French destroyer Brestois

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History
Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svgFrance
NameBrestois
Builder Chantiers Dubigeon, Nantes
Laid down17 May 1926
Launched18 May 1927
Completed15 June 1928
FateSunk 8 November 1942
General characteristics
Class and type L'Adroit-class destroyer
Displacement1,380  t (1,360 long tons) (standard)
Length107.2 m (351 ft 8 in)
Beam9.9 m (32 ft 6 in)
Draft3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Range3,000  nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Crew9 officers, 153 crewmen (wartime)
Armament

The French destroyer Brestois was one of 14 L'Adroit-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1920s.

Contents

Design and description

The L'Adroit class was a slightly enlarged and improved version of the preceding Bourrasque class. The ships had an overall length of 107.2 meters (351 ft 8 in), a beam of 9.9 meters (32 ft 6 in), and a draft of 3.5 meters (11 ft 6 in). The ships displaced 1,380 metric tons (1,360 long tons) at standard load and 2,000 metric tons (2,000 long tons) at deep load. They were powered by two geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by three du Temple boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 31,000 metric horsepower (22,800  kW ; 30,576  shp ), which would propel the ships at 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). The ships carried 386 metric tons (380 long tons) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). [1]

The main armament of the L'Adroit-class ships consisted of four Canon de 130 mm Modèle 1924 guns in single mounts, one superfiring pair each fore and aft of the superstructure. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of a pair of Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925 guns. The ships carried two above-water triple sets of 550-millimeter (21.7 in) torpedo tubes. A pair of depth charge chutes were built into their stern; these housed a total of sixteen 200-kilogram (440 lb) depth charges. In addition two depth charge throwers were fitted for which six 100-kilogram (220 lb) depth charges were carried. [2]

Construction and career

Brestois was laid down on 17 May 1926, launched on 18 May 1927 and completed on 15 June 1928. She capsized after being hit by gunfire from the American cruiser USS Brooklyn [3] off Casablanca, French Morocco, on 8 November 1942 during the Naval Battle of Casablanca. [4]

Notes

  1. Jordan & Moulin, Chapter 3
  2. Jordan & Moulin, Chapter 3
  3. assauxmarins-communication. "NOVEMBRE 1942 -OPERATION TORCH- DRAME POUR LA MARINE - Le blog de l'association Aux Marins". Le blog de l'association Aux Marins (in French). Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  4. Le Masson p126

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