Le Fantasque class destroyer

French Navy – Contre-Torpilleurs de 2500 tonnes. 6 built 1930-1934, in service until 1942: Le Fantasque, L’Audacieux, Le Malin, Le Terrible, Le Triomphant, Le Fier*.

The Le Fantasque-class destroyers were a group of six large and fast destroyers (officially classified as contre-torpilleurs, or “super destroyers”) built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) in the 1930s. These ships were among the fastest warships of their time, capable of reaching speeds over 45 knots (83 km/h or 52 mph). They were designed to counter the large destroyers of the Italian Regia Marina and serve as fleet escorts and commerce raiders.

Design & Specifications

Displacement: 2,570 tons (standard), 3,400 tons (full load)
Length: ~132.4 meters (434 ft 5 in)
Beam: 12 meters (39 ft 4 in)
Draught: 4.5 meters (14 ft 9 in)
Speed: 45+ knots, setting records as the fastest destroyers of their era
Range: 2,900 nautical miles at 15 knots
Crew: 210-220 officers and sailors
Armament: Main Guns: 5 × 138.6 mm (5.5 in) guns in single mounts
Anti-Aircraft: Variable but included 37 mm and 13.2 mm AA guns
Torpedoes: 9 × 550 mm torpedo tubes in triple mounts
Depth Charges & Mines: Carried depth charges and could be fitted with mines

Ships in Class: Le Fantasque, L’Audacieux, Le Malin, Le Terrible, Le Triomphant, Le Fier (laid down but never completed due to the war)
Service History: These ships saw extensive action during World War II, serving under both Vichy France and Free French Forces at different points. They were involved in the Norwegian Campaign (1940), Convoy escort and commerce raiding missions in the Atlantic, Fighting in the Mediterranean against Axis forces, Supporting the Allied landings in North Africa (Operation Torch, 1942), Serving in the Pacific and Indian Oceans (notably Le Triomphant).
Post-war, some ships continued to serve in the French Navy until the 1950s, when they were retired due to age and wear.

Career of the Fantasque class

Le Fantasque was laid down on 16 November 1931 at Arsenal de Lorient, launched 15 March 1934, completed 10 March 1936. Scrapped, 1958

L’Audacieux was laid down at Arsenal de Lorient on 16 November 1931, lauched on 27 November 1935. She was sunk on 7 May 1943.

Le Malin was laid down at Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne on 17 August 1933, launched on 1 May 1936. Scrapped, 1957

Le Terrible was laid down at the Chantiers Navals Français, Caen on 8 December 1931, and completed at Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Saint-Nazaire on 30 November 1933 on 1 October 1935. She was Scrapped on 1963

Le Triomphant was laid down at Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk on 28 August 1931, launched on 16 April 1934 and completed on 25 May 1936. She survived the war, sold for scrap, 1957.

L’Indomptable was laid down at Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne on 25 January 1932, launched on 7 December 1933 and completed on 10 February 1936. She was scuttled in Toulon, 27 November 1942.

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

on en.wikipedia.org/ Le Fantasque class

Videos

Model Kits

on scalemates.com/

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