The De Grasse-class light cruisers were a trio of light cruisers in the French Navy during World War II. During the Fall of France, the three De Grasse-class cruisers would be towed to Britain for completion. Due to all three vessels being around 25 percent complete at the time, they would make extensive use of British machinery and weapons. All three ships would be completed throughout late 1941 and early 1942.
The De Grasse-class was designed in the late 30s, as a series of three cruisers a little heavier than the preceding La Galissonnière-class cruisers notably with an improved anti-aircraft equipment.
- In OTL, one member of this class was completed postwar as an anti-aircraft cruiser while the other two were cancelled.
Specifications[]
- Type: Light Cruiser
- Service Period: 1941-1974
- Characteristics:
- Length: 592 feet (180.44 meters)
- Beam: 62 feet (18.9 meters)
- Draught: 18 feet 1.2 inches (5.52 meters)
- Displacement: 8,000 tons (Standard); 11,431 tons (Full Load)
- Crew: 692
- Propulsion: 4 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 4 × Parsons steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 82,500 shp (61,500 kW)
- Range: 5,300 nautical miles (9,816 kilometers) at 15 knots (27.78 km/h)
- Speed: 33 knots (61.12 km/h)
- Armament:
- 9 x BL 6"/50-caliber Mk.XXIII naval guns (3x3)
- 6 x QF 4"/45-caliber Mk.XVI dual purpose naval guns (3x2)
- 12 x Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns (6x2)
- 16 x 13.2mm machine guns (8x2)
- 6 x 21" torpedo tubes (2x3)
- Armour:
- Belt: 4-inches (101.6 mm)
- Deck: 1.5-inches (38.1 mm)
- Turrets: 4-inches (101.6 mm)
- Conning Tower: 4-inches (101.6 mm)
- Aircraft Carried: 2 x Supermarine Sea Otter
- Aviation Facilities: 2 x catapults
Unit Run[]
- MN De Grasse
- MN Chateaurenault
- MN Guichen