The Aigle-class destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) were built for the French navy during the 1920s. They were very similar to the previous Guepard class, the only difference being improved machinery with higher pressure boilers, offering an additional 0.5 knots of speed and a new model 138 mm gun with a sliding breech block giving a higher rate of fire. The ships were named after birds.
The Bourrasque class was a group of twelve French Navy destroyers (torpilleur) laid down in 1923 and in service from 1926 to 1950. Along with the heavier Chacal class, they were part of a plan to modernise the French fleet after the First World War. The Bourrasques were smaller and slower than the Chacals, but were nonetheless comparable with the British W class. The class saw varied service in the Second World War, in five different navies, on both sides. These ships were named after types of wind.
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.
Maillé Brézé was one of six Vauquelin-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1930s. The ship entered service in 1933 and spent most of her career in the Mediterranean, sometimes as a flagship. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939, she was one of the ships that helped to enforce the non-intervention agreement. When France declared war on Germany in September 1939, all of the Vauquelins were assigned to the High Sea Forces which was tasked to escort French convoys and support the other commands as needed. Maillé Brézé accordingly spent most of the next six months on escort duties. She played a minor role in the Norwegian Campaign before she was lost in an accidental explosion in April 1940. Most of her crew survived the incident; her wreck was not salvaged until 1954 and was subsequently scrapped.
The French destroyer Milan was one of six Aigle-class destroyer (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy during the 1930s.
The French destroyer Tigre was a Chacal-class destroyer built for the French Navy during the 1920s. Aside from cruises to the English Channel and French West Africa, she spent her entire career in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship was assigned to the Torpedo School at Toulon in 1932 and remained there until World War II began in September 1939. She was then assigned convoy escort duties in the Atlantic; in July 1940, the ship was present when the British attacked the French ships at Mers-el-Kébir, but managed to escape without damage. After she reached Toulon, Tigre was placed in reserve where she remained for the next two years. When the Germans attempted to seize the French fleet there in November 1942, she was one of the few ships that was not scuttled and was captured virtually intact.
The French destroyer Boulonnais was one of 14 L'Adroit-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
The French destroyer Brestois was one of 14 L'Adroit-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
The French destroyer Frondeur was one of 14 L'Adroit-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
Guépard was the lead ship of her class of destroyers (contre-torpilleur) built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
Valmy was one of six Guépard-class destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
Verdun was one of six Guépard-class destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
Lion was one of six Guépard-class destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
The French destroyer Vauban was one of six Guépard-class destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
The French destroyer Aigle was the lead ship of her class of destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
The French destroyer Vautour was one of six Aigle-class destroyer (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy in the interwar period.
Gerfaut was one of six Aigle-class destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy in the interwar period.
Typhon was a Bourrasque-class destroyer built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
Tramontane was a Bourrasque-class destroyer built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
Tornade was a Bourrasque-class destroyer built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
France
