V” names, two battles and a field-marshal. The Guepard class fought in World War II but apart Bison sunk by the Luftwaffe in Norway in May 1940, all remaining ones were scuttled in Toulon on 27 November 1942.

Career of the Guepard class

Destroyer Guepard -ONI203 booklet for identification of ships of the French Navy -PD (cc)

Guépard (“Cheetah”) was Built by Arsenal de Lorient, laid down on xxx, launched on, Completed 13 August 1929, Scuttled 27 November 1942. Refloated 4 September 1943. Bombed and sunk March 1944 Refloated 1947 and broken up.

Valmy (named after the battle of Valmy) was Built by Ateliers et Chantiers de St Nazaire-Penhoët, St. Nazaire, Completed 1 January 1930.
She was scuttled, Seized by Germans 27 November 1942, Refloated 15 March 1943 and began refit as Italian Navy FR 24, Captured by Germans at Savona September 1943. Wreck found at Genoa 1945 and broken up.

Verdun was named after the battle of 1916. She was Built by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, St Nazaire, Completed 1 April 1930. Scuttled 27 November 1942. Refloated 29 September 1943. Bombed and sunk 1944, Refloated 1948 and broken up in Italy.

Bison was built by Arsenal de Lorient, Completed 10 October 1930. She was sunk by German Junkers Ju 87 Stukas while taking part in the evacuation of Namsos, on 3 May 1940, off Trondheim. Out of 229 members on the crew, 136 were lost. Survivors from Bison were picked up by HMS Afridi, which was then also sunk by the Stukas.

Lion was Built by Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk. Completed 21 January 1931. Scuttles Nov. and seized by Germans 27 November 1942. Given to Italy and entered service as FR 21. Scuttled at La Spezia 9 September 1943.

Vauban (named after Marshal Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban) was built by Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk, Completed 9 January 1931. Scuttled 27 November 1942. Never refloated by the axis. Refloated 12 May 1947 and broken up.

Read More/Src

Books

Cernuschi, Enrico & O’Hara, Vincent P. (2013). “Toulon: The Self-Destruction and Salvage of the French Fleet”. In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2013.
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press.
Jordan, John & Moulin, Jean (2015). French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d’Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs 1922–1956. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.
Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). NIP
Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. NIP

Links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu%C3%A9pard-class_destroyer

WW2 French Destroyers

Videos

Model Kits

3D