Name Colbert Laid down 12 June 1927 Class and type Suffren-class cruiser Launched 20 April 1928 Draft 7.3 m | Namesake Jean Baptiste Colbert Commissioned 4 March 1931 Construction started 12 June 1927 Length 196 m Builder Brest Naval Yard | |
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Fate scuttled at Toulon, 27 November 1942, Scrapped 1948 | ||
Colbert was a French heavy cruiser of the Suffren class, that saw service in World War II. She was named for Jean Baptiste Colbert.
Service history
Colbert was part of the 2nd Cruiser Division of the 1st Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean, which also included Duquesne and Tourville. In September 1939, at the start of World War II, Colbert was part of the 1st Cruiser Squadron, which also included Algérie, Dupleix, Foch, Duquesne and Tourville.
On 14 June 1940, the French navy executed Operation Samoyède. The 3rd French squadron, including cruisers Foch, Algérie, Dupleix and Colbert, bombarded Genoa, supported by the French Naval Air Arm.
Following the French surrender to Germany later that month, Colbert served with the navy of Vichy France. Colbert and much of the French fleet was taken out of action and kept at Toulon. On 27 November 1942, she was successfully scuttled at Toulon by her crew, despite the presence of German officers attempting to take control. She was blown apart when her magazine exploded. The rusted hull of Colbert remained there until 1948, when her remains were scrapped.