Vauquelin class destroyer

French Navy – Contre-Torpilleurs de 2500 tonnes. 6 built 1930-1934, in service until 1942: Vauquelin, Kersaint, Cassard, Tartu, Maillé Brézé, Chevalier Paul.

The Vauquelin-class destroyers were a group of six large destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy in the early 1930s. They were an improvement over the previous Aigle class and were intended to counter the large destroyers of the Italian Regia Marina. These ships served in World War II, where most were lost. Vauquelin, Kersaint, Cassard, Tartu, Maillé-Brézé, and Chevalier Paul were all named after XVII-XVIIIth century French privateers and admirals. They were designed for high speed, powerful armament, and long-range operations like their sisters of the previous and next class, dedicated to hunt down Italian destroyers, keep them afar from French troopships and convoys in general.

In displacement, they were a bit larger than the previous Aigle at 2,441 tons full load hence their classification as “2500 tonnes” for c129 meters (423 feet) in length for a top speed of 36 knots, range of 3,000 nautical miles at 15 knots and same armament as before. Her five 138.6 mm (5.5 in) guns subclassed the 120 mm of most destroyers at the time, but they were otherwise criticized later for their primitive fire control system, weak torpedo armament for their size, only capable of launching five torpedoes per broadside, and poor AA defence, albeit it was improved over the Aigle class. They were also the last of their breed of “4 funnelled 2500 tonnes” also comprising the Guepard and Aigle classes. The next two-funnelled Fantasque class would be the largest and fastest destroyers in the world.

The Vauquelin-class ships primarily served in the French Mediterranean and Atlantic fleets. Some participated in convoy escort missions, fleet actions, and coastal defense. After the Fall of France (1940), half the class was scuttled in Toulon to avoid capture by the Germans, Maillé-Brézé was destroyed by an accidental explosion, another, Chevalier Paul, was sunk off Syria by the allies in 1941. The Vauquelin-class was mid-way in this lineage of “contre-torpilleurs” somewhat cheating on the Washington treaty to alleviate for the lack of cruisers in the Marine Nationale. They were the last “classic” large destroyers of a type started by the Guepard class, before France moved toward the more modern “Le Fantasque” class with even greater speed and firepower.

Vauquelin and Tartu in Monte Carlo 1935

Design of the class

Development

The Vauquelin class like their predecessors, were “contre-torpilleurs”, which means in the French Naval Parlance of the interwar, designed to act fleet scouts, replacing a potential light cruiser for that role, as well as fight their way through the enemy’s screen, outclassing the completion. They were taken seriously enough for the Regia Marina to commission a serie of light cruisers to counter them, the early Condottiere class (Giussano and Cardona class). The Vauquelin class design was virtually a repeat of the Aigle-class destroyers, but with a reshaped stern to improve minelaying and a new torpedo armament. To reduce top weight for the first time, electric welding was used for all of non-strength parts of the hull and superstructure. The other point was the use of duralumin for internal partitions, and parts of the superstructure. This aviation-born age-hardenable aluminium–copper alloy, one of the first ever manufactured. Initially developed in 1909 in Germany it was adopted by the aviation world, but generally not for naval construction as very susceptible to corrosion. In the case of floatplanes, it was mixed with alclad-duralum materials and rather used internally, like here.

These measures improved their metacentric height at deep load, to 0.7 m (2.3 ft). In the end, this cured the issue of previous destoryers, notably the lack of stability of the Aigles. This made them better gun platforms. The Vauquelins were also considered to be good seaboats with slight modifications of the hull shape, but they were criticized for their small rudder, carried over from earlier ships, and even repeated up to the Mogador class, so they were not very manoeuvrable. However at the time, their doctrine was simply to “punch they way” through enemy destroyer screen, speed and firepower in a straight line were more important than agility. In service however, the duralumin used, even for internal part, could not escape corrosion when seawater seeped in and required much maintenance. This was not repeated on later designs.

Hull and general design

The Vauquelins were about the same size as the previous Aigle, with an overall length of 129.3 meters (424 ft 3 in), a beam of 11.8 meters (38 ft 9 in), a draft of 4.97 meters (16 ft 4 in).
To compare, this was 128.5 x 11.8 x 4.97 m (421 ft 7 in x 38 ft 9 in x 16 ft 4 in) for the Aigles, so three feet more on the same beam and draught. They displaced the same however, officially still at 2,441 metric tons (2,402 long tons) standard and 3,120 metric tons (3,070 long tons) deep load. The hull was similarly subdivided into a dozen traverse bulkheads making for 13 watertight compartments.

The crew amounted to 10 officers and 201 crewmen in peacetime, 12 officers and 220 enlisted men in wartime. There were two boats for liaison either side of the first funnel, immediately aft of the bridge, with small cranes.
The general silhouette was the same as the Aigle in detail, with four funnels, the same superfiring guns fore and aft, bandstand gun aft of the last funnel, four typical funnels making them instantaneously recognizable internationally, one tripod foremast, one raked pole aft mast, a streamlined, rounded bridge, enclose and open above with the firing control post and its rangefinder on top, the other located on an elevated structure on the quarterdeck house aft. They also had a spotting top on the foremast, a high-up searchlight forward and another aft on top of a derrick.

The stern was also untypical of previous designs, still with internal depth charge chutes and railings, but the poop was now given a classic rounded shape, no longer “optimized” for dropping them (or mines). The only peculiar difference with the Aigle class was their torpedo tubes arrangement, with two twin tubes forward, on either side, and a single, axial triple one aft. Those gave them indeed one more tube compared to the previous 2×3 axial arrangement, but this also meant one less tube for a broadside. The initial plan called for two triple banks, but this was rejected out of top weight concerns.

Launch of Vauquelin in Dunkirk

Powerplant

The Vauquelins had two geared Rateau-Breguet or Parsons steam turbines depending on their yard. Each drove a propeller shaft, using steam from four du Temple boilers operating at a pressure of 20 kg/cm2 (1,961 kPa; 284 psi), temperature of 215 °C (419 °F). This was a bit less than for example US destroyers of the time. These turbines were rated for 64,000 metric horsepower (47,000 kW; 63,000 shp) making for a top speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). However in sea trials, they all comfortably exceeded this, reaching from 38.4 to 41 knots (71.1 to 75.9 km/h; 44.2 to 47.2 mph), obtained by pushing her the machinery, from 69,326 to 79,846 PS (50,989 to 58,727 kW; 68,378 to 78,754 shp). These figures were obtained on “light load”, meaning no ammunition, reduced crew, no food, and just enough fuel oil to perform the trials. So no realistic combat conditions by any stretch of the imagination.
The range was still hampered, like the aigle class, by their lack of fuel oil capacity, just 585 metric tons (576 long tons) for a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph). This was adequate for the Mediterranean, but not for the Atlantic. They were fitted with two 80-kilowatt (110 hp) turbogenerators in addition, located in the engine rooms to provide, like the pair of 22-kilowatt (30 hp) diesel generators in the central superstructure, electricity for all systems that required it, including the armament and fire control, when the machinery was cold.

Armament

The main armament comprised, as before, five 40-caliber 138.6mm (5.5 in) M1927 guns, in single shielded mounts, with superfiring pairs fore and aft and a fifth gun abaft the aft funnel, numbered ‘1’ to ‘5’ up to the stern. The Vauquelins carried 200 rounds for each gun and 75 star shells for No. 2 gun only.
The secondary armament was the same pair of 50-caliber, semi-automatic 37 mm (1.5 in) M1925 anti-aircraft guns in single mounts positioned amidships in addition to two twin mounts for Hotchkiss 13.2 mm (0.52 in) CA M1929 AA heavy machine guns, located on the forecastle deck, abreast the bridge. Sufficient to deal with 1930 aviation, but not in 1940.
As for their above-water 550-millimeter (21.7 in) torpedo tubes, see later, this was a new arrangement to increase firepower on that stage a bit, firing the same good old 1923DT torpedoes. They repeated the same depth charge chutes at the stern for sixteen 200 kg (440 lb) depth charges, plus eight in reserve, two depth-charge throwers on the broadside abreast the aft funnels firing 100 kg (220 lb) depth charges. The deck had been prepared to fit rails on the weather deck aft into order to store and drop forty 530-kilogram (1,170 lb) Breguet B4 mines. The DC throwers however were removed in 1936, extra stern 200 kgs depth charges carried instead.

138.6 mm (5.5 in)/40 M1927 guns

One superfiring pair fore and aft of the superstructure and the fifth gun abaft the rear funnel. They were no longer the M1923, but the M1927.
The latter was designed to be faster-firing, albeit the range was inferior to the M1923. The Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1927 was indeed derived from a German World War I design and adopted for the Aigle, Vauquelin classes DDs, Bougainville-class sloops. Overall, they were faster guns with a firing cycle of 4 or 5 seconds thanks to their automatic spring rammer, but this was broken by their antiquated dredger hoists transporting shells and cartridge cases, so they ended at 8-10 rounds per minute practical, which was even worse than for the M1923 of the previous class.

specifications 138.6mm/40 M1927:
Weight: 4,100 kg (9,000 lb)
Barrel length: 5.544 m (18 ft 2.3 in)
Elevation/Traverse -10/+28 degrees, 300°
Loading system: semi-automatic spring rammer, horizontal sliding-block
Muzzle velocity: 700 m/s (2,300 ft/s)
Range: 28 degrees: 16,600 m (18,200 yd) SAP
Guidance: Optical + FCS
Crew: 7-8
Round: 130x900mm R Separate-loading, cased charge
Rate of Fire: 8-10 rounds/minute

37 mm AA

The Modèle 1925 was a single gun mount, hand-loaded, semi-automatic, with a low rate of fire compared to their clip-fed models, and fired a low projectile weight with a low velocity. All this combined to have only four of them make for a poor AA defence, even if that was a pair more than the previous Guepard.
specifications 37mm/50 M1925:
Weight: 661 lbs. (300 kg)
Barrel length: 79.0 in (2.007 m), Bore 72.8 in (1.850 m)
Elevation/Traverse: -15/+80 degrees, 360°
Loading system: Welin breech Block
Muzzle velocity: 2,657 fps (810 mps)
Range: 7,850 yards (7,175 m) a 45°
Guidance: Optical + FCS
Crew: 3
Round: 6.2 lbs. (2.8 kg) full HE Model 1925 1.6 lbs. (0.725 kg), Incendiary.
Rate of Fire: 30-42 (15-21 practical)

13.2 mm AA

Two pairs of these were installed before the war. These twin 13.2 mm/75 heavy machine guns were later expanded to two more mounts, notably one forward of the bridge. This was a high rate of fire system on a light mount designed by Le Prieur. The 13.2mm was a Gas-operated system fed by 30-round box magazine, or 15-round feed strips. It was copied by Japan and Italy and used by the axis in WW2. The round was peculiar in this, it was a 12.7 × 99 mm Browning (.50 BMG) cartridge necked up to 13.2 mm caliber. A short round (96 mm) was introduced in 1935. It was mostly adopted for fixing the barrel wear issue. Hotchkiss also developed single and quad mounts, one of which was studied by the US.

⚙ specifications 13.2mm M1929 HMG

Mass: 37.5 kg (83 lbs) per gun stripped.
Length: 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in), Barrel 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
Shell: 13.2×99mm Hotchkiss Long (1929).
Elevation -10° to +90°, traverse 360°, 450 rpm cyclic, 200-250 rpm sustained
Muzzle velocity: 800 m/s (2,625 ft/s)
Max range: 7.2 km (4.5 mi), Effective 4,200 m (13,800 ft)/45°

Torpedo Tubes

Unlike the previous class, they had one axial torpedo tubes bank, triple, aft and two twin forward in order to somewhat boost their capacity a bit. The forward mounts were located between the two pairs of funnels on the broadside, leaving a large gap so to, in theory, be capable of cross-fire, meaning the opposite bank could fire across the deck on the opposite side if needed, but this was rarely tested in practice and certainly dangerous. The axial bank was located aft of the rear funnel. These were of the same model as the previous class. It seems strange that at this point the French did look at developing a quad torpedo tubes bank, that would provide more firepower more in line with their great size.

I cannot found a reason but for stability concerns and lack of incentive for the manufacturer of these mounts to develop such arrangement. The next, larger Fantasque class had instead three triple banks, replacing the former twin by triple ones and somewhat redeeming the issues of the Vauquelin. Contemporary US destroyer managed to have triple and even later quad TT banks on the broadsides, with a peculiar training for, in theory, launch all these torpedoes forward by a rapid sweep.

23D/DT 550mm TORPEDOES:

The 23DT was for destroyer leaders (Contre-Torpilleurs).
Weight: 4,560 lbs. (2,068 kg), for 27 ft. 2 in. (8.280 m) x 500 mm (21.7 inches).
Warhead: 683 lbs. (310 kg) TNT
Powered by a Schneider alcohol fed air heater, 4-cyl.
Speed settings: 9,840 yards/39 kts or 14,200 yards (13,000m)/35 kts.

ASW armament

They had a pair of depth charge chutes built into their stern with a well containing eight each or a total of sixteen 200-kilogram (440 lb) depth charges, eight more in reserve. They also fitted had four depth-charge throwers, two on each broadside, abreast the forward funnels, with a dozen 100-kilogram (220 lb) depth charges in reserve. The location was quite unusual and the provision was low.
Guiraud Model 1922: Weight 573 lbs. (260 kg) for a 441 lbs. (200 kg) charge for 50 x 88 cm (19.7 x 34.6 in).
Sink Rate or terminal velocity 10 fps (3 meters per sec.) with 100, 165, 250 and 330 feet (30, 50, 75 and 100 m) settings, later augmented to 120m.
For the Thornycroft Y-Guns, Guiraud Mle 1922 100-kilogram (220 lb) depth charges.

Fire Control

Fire control was provided for the main guns in the shape of the relatively recent Modele 1929 electro-mechanical fire-control computer, using data provided by a 3-meter (9 ft 10 in) SOM B.1926 coincidence rangefinder placed atop the bridge forward. This early analogue computer could not compensate for the ships’ motions, so accurate fore was only possible in calm seas and moderate speed, not rolling, which was far from ideal.

The rangefinder was later replaced by a 4-meter (13 ft 1 in) OPL Mle E.1930 stereoscopic rangefinder, from 1934. The SOM rangefinder was repositioned to the base of the mainmast as well. Next, the Cassard became a test ship for a new 5-meter (16 ft 5 in) OPL E.1935 rangefinder, this time placed in a two-man turret, with an auxiliary Mle 1919 fire-control computer located at the base of the turret. This trial was successful, so that the system replaced the E.1930 rangefinder on all ships in class by 1935–1936, although the latter had this new turret built around the base of the mainmast instead. Neither the AA guns nor the torpedo tubes were directed, they all relied on simpler optical systems.

Old Author’s illustration

⚙ Vauquelin class specs.
Displacement	2,441 t standard, 3,120 t deep load
Dimensions	129.3 x 11.8 x 4.97m (424 ft 3 in x 38 ft 9 in x 16 ft 4 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts geared steam turbines, 4 du Temple boilers 64,000 PS (47,000 kW; 63,000 shp)
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range	3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Armament	5× 138.6 mm, 4× 37 mm, 2×2 13.2 mm AA, 1×3, 2×2 550 mm TTs, 2 DCR, 2 DCT (36), 40 mines
Sensors	Hydrophones, Radars (1942)
Crew	12 officers, 224 crewmen (wartime)

Modifications

When the Marine Nationale reconsidered its anti-submarine warfare tactics by September 1939 it was intended to reinstall the depth-charge throwers, but in between they went to other units and instead, they were found equipped with old Y-Guns instead. The depth-charge stowage was ported to 24 heavy (200 kgs) depth charges and 16 light (100 kgs) for the ships quipped with the throwers. Cassard, Vauquelin and Kersaint received them only by May 1940 and in the interim rails were installed at the stern for smaller, 35-kilogram (77 lb) depth charges, three each and ten more were stored in the magazine. Needless to say these very small charges could be man-handled but were quite inefficient otherwise as “warning charges”.
The Vauquelin-class had their antiquated pair of hydrophones replaced at last by a British Alpha 128 Asdic system from April 1940, but only when available, with the last obtaining them from May to December 1941, never for Chevalier Paul (lost in June).

The Vauquelins in Algiers, late 1930s

In May 1940, Vauquelin and Kersaint had their single mounts replaced at last by twin 37-millimeter mounts. Vauquelin then lost all of her 37 mm guns in exchange, but Kersaint retained in addition a pair of single mounts. From 1941 the Vauquelin class needed AA upgrades, but shortages meant equipment differed from ship to ship. The mainmast and auxiliary fire-control position was replaced by a platform for a single twin 37mm and two single 37mm mounts located on a platform and other two single mounts removed. Instead of Hotchkiss, some ships received two or four Browning 0.5 cal. M1920 AA heavy machine guns when available. Chevalier Paul was refitted in January 1941, the first with four 37mm guns with a single twin-gun mount, two singles, plus two single Brownings plus four Hotchkiss in two pairs, making her the best armed. The configuration was repeated for Tartu and Cassard. Vauquelin added three single Brownings to her initial configuration and Kersaint ended with four single 37mm, replacing her Hotchkiss for four single Brownings, plus three 25mm Hotchkiss M1925 AA guns, in single mounts, another intermediate AA configuration.

Career of the Vauquelin class

Kersaint, Vauquelin, Maillé Brézé were initially in the 2nd Squadron in Brest, the other three in the 1st Squadron, Toulon, so distributed between the two French fleets. All six ships however were reassigned to the 1st Squadron in October 1934. With the Spanish Civil War from July 1936, Kersaint and Cassard were assigned to evacuate French citizens from Spain and afterwards, patrol surveillance zones assigned to France. In fact, most Mediterranean Fleet’s contre-torpilleurs and destroyers were assigned to these tasks with monthly rotations in what was called the “non-intervention policy”, controlling smugglers and acting on aggressive behaviour on neutral shipping from the Nationalists (and sometimes Republicans).

On 27 August 1939, as the war loomed near, the French Navy reorganized the Mediterranean Fleet, now renamed the “Forces de haute mer” (lit. high sea forces) into three squadrons. From 3 September, the Vauquelins were in the 3rd Light Squadron, split up between the 5th and 9th Scout Divisions (officially “Division de contre-torpilleurs”). The 9th Scout Division ships were assigned escort duties, Western Mediterranean, for French troopships bringing men to the homeland from North Africa by early October 1939. Occasionally they escorted convoys in the Atlantic as well. Cassard wass sent to hunt down German commerce raiders and blockade runners in the Atlantic also, Vauquelin and Maillé Brézé escorted cruisers to Dakar in West Africa, by October and back with a convoy.
In April 1940, the 5th Scout Division (Chevalier Paul, Tartu and Maillé Brézé) escorted convoys between Scotland and Norway. From mid-April they escorted two French troop convoys to Harstad, taking par tin the Norwegian Campaign, and landings at Namsos. Maillé Brézé sank on 30 April after a torpedo accident at Greenock. The unit was reassigned to Toulon by late May as Italy was believed to join the war. From 10 June, Tartu, Cassard and Chevalier Paul were part of Operation Vado, shelling the Ligurian coast, a symbolic mission, as damage was light.

Kersaint was at Mers-el-Kébir in July 1840 during Operation Catapult. She was not damaged. When the Vichy French naval staff recreated the “Forces de haute mer” on 25 September 1940 after negotiated rules following the axis Armistice Commissions, Cassard was the only one assigned, the others being placed in reserve. Chevalier Paul, Vauquelin and Tartu however were reactivated and entered the FHM on 15 November to replace three older vessels. By June 1941 with the Middle East (Levant) invasion by the allies, Chevalier Paul was sent to Lebanon with ammunition for ships stationed there. She was sunk by British torpedo bombers on 16 June. Vauquelin sailed from Toulon a day after also for Beirut and on the 29th, all three left for Greece to load reinforcements and supplies planned to reach Lebanon, when spotted by British aircraft while underway to Lebanon in July 1941. Orders were strict and they had to turn back. Tartu, Cassard and a heavy cruiser carried an infantry battalion from Algiers to Marseille (30 June-1 July) to be later sent to the Levant.

With Operation Torch on 8 November 1942, The Germans launched Operation Lila to attempt to seize the French fleet at Toulon, but the latter was prepared and on 27 November, all four surviving sisters were scuttled. The Germans and Italians later tried to salvage them, but they were finished off Allied air attacks in 1944, notably before Operation Anvil, after little work was done. They were scrapped on site on 1950 and 1956. None of these destroyers survived the war.

Vauquelin

Vauquelin was laid down at Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk on 13 March 1930, launched on 29 September 1932 and commissioned on 3 November 1933. She entered service on 28 March 1934, delayed for months due to a damaged propeller after she struck a rock in sea trials, also buckling her hull plating over 40 m (131 ft). She was assigned to the 6th Light Division later redesignated scout division with Kersaint and Maillé Brézé, part of the 2nd Light Squadron in Brest, Atlantic Fleet. From 5 August to 23 September 1934 she visited Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Halifax and Quebec for the 400th anniversary of Jacques Cartier’s discovery of Canada. The 6th DL was transferred to the “Groupe de contre-torpilleurs” (GCT) 1st Squadron in Toulon from October, then the 9th. On 27 June 1935, the whole class was at a naval review conducted for navy minister François Piétri, in the Baie de Douarnenez after combined manoeuvres.

With the Spanish Civil War, from July 1936, she was mobilized to protect and evacuate French citizens in Spain and for neutrality patrols on rotation, from 24 September. Her unit was renamed again the 3rd Light Squadron from 15 September and on 1 October, Vauquelin, Tartu and Chevalier Paul ended in the 5th Light Division, Kersaint, Maillé Brézé and Cassard in the 9th, Mediterranean Squadron (1st Squadron). In May–June 1938 they took part in a cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean, and at their return the squadron was renamed a “fleet” (Flotte de la Méditerranée) from July 1939. On 27 August three squadrons were constituted in the fleet, and she ended in the 3rd Light Squadron (5th, 9th Scout Divisions). In mid-October, Vauquelin and Maillé Brézé escorted Algérie and Dupleix to Dakar in French West Africa, then a convoy back home. Her unit was assigned to Force Z by early 1940 in order to support the Finns in the Winter War, but it was cancelled when the Moscow Peace Treaty was signed in March. After the French surrender on 22 June, her unit remained stationed in Toulon.

She was selected to be part of the “active force” (FHM) on 15 November. With the invasion of Vichy-held Lebanon and Syria on 8 June 1941, Admiral François Darlan ordered Chevalier Paul to Beirut with ammunition, but a radio message was decoded by the British, and she was sunk by torpedo bombers from Cyprus. Vauquelin was dispatched in her place with 800 rounds of 138.6 mm ammunition on board, keeping radio silence. Undetected, she reached Beirut on the 21st but was damaged by three Bristol Blenheim bombers from RAF 11 Sqn., receiving six hits killing 5 and wounding 17. Later she was found with Guépard and Valmy in Beirut, that needed to be evacuated so she sailed on 29 June for Thessaloniki in Axis-controlled Greece. Later she departed with 450 men from a battalion of Algerian Light Infantry and 90 t of supplies for Lebanon from 5 July, spotted by a British reconnaissance aircraft en route, so she had to turn back. Later she returned to Toulon on 22 July. She was transferred to Algiers in early December to escort the damaged Dunkerque back to Toulon by February 1942. After the invasion of 8 November, she was caught in Toulon during the German operation on the port and arsenal on 27 November. She had previously been prepared to scuttle, which was done. She settled to the bottom with a list. The axis did try to salvage her but a US raid in August 1944 crippled her, her wreck was BU there in 1951.

Kersaint

Kersaint was laid down at Chantiers Navals Français, Caen on 19 September 1930, launched 14 November 1931 (This completion was delayed by a political decision to keep the Caen shipyard (“Chantiers Navals Français”) busy after the great depression). She was fitted out at Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Saint-Nazaire and completed on 31 December 1933. She entered service on 14 January 1934, delayed by issues with her gearboxes and turbines. She was assigned to the 5th, then 6th Light Division, then scout division with Vauquelin and Maillé Brézé (2nd Light Squadron) in Brest. She was transferred to the GCT, 1st Squadron in Toulon in October 1934 as the 9th Light Div. On 27 June 1935 she was at a review conducted by the Navy Minister in Douarnenez bay after combined manoeuvres. With the Spanish Civil War she rotated to evacuate French citizens from Spain in July and patrol over her surveillance zones, non-intervention policy. The GCT became the “3rd Light Squadron”, 9th DL, Mediterranean Squadron (later fleet). She took part in naval review for Navy Minister Alphonse Gasnier-Duparc in Brest, 27 May 1937. She was part of the eastern Mediterranean cruise of May–June 1938.
By September 1939 she was in the 3rd Light Squadron (5+9th Scout Divisions), transferred to Oran in Algeria on the 3rd for escort duties in the Western Mediterranean, starting frmom October. On 22 December with Maillé Brézé, Albatros, Vauban and Bison she met Force Z, battleship Lorraine, cruisers Jean de Vienne and Marseillaise, escorting four cargo ships with US aircraft directly to Casablanca in French Morocco instead of France within a few days in between, the French surrender on 22 June. Kersaint then escorted Commandant Teste to Oran, and entered Mers-el-Kébir. She was present when Operation Catapult gutted the French here on 3 July. She escaped to Toulon unscathed but on a single shaft at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) due to constant issue with her turbine.
Under Vichy authority she was not selected for the FHM on 25 September, held in reserve until she was assigned on 15 June 1941, to the 7th Scout Division, then transferred to Algiers, to escort Dunkerque back to Toulon by February 1942. With the 8 November Operation Torch she was held in Toulon and the 27th when the Germans tried to take the port she was scuttled and sank with a list in shallow waters. Little effort was made to salvage her. She was BU in 1950.

Cassard

Cassard was laid down at Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne, Nantes on 12 November 1930, launched on 8 November 1931 and completed on 10 September 1933, the entered service on 7 October. This was delayed by six-month-long repairs to her main gearboxes, a common problem with this class. She was assigned to the 6th Light Divisions (Division légère), later “scout division” with Tartu and Chevalier Paul she ended in the 5th DL as part of the Groupe de contre-torpilleurs, 3rd Squadron in Toulon. She took part in the operations of the Spanish Civil War (see above) from July 1936. Cassard, Maillé Brézé and Kersaint were reassigned to the 9th DL, Mediterranean Squadron. She was at the naval review for navy minister Alphonse Gasnier-Duparc in Brest on 27 May 1937 and cruised the Eastern Mediterranean in May–June 1938. On 27 August there was a reorganization and on 3 September she was in the 3rd EL with the 5th and 9th Scout Divisions to Oran for escort duties until April 1940, briefly detached with Force X in the Atlantic against commerce raiders and blockade runners. She was in the 5th Scout Division in June and took part in Operation Vado on 14 June, spending 1,600 rounds of all calibers.
After the surrender on 22 June, she left Oran for Toulon after the news of Mers El Kebir. Cassard escorted other ships underway. She was assigned to the newly created FHM on 25 September, making a few trainings, notably one in the Western Mediterranean, 16–18 October 1940. When French Lebanon and Syria were invaded by June 1941, Cassard, Tartu and the cruiser Foch transported a battalion from Algiers to Marseille for the Levant (30 June-1 July). On 27 November 1942, she was present in Toulon when the Germans tried to take the arsenal but was scuttled. Attempts to reload her in late 1943 failed. She was further damaged by bombing on 7 March 1944 and BU in 1950.

Tartu

Tartu was laid down at Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Saint-Nazaire on 14 September 1930, launched on 7 December 1931 and completed on 31 December 1932. She entered service on 8 February 1933, the only one completed on schedule. Tartu, Chevalier Paul and Cassard were assigned to the 5th DL, GCT, 3rd Squadron in Toulon. Tartu became its flagship until relieved by Maillé Brézé on 12 October 1938. On 27 June 1935 she took part in a naval review conducted by the Navy Minister François Piétri in Douarnenez Bay after combined manoeuvres. She also took part in the operations of the Spanish Civil War from July 1936 on a monthly rotation. On 1 October Tartu was the flagship of Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ollive, 5th DL, Mediterranean Squadron and in May–June 1938 she cruised the Eastern Mediterranean. After the September reorganization, she was assigned to the 3rd Light Squadron to Oran. On 5 April 1940 she was assigned to Force Z to take part in the Allied invasion of Norway, escorting convoys between Scotland and Norway. This started in mid-April with troopship Convoy FP-1 (5th Demi-Brigade of Mountain Infantry) for Namsos on 19 April. On 24–27 April, she escorted Convoy FP-2 (27th Demi-Brigade of Mountain Infantry) to Harstad and Battle of Narvik. On 3–4 May she joined Chevalier Paul, Milan, HMS Sikh and HMS Tartar trying to intercept a German convoy. The 5th Scout Division was back to Toulon on 27 May. With the Italian at war from 10 June, she took part in Operation Vado, herself taken to shell the oil tanks of the coast at Vado Ligure. Two Italian MAS boats on patrol tried to torpedo her, but they were repelled by artillery fire. She spent nearly 1,600 rounds but there was little to show for it.
After the surrender on 22 June, to avoid the fat of Mers-el-Kébir, she left Oran for Toulon. Tartu rendezvoused with them en route, escorted them to Toulon. She was in reserve when the FHM was created, until 15 November 1940. With the allied invasion of the French Levant in June 1941, Tartu, Cassard and Foch transported a battalion there and Tartu started a refit from 4 July to 4 August before being transferred to Algiers in December to escort back to Toulon the damaged battleship Dunkerque in February 1942. She was there on 27 November, scuttled. Salvage attempts were abandoned on 11 December 1943. Her wreck bombed by the allies in March–April 1944 and BU in 1956.

Maillé Brézé

Maillé Brézé (named after Jean Armand de Maillé-Brézé) was laid down at Ateliers et Chantiers de Penhoët in Saint-Nazaire on 9 October 1930, launched on 9 November 1931 and commissioned on 6 April 1933. Her entry into service was delayed due to turbines issues and an accident when she wrapped a chain around her propeller in sea trials. Sh was assigned to the 6th Light Division, later scout divisions, part of the 2nd Light Squadron in Brest and transferred to the GCT 1st Squadron from October 1934, then 9th. On 27 June 1935 she was in the naval review for François Piétri in Douarnenez. She saw the same rotations and operations as her sisters during the Spanish Civil War from July 1936. On 18 January 1937 the ship was attacked but missed by a Spanish Republican Air Force bomber off the Catalonia coast. These incidents were frequent.

As of 1 October 1936, Maillé Brézé, Kersaint and Cassard were assigned to the 9th DL, Mediterranean Squadron, 1st Squadron and saw a naval review for Navy Minister Alphonse Gasnier-Duparc in Brest, 27 May 1937. She was in the Eastern Mediterranean cruise of May–June 1938. She became flagship of the 3rd Light Squadron on 12 October. On 27 August 1939 she was prepared for war and in early September entered the 3rd Light Squadron with both Scout Divisions (entire class). She was in escort duties until April 1940.

In mid-October, she escorted the heavy cruisers Algérie and Dupleix to Dakar and a convoy back home. On 22 December with Kersaint, Albatros, Vauban and Bison she joined Force Z around the battleship Lorraine and Light cruisers Jean de Vienne, escorting four cargo ships with US aircraft to Casablanca. Then she joined Foch and Dupleix on 13 February 1940 with more of the same. She escorted Algérie and Bretagne as the latter carried 2,379 bars of gold to safety in Halifax.
On 5 April her unit was reorganized as the 5th Scout Division wit also Tartu and Chevalier Paul as part of Force Z, prepared for the campaign of Norway, escorting convoys between Scotland and Norway. On 19 April while she escorted ships to Namsos she was attacked by missed by U-46, and depth charged her.

On 30 April 1940 at 14:15, while anchored at the Tail of the Bank in the Firth of Clyde near Greenock (Scotland) she had a torpedo tube malfunction while under maintenance. It spontaneously launched an armed torpedo, onto the deck, while the tubes were facing the structure and striking the forecastle. The detonation set fire to the fuel tanks, spread to the forward magazine, but fortunately it failed to explode. However, due to the danger at 15:15after one hour battling the fire, the crew abandoned ship due to the danger of explosion, except the ones still trapped by fire in the mess hall. Around 16:30, some sailors returned to the ship to successfully flood the aft magazine.

At 19:30 the Greenock firemen managed to extinguish the fire. But she was at the time so overloaded with water and so low she started sinking before towed, going down with trapped men in the forecastle: 37 killed, 47 wounded. She settled in the main shipping channel and stayed there for the remainder of the war and beyond. In 1953 the Ministry of Transport was concerned about still unstable ammunition and leakage of her remaining fuel oil. Divers organized her demolition, cutting away most of the superstructure to reduce her weight before refloating her in the night of 3/4 August 1954. She was beached nearby and 40 long tons (41 t) of ammunition and 500 long tons (508 t) of fuel oil were removed. She was then towed to Port Glasgow on 15 September and BU.

Chevalier Paul

Chevalier Paul was laid down at Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne, Toulon, on 28 February 1931, launched on 21 March 1932 and completed on 20 July 1934. Her service was delayed by gearbox issues, and had her crew transferred in between to the destroyer Aigle.

She was assigned to the 6th Light Division with Tartu and Cassard, at the GCT 3rd Squadron in Toulon. On 27 June 1935 she had manoeuvres and a parade for Navy Minister François Piétri at Douarnenez and saw the same operations as her sisters in the Spanish Civil War. By late 1936 she was in the 5th Light Division, Mediterranean Squadron. She was prepared for was from 27 August 1939, and on 3 September, was in the 3rd Light Squadron, transferred to Oran.

On 5 April 1940, she was in the 5th Scout Division with Tartu and Maillé Brézé, assigned to Force Z for the operations in Norway, escorting convoys between Scotland and Norway but did not start before until mid-April, covering Convoy FP-1 with the 5th Demi-Brigade of Mountain Infantry for the Namsos Campaign on 19 April. On 24–27 April she escorted Convoy FP-2 with the 27th Demi-Brigade to Harstad for the Battle of Narvik. On 3–4 May she joined Tartu, Milan, HMS Sikh and HMS Tartar in interception of a German convoy. The 5th Scout Division was then ordered back to Toulon on 27 May as the Italians were suspected to join the war, which became reality later. On 10 June, she was prepared for operation Vado, performed on 14 June. MAS boats tried to attack them during the bombardment but were repelled. She spent 1,600 rounds for little results on the installations.

She was assigned to the newly formed Vichy French FHM on 15 November. After the allied invasion of the “Levant” (Syria Lebanon) on 8 June 1941, Darlan, ordered Chevalier Paul to carry ammunition to Beirut, French Lebanon, and she departed on 11 June, requesting permission from the axis commission, but the message was intercepted and decoded by British intel. While underway off the Greek island of Kastellorizo on 15 June, hugging the coast of Turkey to escape forces stationed in Cyprus, she was still spotted by a British reconnaissance aircraft at 18:15 on 15 June. Six Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from 815 NAS were vectored in, spotted her 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) off the Syrian coast at 03:00 the next morning on 16 June 1941.

She managed to short down one Swordfish but took a torpedo hit. The flooding was contained for a time, but she became an immobile sitting duck. She radioed for helped to the French HQ in Lebanon which sent Valmy and Guépard one hour later, only to be intercepted by HMNZS Leander and HMS Jervis and HMS Kimberley, forced returned to Beirut. French aircraft took off in force and drove off the Allied ships so that Valmy and Guépard could sail again, but they arrived too late. Chevalier Paul sank at 06:45 off Syria. Still, they managed to rescue all the crew but seven missing, plus the crew of the downed Swordfish.