Rahul Sharma (Editor)

T 53 class destroyer

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Operators
  
French Navy

Succeeded by
  
Aconit

Preceded by
  
T 47 class

In commission
  
1957-1992

T 53-class destroyer

Builders
  
Arsenal de BrestArsenal de LorientForges et Chantiers de la GirondeAteliers et Chantiers de Bretagne

Subclasses
  
T 56 classAnti-submarine and anti-air variants after refit

The T 53 class were the second group of destroyers built for the French Navy after World War II. These ships were a modified version of the T 47-class destroyers. The main difference with the preceding ships was the provision of improved air warning and tracking radars as well as an anti-submarine mortar. The ships were built between 1957 and 1958 and were decommissioned in the late 1970s or early 1980s. A single modified ship La Galissonnière was built as a trials ship for a new generation of French weapons. This ship was designated as the T 56 class.

Contents

Modifications

In 1972–73 two of the class were substantially modified:

  • Duperré was completely rearmed with a Model 1968 100 mm (4 in) main gun, four Exocet MM38 missiles, two quadruple L5 torpedo launchers, and two 20 mm AA cannon. She was also fitted with a helipad to carry a Lynx WG13 helicopter.
  • Forbin had her forward 57 mm turret removed, and her aft 127 mm turret was replaced by a helipad. She was then principally used as a naval aviation training ship alongside the helicopter cruiser Jeanne d'Arc (R97).

    • La Galissonnière

    La Galissonnière differed slightly in specification from the rest of the class as she was built specifically to test the Malafon anti-submarine missile.

  • Length : 128 m (419 ft 11 in)
  • Beam : 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
  • Draught : 5 m (16 ft 5 in)
  • Complement: 272
    • Armament
  • 2 × Model 1953 100 mm (4 in) guns (1×2)
  • 1 × Malafon anti-submarine missile launcher (13 missiles)
  • 6 × 550 mm (21.7 in) torpedo tubes (2×3)
  • 1 × quadruple 305 mm (12 in) anti-submarine mortar
  • 2 × 20 mm AA cannon
  • 1 × Alouette II or Alouette III helicopter

    • References

    T 53-class destroyer Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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