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Le Terrible 1939

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Le Malin	X02, 1950- D612		F C de la Méditerranée, La Seyne	11.1931	17.8.1933	5.1936	FNFL 2.1943, hulk 1956
Le Terrible	X01, 1950- D611		CNF, Caen	12.1931	30.11.1933	4.1935	FNFL 1.1943, school ship 1957
L`Indomptable			F C de la Méditerranée, La Seyne	1.1932	7.12.1933	2.1936	scuttled 27.11.1942
L`Audacieux			Arsenal de Lorient	11.1931	15.3.1934	11.1935	sunk 7.5.1943
Le Fantasque	X03, 1950- D610		Arsenal de Lorient	11.1931	15.3.1934	3.1936	FNFL 1.1943, stricken 5.1957
Le Triomphant	X04, 1950- D613		A C de France, Dunkerque	8.1931	16.4.1934	5.1936	captured by British 3.7.1940, FNFL 8.1940, stricken 12.1954

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	2569
Displacement full, t	3380
Length, m	125.4 pp 132.4 oa
Breadth, m	12.5
Draught, m	5.01
No of shafts	2
Machinery	Le Malin, L`Indomptable, Le Triomphant: 2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Penhoët boilers Le Terrible: 2 sets Rateau-Bretagne geared steam turbines, 4 Yarrow Loire boilers L`Audacieux, Le Fantasque: 2 sets Rateau-Bretagne geared steam turbines, 4 Penhoët boilers
Power, h. p.	74000
Max speed, kts	37
Fuel, t	oil 580
Endurance, nm(kts)	3000(14)
Armament	5 x 1 - 139/50 M1929, 2 x 2 - 37/50 M1933, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 3 x 3 - 550 TT, 2 DCR (16), 50 mines
Complement	210

Graphics

Project history

Built under the 1930 programme. Last "full" (6 ships) series of French super-destroyers. They became top of development of French super-destroyers. In this design it has been reached optimum (from the point of view of designers) combination of speed qualities and fire power at comprehensible displacement. Though the endurance remained "Mediterranean" and insufficient for operations at ocean.

They notably differed from predecessors outwardly: with typical "cruiser-destroyer" outline profile with two funnels. Introduction of new main guns (M1929) became the basic difference from the previous series, for the first time destroyers received centralised fire control system for main guns with computer. Side salvo weighed about 200kg, twice more than at British destroyers. Placing of three main guns on stern and engine and boiler rooms moved astern led to 2m trim astern on full speed. On trials all made over 40kts speed. Le Fantasque was slowest (42.71kt), and the record of speed not broken till now for large surface ships belongs to Le Terrible (45.03kts). "Champion" differed from colleagues a little by propeller struts. Probably, that it has influenced speed characteristics. Speed qualities were kept till the end of service: in the end of war fairly overloaded ships easily made 37kts.

Modernizations

autumn 1940, Le Triomphant: - 1 x 1 - 139/50 (No 4); + 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 2 x 1 - 40/39 QF Mk VIII, 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 2 - 12.7/62, 2 x 1 - 12.7/62, type 123 sonar

1941, L`Indomptable: + 3 x 2 - 37/50 M1933

1942, Le Triomphant: + 7 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

(2/1943 - 4.1944), Le Fantasque, Le Terrible: - 2 x 2 - 37/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 1 x 3 - 550 TT; + 1 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 2 x 1 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, radars, sonar, fuel stowage was 730t.

(2/1943 - 4.1944), Le Malin: - 2 x 2 - 37/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 1 x 3 - 550 TT; + 1 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 2 x 1 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 10 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, radars, sonar, fuel stowage was 730t

(4/1944 - 3.1945), Le Triomphant: - 1 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 2 - 37/50, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 2 - 12.7/62, 2 x 1 - 12.7/62, 1 x 3 - 550 TT; + 1 x 1 - 139/50 M1929, 3 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 10 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, radars, fuel stowage was 730t

Naval service

In January, 1943 Le Fantasque and Le Terrible passed to the USA. A little bit later also Le Malin and Le Triomphant joined them. After repair ships were classified as light cruisers.

L`Audacieux 23.9.1940 was damaged by gunfire of Australian heavy cruiser Australia, strong fire begun and ship ran aground. Later she was towed for repair to Bizerte and sunk by Allied bombers during Tunisia campaign 7.5.1943. Le Malin was hard damaged at Casablanca at Allied landing. 25.12.1944 as result of collision at Naples Le Malin has lost her fore hull part till main gun No1 (repair was completed already after war), and boiler room was flooded on Le Terrible. Le Triomphant 3.7.1940 was captured by British and already 28.8.1940 transferred to FNFL. L`Indomptable was scuttled at Toulon 27.11.1942. Germans salvaged her and formally enlisted as fast escort SG9. She was never commissioned and 7.3.1944 again sunk by Allied aircraft. Parts of her hull were used on repair of Le Malin.

Le Terrible became a school ship in 1957 and broken up in 1962.

Le Terrible 1939