L’Adroit class Destroyers (1926)

French Navy – Standard 1500t destroyers, 14 built 1925-1931, in service until 1952: L’Adroit, Basque, Bordelais, Boulonnais, Brestois, Forbin, Frondeur, L’Alcyon, La Palme, La Railleuse, Le Fortuné, Le Mars, Foudroyant, Fougueux

French Destroyers WW2

Bourrasque class | L'Adroit class | Le Hardi class | La Melpomène class* | Le Fier class*

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Jaguar class | Guepard class | Aigle class | Vauquelin class | Le Fantasque class | Mogador class

The L’Adroit class were a group of standard French destroyers, called “torpilleurs” (“torpedo boats”) in French nomenclature. They were built in 1925-1930 as part of France’s efforts to modernize its fleet between the World Wars. They were an evolution of the Bourrasque class, a near-repeat intended to improve on speed, firepower, and operational range. A bit longer and displacing a bit more for c33 knots for a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km) at 15 knots they had modernized 130 mm (5.1 in) guns and the same 550 mm torpedo tubes as before but were lacking both in AA and ASW capabilities, a default common to French destroyer at the time. All this was corrected on the later Le Hardi class.

Relatively light multi-role ships intended fleet and convoy escort, counter submarines and with decent enough firepower under favorable conditions. L’Adroit was followed by Bison, Mars, Cyclone which all had interresting careers. The ones which stayed with Vichy France were all lost, sunk in action in North Africa or scuttled in Toulon, those which survived worked with Free France.

Development

The L’Adroit class as fourteen “torpedo boats” of the Marine Natuionale were ordered under the 1925 programme and commissioned from 1928 to 1931. Albeit they were called “torpedo boats” this was purely a French nomenclature choice as by tonnage and armament they were all but name, fully fledged destroyers. The distinction was doctrinal, as there were alongside series of “contre torpilleurs” or proper “destroyers” being built. The latter were specifically intended to hunt down other destroyers, sparing tonage for cruisers and using a loophole in the Washington treaty as they were assimilated to flotilla leaders, much larger and better armed with guns just below the 6-inches (150 mm) caliber.

As “torpilleurs”, the Adroit class were supposed to defend convoys and hunt down close-in threats, Italians torpedo boats and submarines for example. The “contre-torpilleurs” were supposed to venture ahead of the convoys or battle fleets and engage enemy destroyers at a distance. A nice distinction on paper which was followed by none and went proved useless in WW2.

The Adroit class were very similar to the twelve Bourrasque class that preceded them. They had the same typical “trois tuyaux” (“three pipes”) of their precedessors, built almost immediately after and ion the same yard to gain time. So development time was reduced as essentially it concentrated on detailed improvements. They were built in parallel in many Frenc naval yards, Ateliers et Chantiers (AC) de Bretagne, AC de France, AC de la Seine-Maritime, Chantiers Dubigeon, Chantiers Navals Français, Dyle et Bacalan and Forges et Chantiers (FC) de la Gironde, both in Bordeaux, the latter a subsidiary of FMC in Toulon. None of these destroyers were built in the south of France indeed, all came from Atlantic yards.

They had the same armament and speed as before but with a slightly higher displacement and a new type of main guns with better elevation.
They were also all modernized at the end of the 1930s, notably with the replacement of their initial 75 mm (3-inches)/50 AA gun and 8 mm machine guns, pretty useless against modern aircraft, replaced by two 37 mm M1925 AA guns in single mounts and four 13.2 mm machine guns in twin mounts as well as additional depht charges. In 1940, all except La Railleuse (explosion on 24 March 1940) and L’Adroit, sunk on 25 May 1940 off Dunkirk, had a 130 mm gun removed to regain stability and add extra AA. In 1943, L’Alcyon, Le Fortune, Le Basque and Le Forbin were in Free French service, and modernised by the Allieswith a triple tirpedo tube mmounts replaced by a Bofors 40 mm L/60 Mk 1/2 AA and four to six 20 mm Oerlikon Mk 4 anti-aircraft guns plus radar and competent sonar. They were the ones that survived the war and stayed in service in the 1950s.

WoW l’Adroit, overhead view.

WoW Details of the bridge

L’Adroit class, very close to the Bourrasque class

Bourrasque and L’Adroit as well as all other French destroyers of the early interwar shared this very singular poop, note the internal racks and DC chutes.

Wow’s rendition of l’Adroit class

Design of the class

Hull and general design

The L’Adroit class displaced 1,378 tonnes (1,356 long tons) standard and 2,000 tonnes (2,000 long tons) full load versus 1,298/1,968 long tons for the previous Bourrasque. They measured 107.9 m (354 ft) overall versus 106 m (347 ft 9 in), so a 6 feet increase, and beamier as well at 9.84 m (32 ft 3 in) versus 9.64 m (31 ft 8 in) but with the same Draught at 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in). The buoyancy reserve allowed an extra margin of stability. This was used for larger boilers.
As far as the design went, it was nearly identical as the Bourrasque, with the same clipper bow, “clothes iron” poop with internal depht charge racks, three funnels amidship, same proportions between the forecastle and aft deck, same bridge and placement of the armament in sueprfiring A-B and X-Y arrangement, two triple TT aft. Constructioon used riverted plating on transverse and longitudinal beams, and reinforcements close to the waterline amidships. They also had traditional poop anti-collision bars.

The clocks that were prominent on the bridge’s open deck face and at the rear were not to indicate hour obsviously. They were essentially French derived vickers range clocks (Percy Scott invention in 1903). They were splint into 100 yrd segments at the lowest setting, connected to the firing systems and displayed always the lattest plotted range to target accounting for time of flight and weather conditions. The guns officers only had to ruen head to get these bearings and calculate what target was being fired upon. They also allowed supporting ships to rapidly join in fire support. This avoided the use of complex fire control systems as there was no space for them.

The crew comprised 142 officers and ratings a bit less than the 7 officers, 138 men on the Bourrasque. They had four boats under davits amidships and extra rafts. They had also a rear radio room, two projectors side by side at the rear of the bridge, a telemeter/rangefinder on top of a platfrom, a forward tripod mast with spotting top, a radio room aft on the quarterdeck structure and aft smaller pole mast.

Powerplant

Their powerplant was a repeat of the Bourrasque design, but with better Du Temple boilers with higher compression and overheating, ensuring a higher output. They had still two shafts with 3-meters diameter 3-bladed propellers connected to shafts driven by geared steam turbines (which changed from yard, the standard was Rateau-Bretagne) and fed in turn by three boilers, hence the three funnels, narrow and raked. It was estimated they would cause less drag than large funnels with all exhaust truncated like on later Italian destroyers.

They differed in both turbines and boilers as said above: L’Adroit (Dunkirk), L’Alcyon (Bordeaux), Frondeur (Caen) had two sets Zoelly geared steam turbines, Fougeux (Nantes) had sets of Rateau-Bretagne geared steam turbines, and all the others had Parsons geared steam turbines. This machinery had an output of 34,000 shp (25,000 kW) versus 31,000 shp (23,117 kW) on the previous Bourasque, which was substantial, with the extra space used for accomodated larger boilers. They carried 340 tonnes of fuel oil versus 345t on the Bourrasque albeit it’s disputed. Range was about the same 2150 nm at 14 knots, with a small gain in top speed albeit nominally still 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph), 34 knots on trials. They were not the fastest destroyers around.

Armament

Canon de 130 mm/40 Modèle 1924

Forward turrets and reloading system
These guns replaced the previous Modele 1919 of the Bourrasque. They were still of built up construction, with Welin breech block, carrying low-angle single turrets. But they had an autofretted barrel, wheeras using the same ammunition but with a slightly lower maximum elevation and shorter range. Essentially, this was a scaled-down 138.6 mm/40 (5.46″) Model 1923. They were also used by the Polish Wicher class destroyers. They were however faster-firing, on paper 8-9 rounds per minute, entering service in 1927. This rate of fire was never achieve however due to the inhibitors installed to prevent firing unless the ship was in the middle of a roll. And despite the greater beam, they still rolled badly in heavy seas, heeling at large rudder angles. The inhibitors also malfunctioned.

They fired the same separate QF ammunition as the model 1919, with a cartridge case was 674 millimetres (26.5 in) long, weighting 7.73 kilograms (17.0 lb) wuth an added propellant charge of 17.5 kilograms (39 lb) so a combined weight while in the breech of 25 kgs. The crews were quickly tired and rate of fire was slow at 4 rpm, 5 with very fit, fresh and well trained gun crews. They could fire the Semi Armour-Piercing 32 kg (71 lb) round at a working pressure of 16.3 tons/in2 (2,570 kg/cm2), a classic High Explosive of 34.85 kg (76.8 lb) and Illumination shell, but no AP round. The full list comprised a SAP M1923, two HE M1923 and M1932 and the starshell M1925.
Velocity was average however range was excellent at nearly 20 km, albeit fire control was archaic. They carried 110 rounds per gun.

specifications 5.1 inch Gun

Mass: 3.75 metric tons, barrel 5.4 meters (21.1 ft) 40 cal.
Shell: 130x674mm R Separate loading QF 35 kgs (77 lb)
Elevation -10° to +36°, 5-6 rpm, MV 725 mps (2,380 ft/s)
Maximum range: 20,450 yards (18,700 m) at 35°.
Penetration (SAP): 1.8 inches (45 mm) at 19,700 yards (18,000 m).
Penetration (HE): 3.46 inches (88 mm) at 18,150 yards (16,600 m).

Canon de 75 modèle 1924 Schneider

Unlike the previous Bourrasque’s 75 mm/50 Schneider M1922 AA guns installed on the inter-TT bandstand, a field gun partly based on the surplus Canon de 75 modèle 1897 field gun as converted, they had the new Modele 1924 but same caliber and barrel.
It had a far better velocity at 850 m/s and fired 5.93 kg (13.1 lb) fixed rounds instead of separate ones, with a ceiling of 10,000 m or 11,000 yds at 90° angle. Sources diverged however as the Bourrasque only were noted as users according to navweaps.com.

Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925 (1931)

From 1931 the 75 mm was replaced by two smaller, lighter but faster firing Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925. Two were installed in an enlarged platform. It was a single gun mount (later the twin mount Modèle 1933 was adtopted). Hand-loaded and semi-automatic guns with unitary rounds, they still had a low rate of fire compared to their clip-fed equivalents. The projectiles were also quite light and gave an overall poor anti-aircraft capability, the dark side of French naval vessels up to WW2. Many were captured by the axis and reused in WW2 under different names.

specifications 37mm M1925 Gun

Mass: 300 kg (660 lb), Length 2 m (6 ft 7 in), barrel 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in).
Shell 0.72 kg (1.6 lb) 37 × 278 mm (1.5 in)
Elevation −15° to +80°, traverse 360°, 15-21 rpm, mv 810 m/s (2,700 ft/s)
Effective range: 5,400 m (5,900 yd) at +45°, max 7,000 m (7,700 yd).

Mitrailleuse Hotchkiss de 13,2 mm

Initially the single 75 mm was completed by two 8.8 mm (0.34 in) light AA Hotchkiss machine guns located in the wings. They were removed at the same time as the “75” and replaced by two twin 13.2 mm/75 heavy machine guns. This, at least was a high rate of fire system on a light mount designed by Le Prieur. This was Gas operated system fed by 30-round box magazine, or 15-round feed strips. It was copied by Japan and Italy and used by the axis in WW2. The round was peculiar in this it was a 12.7 × 99 mm Browning (.50 BMG) cartridge necked up to 13.2 mm caliber. A short round (96 mm) was introduced in 1935. It ws mostly adopted for fixing the barrel wear issue. Hotchkiss developed also single and quad mounts, one which was studied by the US.

specifications 13.2mm M1929 HMG

Mass 37.5 kg (83 lbs) per gun stripped.
Length: 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in), Barrel 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
Shell: 13.2×99mm Hotchkiss Long (1929).
Elevation -10° to +90°, traverse 360°, 450 rpm cyclic, 200-250 rpm sustained
Muzzle velocity: 800 m/s (2,625 ft/s)
Max range: 7.2 km (4.5 mi), Effective 4,200 m (13,800 ft)/45°

23D/DT 550mm TORPEDOES

WoW’s rendition of the torpedo tubes, note the reload cradles
The French developed this new standard instead of 533 mm directly from WWI 450 mm standards back in 1919. The 19V entered service in 1921 and had a 4-cyl. radial engine, kerosene wet-heater for 43 knots max, carrying a 525 lbs. (238 kg) picric acid warhead at only 2,200 yards (2,000 m).
Next came the 19D designed like all the serie at Toulon Arsenal. The 19D was slower in settings at 25-25 kts but for a better range of up to 15,300 yards (14,000 m) and same tech. Needless to say, a 25 knots torpedo was only useful against merchant traffic and in the best conditions.
The first good model used on most French destouyers in the interwar was the Toulon’s 23D model, and later 23DT, declined for submarines as the 24V/24M.
The 23D was introduced in 1923 hence the name, “D” standing for destroyers, and DT for destroyer leaders. They were otherwise identical and intorduced a far more efficient propulsion, albeit speeds were average.
This was the standard torpedo also for cruisers, and active in WW2 albeit in 1940 was searched an Oxygen-powered model capable of 40-55 knots and up to 18 km or 19.700 yards. Developed became underground and stopped completely in 1944.

specifications 23D/DT TORPEDO

Weight: 4,560 lbs. (2,068 kg), for 27 ft. 2 in. (8.280 m) x 500 mm (21.7 inches).
Warhead: 683 lbs. (310 kg) TNT
Powered by a Schneider alcohol fed air heater, 4-cyl.
Speed settings: 9,840 yards/39 kts or 14,200 yards (13,000m)/35 kts
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French Depth Charges

Poop’s depth charge system
Although sources diverged on this, the hull design with dedicated chutes at the poop says otherwise: These ships were given depht charges from the start, even though they only had a basic hydrophone and no sonars. This made the poop deck “cleaner” and protect these from a direct hit that could have detonated these depht charges out on the open. They were dropped along guides ending short above the “beak” wwhere the poop reversed underwater. This perculiar arrangement was to avoid any return and contact with the poop. This system might have been used to lay mines of the same size by the way.
The depht charge used were likely of the Guiraud Model 1922.
Introduced in 1923, they Weighted 573 lbs. (260 kg) for a 441 lbs. (200 kg) charge for 50 x 88 cm (19.7 x 34.6 in).
Sink Rate or terminal velocity was 10 fps (3 meters per sec.) with 100, 165, 250 and 330 feet (30, 50, 75 and 100 m) settings, later augmented to 120m.

They were held in two Galle 12-DC roller chain racks at the poop, internal, 24 total, and two depth charge throwers on the aft weather deck. Other sources specified they carried instead 20 grenades of 250 kg, so 10 per chain rack.
The racks were the USN Mark I developed after the USN rejected the British practice, designed by Lt. Cmdr. Ishwood and dating back to 1918 with 250 American, British and French destroyers installed at V day. Larger destroyers had similar system but for 16 DCs total per rack so 32 total.

The French Y-Guns or DC projectors were WWI Thornycroft models purchased in 1918, replaced in 1930 by the French-built 100/250 M1928 mortar. Fixed on a trainable mounting it could project a lighter 100 kg DC at 820 feet (250 m). In the late 1930s they were replaced by a much heavier system firing 200 kg DC about 200 feet (60 m), so standardized with the 1922 Guiraud model.
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Evaluation and Succession

“The L’Adroit-class destroyer was a group of fourteen French Navy destroyers (torpilleur) laid down in 1925–26 and commissioned from 1928 to 1931. They were the successors to the Bourrasque class, with the same armament, but being slightly heavier overall.
The class saw varied service in the Second World War.
La Railleuse was the first French destroyer casualty of the war, being blown up in Casablanca harbour by an accidental torpedo explosion on 23 March 1940. L’Adroit was sunk by a bomb from a German He 111 bomber on 21 May 1940 near Dunkirk, but her entire crew were able to escape and served in shore batteries until the French capitulation. Foudroyant was sunk in similar circumstances, but with more loss of life, on 1 June 1940.
Basque, Forbin and Le Fortuné were part of the French Alexandria squadron, which were disarmed by the British on 22 June 1940 following French capitulation. They were rearmed under Free French auspices in December 1943.
Boulonnais, Brestois, Fougueux and Frondeur were all sunk by Allied ships off Casablanca, as part of Operation Torch. L’Alcyon survived the attack and later joined the Allies. Bordelais, La Palme and Le Mars joined many other French warships in scuttling at Toulon to stop their being taken over by the German navy.”

Career of L’Adroit class destroyers

L’Adroit (Pennants T2, 11, 21, 42, 41, 23, T23) was laid down at A C de France, Dunkerque on 5.1925, launched 1.4.1927, completed 7.1929. She was sunk on 21.5.1940 during Operation Dynamo.
L’Adroit (‘The skillful’) was built in Dunkerque, and ironically was also lost here. She was the class lead ship, albeit others source name Halcyon as lead ship. No records for the interwar. In 1940 she took part in local patrol and escort operations. But she met her fate during the evacuation of Dunkerque, helping ferrying troops and escorting ships. On May 21st, 1940, she was hit by a Heinkel 111 direct bomb hit. Heavily damaged, Captain Henri Dupin de Saint-Cyr decided to beach her before she could sank, and rushed full speed ahead ashore near Malo-Les-Bains.

The crew successfully evacuated her without any casualties. Later she suffered an explosion in her forward magazine, tearing off the entire bow section, setting her wreck on fire before the evacuation was over. Later the Germans took control of Dunkerque and could see the wreck of L’Adroit’s burning on the shore as a symbol of their victory and allied tragedy. This became a popular photography spot for German soldiers and film crews, and a visual landmark associated today with the whole Dunkirk operation, just as the photo of Bourrasque sinking. In fact her wreck remained for a few years before being blasted up and scrapped on site, as an element in the landscape (as a personal note, this was my father’s favorite’s playground as a kid). A mockup of L’Adroit’s wreck was briefly shown in a scene of Christopher Nolan’s 2017 movie ‘Dunkirk’.

Basque (N°66, pennants 55, 11, 57, 97, 43, 42, 23, 91, 92, T92, T91, T33), named after the famous inhabitant of the Pyrhenees (also renown whalers) was laid down as N°50 at A C de la Seine-Maritime, Le Trait on 9.1926. She was launched on 25 May 1929 and completed on March 1931. No logs. She was disarmed at Alexandria in Egypt and interned by the the British on 22 June 1940 after an agreement between the French and British admiral at the time of Operation catapult. She joined the Allied cause, and was rearmed and modernized on 30 May 1943. She then served with the FNFL and was still around postwar.
Postwar, she had a major overhaul from the summer of 1945 and was attached to the École Navale as a training ship. She took part notably in the 1948 summer cruise before being was decommissioned and placed in special reserve on 1 January 1949, struck on 10 December 1952 and sold a few days later.

Le Bordelais (Pennants 117, 112, 22, 81, T81, T11) named after Bordeaux inhabitants, was laid down at F C de la Gironde, in Bordeaux in November 1926, launched on 23 May 1928 and completed on April 1930. No logs for the interwar. On 20 May 1940 she escorted the French battleships Bretagne (Capt. L.R.E. de Pivian) and Provence (Capt. G.T.E. Barois) from Alexandria to Bizerta. In escort were also Tigre (Capt. M. De La Forest Divonne), Lynx (Cdr. A.M. De Gouyon Matignon de Pontourade) and the Australian destroyers HMAS Stuart, Vampire, Voyager, Waterhen. It’s on 22 May that Bordelais (Cdr. D.F.M.V. De Bourgoing) and Trombe (Cdr. A.A.M. Lepotier) joined in the escort. The Australian destroyers then left and proceeded to Malta.
After France surrendered to Germany in June 1940, Bordelais served under Vichy French command like the immense majority of the fleet.
On 31 October Oct 1940 HMS Griffin was on patrol east of Gibraltar when sighting five Vichy French destroyers at 0610/31 including Bordelais, Brestois, L’Alcyon, Simoun and Tempête westwards, trying to pass the Strait of Gibraltar for Casablanca.
HMS Renown, HMS Barham, escorted by HMS Firedrake, Fortune, Fury, Greyhound departed Gibraltar at 0830/31 to intercept them. Later HMS Wishart, Encounter, Forester, Gallant joined them. They essentially prevented them going further westwards, condemning to return to Toulon.
HMS Griffin was ordered to shadow the Vichy French ships back.
Having limited amounts of fuel supply, Bordelais and others did saw little service and minimal training in 1941-42. She was among the ships of the French fleet scuttled at Toulon, France, on 27 November 1942 after the allied landed on North Africa. She was scuttled on 27 November 1942 in Toulon. She was judged later not recoverable by the Kriegsmarine and Regia Marina experts.

Boulonnais (N°65, pennants 11, 99, 73, 33, 53, T53, T52) named after Boulogne Port citizens, was laid down at CNF, Caen on May 1926, launched on 1st June 1927 and completed on June 1928. No logs for her interwar career albeit like the others she likely patrolled either the northern coast of spain and bay of biscaye (neutrality arms blockade) if based on Atlantic ports and Mediterranean coast of from Toulon or North African bases, Mers el Kebir, Oran, Casablanca and Bizerte. Le Boulonnais still saw action on 6 May 1940, at the conclusiuon of the Norwegian campaign escorting the Convoy NS 2 from Greenock on 6 May to Narvik area on 11 May. The convoy comprised four British cargo ships, Balzac, Calumet, Coxwold and Mashroba, escorted by HMS Jackal (Cdr. T.M. Napier) and HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley) and the Boulonnais (Capitaine de Corvette/Lt.Cdr. J.C.F. Champion) and Brestois (Cdr. J.L.C. Kraft). On the 7th Balzac and Coxwold ran aground south of Neist Light, Little Minch. Later Balzac was assisted by Brestois which later went to Scapa Flow as Coxwold was escorted by Boulonnais. Later she arrived at Narvik as planned for troops evacuations.
Boulonnais was sunk during Opertation Torch on 8 November 1942. This happened off Casablanca, French Morocco, during the Naval Battle of Casablanca, trying to regain Toulon, in the hands of the heavy cruiser USS Augusta or light cruiser USS Brooklyn.

Brestois (N°64, pennants 12, 97, 14, 31, 51, T51) was named after Brest Port city inhabitants. She was laid down at Dyle et Baccalan, Bordeaux on May 1926, launched on 18 May 1927 and completed in June 1928. On 12 April 1940 she joined in escort HMS Kashmir, Kelvin from Lerwick for the Tyne escorted by Brestois (Cdr.) J.L.C. Kraft) and Foudroyant (Cdr.) P.L.A. Fontaine). The following day the damaged HMS Kashmir, Kelvin were escorted back home by the French destroyers, Brestois and Foudroyant, at the Tyne for repairs. She had the same convoy escort mission to Narvik from 6 May 1940 as her sister Boulonnais, see above. She was sunk on 8 November 1942 during the battle of Casablanca, see above.

Forbin (N°81, pennants 98, 15, 12, 3, 92, 91, T91, T92, T32) was laid down at F C de la Méditerranée in Le Havre on June 1927, launched on 17 July 1928 and completed on May 1930. On 29 April 1940 she joined from Mers el Kebir a British task force with HMS Malaya and HMS Royal Sovereign, escorted by Velox, Watchman, Vendetta (RAN) and Waterhen. She escorted the battleships Lorraine (Capt. Rey), Bretagne (Capt. de Pivian), Provence (Capt. Barois), and the heavy cruisers Tourville (Capt. Marloy), Duquesne (Capt. Besineau), light cruiser Duguay Trouin (Capt. Trolley de Prevaux) with the larger destroyers Lion and Lynx. Forbin (Lt.Cdr. R.C.M. Chartellier) was the smaller French ship in the escort. The following day they were en-route to Alexandria to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet. They arrived on 3 May 1940. On 14 May she had A/S exercises with HMS Pandora (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Linton) off Alexandria. The exercice also comprised a day later Tigre and Lynx. Being stranded in Alexandria at the French armistice, the local French fleet awaited orders. When operation catapult was launched she was disarmed after a gentleman’s agreement and remained in Alexandria until the aftermath of Operation Torch. After Admiral Darlan swapped to the allies, she was taken over by the FNFL and went on in service from late 1942 to 1945 with the allies in various missions. She survived the war, becalme a training ship and was sold in November 1952.

Frondeur (N°82, pennants 119, 115, 23, 22, T22) was laid down at CNF, Caen on November 1927. She was launched on 20 June 1929. She was commissioned on October 1931. On 24 September 1940 early in the afternoon Gibraltar was bombed by the Vichy-French airforce in retaliation of Operation Catapult, so it was decided to put to sea to avoid damage while being stationary. HMS Renown, flagship of Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville was screened by HMS Hotspur and Gallant, proceeding eastwards, later joined by HMS Griffin and Encounter on patrol in the Straits. Later HMS Wrestler reported she had been attacked by four Vichy-French destroyers (Epée, Fleuret, Fougueux and Frondeur). This happened as they were underway from Casablanca west of Gibraltar on 24 September to Oran, east of Gibraltar on 25 September. On 29 September it was reported that the battleship Richelieu had departed Dakar possibly for the Bay of Biscay and HMS Renown was ordered to intercept. She soon spotted Epée and Frondeur and later a Vichy-French aircraft shadowing her until she veered south-eastward. She proceeded north-west of Casablanca and then towards Cape Finisterre and then the Azores. Destroyers were detached to watch over the latter, off Horta, Angra and Ponta Delgada.
But the sortie of Richelieu was proven false and she later returned to Gibraltar. Frondeur remained in Casablanca and she was sunk on 8 November 1942 in Operation Torch in the hands of USS Brooklyn.

L’Alcyon was built as DD 49 (pennants 116, 112, 71, 83, T83, T23, T63) at F C de la Gironde, Bordeaux, laid down on 2.1925, launched 26.6.1926 and completed on 7.1929. On 7 September 1939 she was part of the escort of Convoy Green 1 from Gibraltar to Suez. It comprised the Alpera, Andalusian, Balmore, Bandar Shahpour, Blackhill, Brighton, British Faith, City of Christchurch, City of Oxford, Destro, Draco, Dromore), Elizabeth Massey, Frederick S. Fales, Garesfield, Laomedon, Kyle Glen, Lassell, Llandaff Castle, Loch Maddy, Lylepark, Mardinian, Marklyn, Mervyn, Rosewood, Star of Egypt and Uskmouth. Around 16:00 PM, the French destroyers L’Alcyon (Lt.Cdr. V.A.M. Albertas) and Trombe (A.A.M. Lepotier) joined the convoy escort. On 18 March 1940, HMAS Voyager arrived at Malta after the escort of the transport Talma, which was taken over by L’Alcyon (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Bosvieux). They arrived at Marseilles on the 20th. On 31 October 1940 under Vichy French service she was sighted by HMS Griffin underway westwards to Gibraltar underway to Casablanca.
Being interned, she joined the FNFL by late 1942. She escorted the convoy OS 77/KMS 51 assembled off Oversay on 28 May 1944. OS 77 was bound for Freetown and convoy KMS 51 bound for the Mediterranean. On 1 June 1944, she was detached from the convoy to Bizerta escorting the Badjestan, John S. Casement, John Sergeant, Titus. She survived the war, was used for training and eventually sold 6.1952.

La Palme (N°52, pennants 74, 11, 1, T11, T13) was laid down A C Dubigeon, Nantes in May 1925, launched on 30 June 1926 and completed on February 1928.
No logs. She was scuttled in Toulon on 27 November 1942, later refloated by the Germans on 26 December 1943, not repaired and broken up for scrap.

La Railleuse (N°53 pennants 73, 12, 5, 2, T32) was laid down at A C Dubigeon, in Nantes by July 1925, launched on 9 September 1926 and completed on February 1928. In September 1939 she escorted a convoy of eleven passenger liners from the U.K. bound for the Atlantic and Mediterranean and Far East. Late in the morning of September 10th, Le Fortune (Cdr. C.M.L. D’Hespel), La Railleuse (Lt.Cdr. J.E.C. Hourcade) and Simoun (Lt.Cdr. F. Hainguerlot) arrived from Gibraltar and joined the convoy. They later escorted back to Gibraltar HMS Ramillies and the liner SS Scythia, arriving on the 11th. On 27 January 1940, she escorted HMS Resource (Capt. D.B. O’Connell) before proceeding to Dakar. Later she came back to Casablanca. She was destroyed by an accidental explosion on 24 March 1940: She was cut in half by that accidental explosion of a torpedo on 23 March 1940 while anchored in Casablanca, French Morocco, killing 28 and wounding 24 crewmen. Her main guns were removed and later installed as coast-defense guns at Safi, French Morocco. They wold see action furing Operation Torch and silenced by naval gunnery. Her remains were sold for scrap in April 1942.

Le Fortuné was DD51, then 36 built (pennants 72, 75, 32, 4, 1, T31) at CNF, Caen, laid down on 9.1925, launched on 15.11.1926, completed on 7.1928.
She escorted the same liners con,voy as her sister on September 10th 1939 under command of Cdr. C.M.L. D’Hespel with La Railleuse from Gibraltar and later escorted back HMS Ramillies. Likely in Alexandria in June 1940 she was disarmed. She joined the FNFL late 1942, was modernized and proceeded to several escort missions and survived the war, becoming a TS, then sold in August 1950.

Mars and Provence in 1939
Le Mars was DD50, then 35 (pennants 71, 72, 14, 2, T12)), built at CNF, Caen, laid down on 7.1925, launched on 28.8.1926 and completed on 1.1928.
No logs so far. She was scuttled 27.11.1942 in Toulon to prevent capture. Refloated by the Germans on 6 May 1944, not repaired and broken up for scrap.

Le Foudroyant (N°84, pennants 99, 96, 44, 43, 52, T52) was laid down at Dyle et Baccalan in Bordeaux by July 1927, launched on 24 April 1929 and completed by October 1930. From 12 April 1940 she escorted HMS Kashmir and HMS Kelvin from Lerwick, damaged after the Norwegian campaign. Foudroyant was under command Capitaine de Fregate (Cdr.) P.L.A. Fontaine. On 20 April 1940 she escorted the French transport Ville d’Alger with French troops on board from Scapa Flow for Namsos with the destroyer Bison. Later they were joined by HMS Calcutta. On 29 April 1940 she took part in Operation Klaxon, the evacuation of troops from Namsos. She joined later the escort of El D’Jezair, El Kantara and El Mansour with HMS Afridi and HMS Nubian. She was sunk by the Luftwaffe on 1st June 1940 while covering the Dunkerque evacuation.

Fougueux (N°83, pennants 118, 114, 21, T21) was laid down at A C de Bretagne in Nantes on September 1927, launched 4 August 1928, completed on June 1930.
While under Vichy French service in September 1940 she was part of a destroyer force (with Epée, Fleuret, and Frondeur) when spotting and attacking underway HMS Wrestler (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, RN while on patrol in the Straits.HMS Wrestler returned fire but was not hit. The French departed Casablanca on 24 September for Oran arriving on 25 September. She was sunk on 8 November 1942 during Operaton Torch: While the US covering force engaged El Hank Battery west of Casablanca, the French 2nd Light Squadron sortied from Casablanca at 09:00 under cover of a smoke screen, to attack US troopships waiting off Fedala, further to the east. Milan was first in line followed by Fougueux and Boulonnais. At 09:20, they were strafed by fighters from USS Ranger. French gunners sank a landing craft, scored hits on USS Ludlow. USS Massachusetts and Tuscaloosa engaged Milan, which was beached, followed by Fougueux at 10:00, Boulonnais 12 min. later. Fougueux sank at 10:40. She was scrapped later.

Read More/Src

Books

Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press..
Cernuschi, Enrico & O’Hara, Vincent P. (2013). “Toulon: The Self-Destruction and Salvage of the French Fleet”. In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2013.
Jordan, John & Moulin, Jean (2015). French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d’Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs 1922–1956. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.
Roberts, John (1980). “France”. In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1922–1946.
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

on uboat.net/
web.archive.org users.swing.be
on navweaps.com/ 130mm m1924
on navypedia.org
https://www.amedenosmarins.fr/article-novembre-1942-operation-torch-drame-pour-la-marine-113131686.html
on web.archive.org warshipsww2.eu/
france3-regions dunkerque derniers jours tournage

Model Kits

None found.

3D

on deviantart.com