 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
HOME
|
US Navy -
ships
|
US Navy - air
units
|
USMC - air
units
|
International
Navies
|
Weapon Systems
|
Special Reports |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
French Navy - Marine Nationale Surcouf class Destroyer (Type T47 Escorteur d'escadre) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 03/22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ships: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Type / class:
Surcouf (T47) class Destroyer /
Escorteur d'escadre BUILDERS: D 621, D 622, D 624, D 627, D 628: Arsenal de Lorient, Brittany, France D 623, D 631: Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne, Nantes, France D 625, D 629, D 630: Arsenal de Brest, Brittany, France D 626, D 632: Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde, France Displacement: 2794 tons (standard) / 3740 tons (full load) Length: 128.6 meters (421 feet 11 inches) Beam: 12.7 meters (41 ft 8 in) Draft: 5.4 meters (17 ft 9 in) Speed: 34 knots (63 km/h), max. Range: 5000 NMI (9300 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h) Complement: 347 Propulsion: 2 x steam turbines 4 x boilers 63000 hp (46979 kW) 2 shafts, 2 propellers Armament (as built): 6 x 127 mm (5 inches) guns (3x twin) 6 x 57 mm guns (3x twin) 2 x 20 mm guns 12 x 550 mm torpedo tubes (4x triple) AAW modernization (Bouvet, Kersaint, Dupetit-Touhars and Du Chayla): Armament: 1 x Mk-13 single-arm missile launcher for RIM-24 Tartar SAM 6 x 57 mm guns (3 twin turrets) 1 x Model 1972 sextuple 375 mm anti-submarine mortar ASW modernization (D'Estrées, Maillé-Brézé, Vauquelin, Casabianca and Guépratte): Armament: 2 x 100 mm guns 1 x anti-submarine mortar 1 x Malafon anti-submarine missile launcher 2 x 20 mm guns Aviation: none Systems: - |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The T 47 class or Surcouf class were the first destroyers built for
the French Navy after the Second World War. Twelve ships were built
between 1955 and 1957. The ships were modernised in the 1960s and
decommissioned in the 1980s, when they were replaced by the Cassard
and Georges Leygues-class frigates. The class was authorised in 1949
and were designed as aircraft carrier escort vessels. Three were
modified to become flagships, four became anti-air guided missile
destroyers and five became anti-submarine destroyers. Design and description: These ships were based on the wartime Hardi class, but were enlarged and had a dual purpose armament. The ships were designed as Squadron escorts (Escorteur d'escadre) rather than for independent operations, therefore they had a slower speed than their predecessors. As built, the vessels had standard displacement of 2,750 long tons (2,794 t) and 3,740 long tons (3,800 t) at full load. They measured 128.6 metres (421 ft 11 in) long overall with a beam 12.7 metres (41 ft 8 in) and a draught of 5.4 metres (17 ft 9 in). They were propelled by Rateau geared turbines turning two shafts rated at 63,000 shaft horsepower (47,000 kW), powered by four boilers raising steam at 500 pounds per square inch (3,400 kPa). They had a maximum speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) and a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). They carried 700 long tons (710 t) of fuel oil. The class was initially designed for fleet anti-aircraft warfare (AA). The main guns were the dual-purpose French-designed Model 1948 127-millimetre (5 in)/54 calibre gun, which enabled them to use standard U.S. ammunition. The main armament was mounted in three twin turrets. The secondary armament was composed of 57mm/60 modèle 1951 guns in three twin turrets and four single-mounted 20 mm Oerlikon cannon. Their heavy AA armament was chosen due to the lack of pre-war vessels with this ability. Originally, the ships did not have much anti-submarine warfare (ASW) armament included in the design beyond depth charge racks. The design initially included a single quadruple mount of 550 mm (21.7 in) torpedo tubes mounted between the aft 127 mm and 57 mm gun mounts. This was changed to four triple banks of 550 mm torpedo tubes with two placed along either side of the ship. These forward pair were designed to fire L3 ASW homing torpedoes and the aft pair, either L3 torpedoes or K2 anti-ship torpedoes. The ships were equipped with French sonars DUBV 1 and DUBA 1 mounted on the hull. They were intended to have a British-pattern lattice mast, but had twin tripods with lattice installed carrying a DRBV 11 surface and air search radar. They also carried DRBV 20A and DRBC 11 and DRBC 30 radars. The main armament was guided by a single fire control director, with a second slotted aft for the 57 mm guns. The ships had a complement of 347. During the 1960s the entire class were modernised and modified as either flotilla flagships, anti-aircraft guided missile or anti-submarine destroyers. Flagships: Three ships - Surcouf, Cassard, and Chevalier Paul - were converted into flotilla flagships (conducteurs de flottilles) between 1960 and 1962. One 57 mm gun turret, two triple torpedo launchers and two 20 mm guns were removed in order to enlarge the superstructure to accommodate an admiral, his staff, and additional communications equipment. They were modified as replacements for two light cruisers which had been withdrawn from service. In 1962, Cassard was used for helicopter experiments and fitted with a flight deck. AAW modernisation: Four ships - Bouvet, Kersaint, Dupetit-Thouars and Du Chayla - were modernised as anti-aircraft guided missile destroyers in 1962-1965. They were given one Tartar missile launcher, retained their three twin turrets of 57 mm guns. They were also given one Model 1972 sextuple 375 mm (15 in) anti-submarine mortar. The missile launcher replaced the aft 127 mm turrets and a raised deckhouse was installed between the aft 57 mm guns where SPG-51 tracker-illuminators were situated. The Model 1972 mortar replaced the forward 127 mm turret and the fire control director for the main armament was removed. The DRBC 31 radar was moved to the fire control director's former spot atop the bridge and the DRBV 11 radar was replaced by an SPS-39A 3D model, later upgraded to the B model. The complement was reduced to 278, comprising 17 officers and 261 ratings. Further upgrades including receiving a SENIT 2 action information centre within the bridge superstructure towards the aft and in 1979, two ships, Dupetit-Thouars and Du Chayla, had their DRBV 11 air search radar exchanged with a DRBV 22 system. Only the forward set of torpedo tubes were kept. ASW modernisation: Five ships - D'Estrées, Maillé-Brézé, Vauquelin, Casabianca and Guépratte - were modernised as anti-submarine destroyers in 1968-1970. D'Estrées had served as the trial vessel for French variable depth sonar in the early 1960s. The armament was modified to two Mod 53 100 mm (4 in) guns, one Mod 1972 375 mm sextuple anti-submarine rocket launcher, one Malafon anti-submarine missile launcher and two 20 mm guns. The Malafon system was installed aft with the magazine located directly in front of it. The single-mounted 100 mm guns were located fore and aft and were controlled by a DRBC 32A fire control director. The 375 mm ASW mortar was situated in the "B" position forward. The ships were given DRBV 22A air search radar situated atop the tripod mast with the DRBV 50 air/surface radar located below it. The five destroyers were had DUBV 23 and DUBV 43 sonars installed, with the new sonars requiring that the bow be reconfigured. Those that were modernised this way received a clipper bow and a stern anchor, which increased the overall length to 132.5 metres (434 ft 9 in). The complement was reduced to 260. source: wikipedia NAMESAKES: D 621 FS Surcouf: Robert Surcouf (December 12, 1773 - July 8, 1827) was a French privateer and slave trader. who operated in the Indian Ocean between 1789 and 1801, and again from 1807 to 1808, capturing over 40 prizes, while amassing a large fortune as a ship-owner, both from privateering and from commerce. D 622 FS Kersaint: Armand-Guy-Simon de Coetnempren, comte de Kersaint, in short Armand de Kersaint (July 29, 1742 in Paris - December 4, 1793 in Paris/executed), was a French sailor and politician. A Girondin, Kersaint held important naval posts during the early stages of the French Revolution. His brother, Guy-Pierre (1747–1822), also served in the navy and took part in the American War of Independence. D 623 FS Cassard: Jacques Cassard (September 30, 1679 in Nantes - 1740 in Ham) was a French naval officer and privateer. D 624 FS Bouvet: Jean Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier (January 14, 1705 - 1786) was a French sailor, explorer, and governor of the Mascarene Islands. D 625 FS Dupetit-Thouars: Aristide Aubert Du Petit Thouars (August 31, 1760 in Boumais - August 2, 1798 in Abukir) often written Dupetit-Thouars) was a French naval officer, and a hero of the Battle of Abukir, where he died. D 626 FS Chevalier Paul: Jean-Paul de Saumeur (1598, off Marseille - December 20, 1667 in Toulon), often called Chevalier Paul was a French admiral who served in several Mediterranean campaigns. D 627 FS Maille-Breze: Jean Armand de Maillé-Brézé, Duke of Fronsac, Marquis of Brézé (October 18, 1619 in Milly-le-Meugnon - June 14, 1646 Battle of Orbetello) was a French admiral. D 628 FS Vauquelin: Moise Vauquelin or Moses Vanclein (active 1650-1670) was a 17th-century French buccaneer. During his four-year career as a privateer, he served as an officer under l'Ollonais and formed a brief partnership with Pierre Le Picard. He and Philippe Bequel later co-wrote a book detailing their explorations of the Honduran and Yucatán coastline. D 629 FS D’Estrees: Jean II d'Estrées, (November 3, 1624 in Solothurn, Switzerland - May 19, 1707 in Paris), was a Marshal of France, and an important naval commander of Louis XIV. He was born to a noble family from Picardie. His aunt was Gabrielle d'Estrées, lover of King Henry IV of France. Victor Marie d'Estrées, Duke of Estrées count then duke (1723) d'Estrées (November 30, 1660 in Paris - December 27, 1737 in Paris) was a Marshal of France. D 630 FS Du Chayla: Count Armand Blanquet du Chayla (May 9, 1759 in Marvejols - April 29, 1826 in Versailles) was an officer in the French Navy, most famous as second in command of the French fleet during its defeat at the Battle of the Nile. D 631 FS Casabianca: Luc-Julien-Joseph Casabianca (February 7, 1762 in Vescovato, Haute-Corse - August 1, 1798 in Abukir) was a French Navy officer. D 632 FS Guepratte: Émile Paul Aimable Guépratte (August 30, 1856 in Granville - November 21, 1939 in Brest) was a French admiral. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| images | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 D 621 FS Surcouf  D 622 FS Kersaint  D 623 FS Cassard D 624 FS Bouvet  D 628 FS Vauquelin  D 630 FS Du Chayla after modernization: note the Mk.13 Tartar SAM launcher, aft |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | seaforces.org | French Navy start page | |