Name T 47 or Surcouf class Succeeded by T 53 class | Operators French Navy | |
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Builders Arsenal de Brest
Arsenal de Lorient
Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde
Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne Preceded by Fantasque class, Hardi class Subclasses Anti-submarine and anti-air variants after refit | ||
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 Georges Leygues-class frigates.
Contents
These ships were larger than other contemporary European destroyers and 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. The main guns were the French designed Model 1948 127-millimetre (5 in)/54 gun, which enabled them to use the same 5-inch shells as the U.S. Mark 18 gun. The secondary armament was composed of 57mm/60 modèle 1951 guns.
Modifications
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.
AAW modernisation
Four ships — Bouvet, Kersaint, Dupetit-Touhars and Du Chayla — were modernised as anti-aircraft guided missile destroyers in 1962–1965.
ASW modernisation
Five ships — D'Estrées, Maillé-Brézé, Vauquelin, Casabianca and Guépratte — were modernised as anti-submarine destroyers in 1968–1970.