NAVYPEDIA

Photo

De Grasse after 1966

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
De Grasse	C610		Arsenal de Lorient	28.8.1939	11.9.1946	3.9.1956	stricken 1.1974
Châteaurenault			F C de la Méditerranée, La Seyne	---	---	---	cancelled
Guichen			F C de la Gironde, Bordeaux	---	---	---	cancelled

Technical data

Data variant	as designed	De Grasse as completed
Displacement standard, t	8000	9380
Displacement full, t		12350
Length, m	174.0 pp 176.3 oa	180.4 pp 188.3 oa
Breadth, m	18.0	18.6 wl 21.5 max
Draught, m	5.54 full load	5.54 normal load, 6.30 full load
No of shafts	2	2
Machinery	2 sets Rateau-Bretagne geared steam turbines, 4 Indret boilers	2 sets Rateau-Bretagne geared steam turbines, 4 Indret boilers
Power, h. p.	110000	105000 (forced 120000)
Max speed, kts	33	33 (forced 33.8)
Fuel, t	oil	oil
Endurance, nm(kts)		6000(18)
Armour, mm	belt: 100, torpedo bulkhead: 20, bulkheads: 60 - 20, deck: 38, turrets: 100 - 50, barbettes: 95 - 70, CT: 95 - 50	belt: 100, torpedo bulkhead: 20, bulkheads: 60 - 20, deck: 38
Armament	3 x 3 - 152/55 M1930, 3 x 2 - 100/45 M1933, 5 x 1 - 25/60 M1938, 1 x 4 - 13.2/76, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 2 x 3 - 550 TT, 2 catapults, 4 seaplanes	8 x 2 - 127/54 Mod 1948, 10 x 2 - 57/60 Mod 1951
Electronic equipment	---	DRBV-20A, DRBV-11, DRBI-10, 4x DRBC-11, 4x DRBC-30 radars
Complement	540	950 (983 as flagship)

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

First of "Improved La Galissoniére" was ordered in 1937 and other two in 1938. They should be faster than prototype and had to had modified aircraft arrangement (two catapults and hangar should be placed amidships). Only first ship was laid down, works were suspended in 1940, restarted only in 1946 and soon stopped to consider modernized design. Construction was resumed again in January 1951. In June 1954 incomplete ship sank at shipyard after she had been floated out with open sea-cocks, and completion was delayed again.

New armament consisted of new twin 127mm and 57mm DP mounts (these gun mounts also were installed on new T47 class fleet escorts). No fewer than 4 directors provided 127mm guns fire and each was paired with small director for 57mm guns. All guns were radar-controlled and stabilized. Planned two triple 550mm TT banks were never installed. De Grasse was equipped as command ship and can play role of fighter direction ship (she had DRBI10 height-finding radar).

Machinery was retained as in original design but hull was lengthened, transom stern was replaced by cruiser-type, bridge structure was redesigned. As result of installation of new armament and sensors standard displacement was 1400t greater than in original project.

Ship protection

(as originally planned): Torpedo bulkhead protected the hull between end barbettes. Main 100mm belt protected machinery and command center under main deck, it was about 2m narrower abreast magazines. Transverse bulkheads had 60mm thickness between main deck and upper platform and 20mm between upper platform and double bottom. They were placed forward from barbette No1, between command center and barbette No2s, between machinery spaces and aft magazines and aft from barbette No3. Belt was closed by 38mm main deck. Steering gear compartment had 38mm crown, 26mm sides and 20mm transverse bulkheads. Turrets had 100mm faces, 50mm sides and crowns and 40mm rears. Barbettes had 95mm protection over upper deck and 70mm between main and upper decks. CT had 95mm sides and 50mm roof and had communication tube with 45mm armour

(as completed): Torpedo bulkhead protected the hull between end gun mounts. Main 100mm belt protected machinery and command center under main deck, it was about 2m narrower abreast magazines. Transverse bulkheads had 60mm thickness between main deck and upper platform and 20mm between upper platform and double bottom. They were placed forward from fwd 127mm mounts, between command center and 127mm mounts Nos3 and 4, between machinery spaces and aft gun mount and aft from aft gun mount. Belt was closed by 38mm main deck. Steering gear compartment had 38mm crown, 26mm sides and 20mm transverse bulkheads.

Modernizations

1962: - 4 x 2 - 57/60, 2x DRBC-11, DRBV-11 radars; + DRBV-20A radar (second)

1966, cruiser was converted to flagship of Pacific experimental Centre: - 2 x 2 - 127/54, 6 x 2 - 57/60, 2x DRBV-20A, 1x DRBC-11, 4x DRBC-30 radars; + DRBV-23 radar; superstructure was enlarged, tall lattice mainmast was fitted. Standard displacement was 9000 t, complement was 560 + 120 berths for engineers and techicians.

Naval service

De Grasse served as command ship of Pacific Experimental Center from 1966 until stricken in 1973.