NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Dixmude Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Dixmude (ex-Biter, ex-BAVG3, ex-Rio Parana)		187	Sun SB, Chester, USA // Atlantic Basin Iron Wks, USA	28.12.1939	18.12.1940	1.5.1942 // 9.4.1945	aircraft transport 1949, accommodation ship 1960

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	12850
Displacement full, t	15300
Length, m	150.0
Breadth, m	21.2 wl 23.7 fd
Draught, m	7.75
No of shafts	1
Machinery	4 Doxford diesels
Power, h. p.	8500
Max speed, kts	16.5
Fuel, t	diesel oil 1308 and 1097 t of cargo oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	15000(15)
Armament	3 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk IV, 11 x 1 - 20/70 Mk IV, 15 aircraft (Seafire fighters)
Electronic equipment	type 79, type 271 radars
Complement	555

Air group

Year	Fighters	diving bombers
1945	15 Seafire	---
1947	---	15 SBD Dauntless

Standard scale images

Graphics

Aircraft facilities

 (fd - 2,963(3,192)m², ha - ~ 1,275m² / 6,222m³): Flight deck: 125(later 134.7)x23.7m, hangar was 4.88m in height. There was 1 lift (12.8x10.4m, 5.4t) and 1 catapult H-II (3.2t plane was launched at 113km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 164 000l.  

Project history

Former British escort aircraft carrier of Archer class, received from the USA on lend-lease. Early 1945 she was returned to the USA which have transferred her at to France. 

First (with Archer) British escort aircraft carriers ordered in the USA by the agreement about lend-lease. They were converted from hulls of transport ships. Works have begun in April — May, 1941. Carriers had hulls of standard type СЗ transports. The stability was ensured with a concrete ballast (1930t). Besides, holding of 1000t of a water-ballast was recommended. Ships had no armour or underwater protection. Diesel fuel stowage consisted from 1362 - 1600t of ship stock and 1100 - 1700t in additional (cargo) tanks, used mainly for a refuelling of the ships of an escort at sea.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

Dixmude saw active service in Indo-China in 1947. She was re-rated as aviation transport in 1949 till 1960, when she converted to base ship for amphibious forces. Dixmude was returned to USA in 1966. 



Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.