Bourrasque class Destroyers (1924)

French Navy – Standard 1500t destroyers, 14 built 1925-1931, in service until 1952:

The Bourrasque class was an important class of French destroyers built in the mid-1920s. These ships, also known as contre-torpilleurs (large destroyers or flotilla leaders), were designed to accompany the French fleet and provide strong offensive capabilities. They were among the first modern destroyers in the French Navy, and their design influenced subsequent classes like the L’Adroit class. The Bourrasque class was part of France’s efforts to improve its naval fleet after World War I, addressing the need for versatile, multi-role ships.

The destroyer Ouragan (“Hurricane”)

They measured around 105 meters (344 feet) for a beam of 9.7 meters (32 feet), a displacement of Approximately 1,500 tons (standard, hence their classification as 1500t class DDs) and 2,000 tons (fully loaded). Their design emphasized a high speed with a narrow beam, making them relatively fast but less stable in rough seas. They were capable of 33 knots (61 km/h or 38 mph) in favourable conditions, for a range of Approximately 3,000 nautical miles at 15 knots, a respectable range for its time, allowing for operations in both the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
They were armed with four 130 mm (5.1 in) guns mounted in single turrets, for a decent firepower against surface targets (120-127 mm was standard at the time). For AA defence they carried two 37 mm AA guns and two twin 13.2 mm mounts. They also had two triple 550 mm torpedo tubes, and two depth charges racks, but later in wartime, received throwers.

Intended for fleet escort duties, anti-submarine patrols, and torpedo attacks they were designed to engage enemy destroyers and larger ships with torpedoes, while also providing defense against submarines. Bourrasque was the lead ship, notable vessels were Cyclone, Orage, Ouragan, and Simoun. They saw action in the early stages of World War II, particularly in operations related to the German invasion of France in 1940. 3 were lost in combat in 1940, one scuttled to prevent capture, 2 destroyed during Operation Torch in Nov. 1942 and some taken over by the Germans and Italians after France fell. They helped establish the blueprint for later French destroyer designs, focusing on speed and multi-role capabilities.

The Bourrasque class is a series of twelve torpedo boats of the French Navy (1923 batch) and entered service from 1926 to 1928. Each unit is named after a wind. The 26 “contr torpilleurs” known collectively as the “1,500 tons” and “three pipes” were the first French destroyers built after the First World War. They belonged to two practically identical classes, the 12 Bourrasque and the 14 L’Adroit. They were contemporary (but slightly more powerful) compared to the earlier British destroyers Class V and W. Two modified units were built and delivered to the Polish Navy under the name of Wicher class, ORP Wicher and the ORP Burza. The first was lost during the 1939 campaign but the second served with the Free Polish Navy in WW2.

ONI Specs, Simoun

This class paid a heavy toll to allied evacuations from Dunkerque during Operation Dynamo, here a famous photo of Bourrasque going down with French troops on deck

Career of the Bourrasque class

Bourrasque was laid down at Ateliers et Chantiers de France (ACF) in Dunkirk on 12 Nov 1923, launched on 5 Aug 1925 and commissioned on 23 Sep 1926, completed on 23 Sep 1926. She hit a mine and sank Mined and off Nieuport during Operation Dynamo, 30 May 1940.

Cyclone was laid down at Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée (FCM) in its Le Havre yard on 29 Sep 1923, launched on 24 Jan 1925, commissioned on 15 Mar 1927, completed on 25 June 1928. She was badly damaged by E-boat S-24 30 May 1940, scuttled at Brest 18 June 1940 to avoid capture.

Mistral was laid down on 28 Nov 1923 at FCM, launched 6 Jun 1925, 5 Apr 1927, commissioned on 1 Jun 1927, completed and in service on 21 Jan 1928. She was a constructive total loss on 10 Jun 1944, decommissioned 17 Feb 1950.

Orage was built at Chantiers Navals Français in Caen, laid down on 20 Aug 1923, launched 30 Aug 1924, commissioned on 1 Oct 1926 , comp. 1 Sep 1926, accepted 19 Jan 1927. She was sunk during Operation Dynamo on 23 May 1940.

Ouragan was laid down on 7 Sep 1923, launched on 6 Dec 1924, commissioned on 19 Jan 1927, completed on 15 Sep 1927, loaned to Poland and decommissioned on 3 July 1940.

Simoun was ordered to Ateliers et Chantiers de St Nazaire-Penhoet in St. Nazaire, laid down on 8 Aug 1923, launched on 3 Jun 1924 and commissioned on 1 Jan 1926, completed on 29 April 1926, in service by Aug 1926. Served with the Vichy French and later Free French Navies. Decommissioned on 17 Feb 1950, scrapped 1950.

Sirocco was ordered on to AC St Nazaire, laid down on 15 Mar 1924, launched 3 Oct 1925, commissioned 1 Jul 1927, comp. 5 Feb 1928. She was sunk by E-boats S-23 and S-26 during Operation Dynamo, 31 May 1940.

Tempête was laid down at Ateliers et Chantiers Dubigeon in Nantes on 3 Dec 1923, launched on 21 Feb 1925, commissioned on 20 Jul 1926, comp. 28 Sep 1926, in service that month. Served in the twi navies, decommissioned and scrapped in 1950.

Tornade was laid down at Dyle et Bacalan in Bordeaux on 25 Apr 1923. She was launched on 12 Mar 1925 and completed on 1 Oct 1927. She was completed on 10 May 1928, in service on 21 May. She was sunk on 8 Nov 1942 during Operation Torch.

Tramontane was laid down at Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde (FCG), Bordeaux on 29 Jun 1923, launched on 29 Nov 1924, commissioned on 15 May 1927, completed on 15 Oct 1927, in service by 1 Jan 1928. She was lost on 8 Nov 1942 during Operation Torch.

Trombe was laid down at FCG on 5 Marche 1924, launched on 27 December 1925 and commissioned on 1 Jun 1927, completed 27 Oct 1927, in service by 21 Dec 1927. She was scuttled in Toulon on 27 Nov 1942; decommissioned 17 Feb 1950.

Typhon was laid down at FCG on 1 Sep 1923, launched on 22 May 1925, commissioned on 15 Feb 1928, completed 27 Jun 1928, in service 22 Oct 1928. She was scuttled in Toulon on 9 November 1942.

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