_underway_off_Portsmouth_(UK)_on_8_August_1939.jpg) Volta underway off Portsmouth on 8 August 1939
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mogador-class destroyer |
| Operators |  French Navy |
| Preceded by | Le Fantasque class |
| Succeeded by | T 47 class |
| Planned | 6 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Lost | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Large destroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 137.5 m (451 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 12.57 m (41 ft 3 in) |
| Draft | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 2 × shafts; 2 × geared steam turbines |
| Speed | 39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph) |
| Range | 4,345 nmi (8,047 km; 5,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 12 officers, 226 men |
| Armament |
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The Mogador-class large destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) of the French Navy were laid down in 1935 and commissioned in 1939. They were extremely fast, very large destroyers intended to act as scouts for the two fast Dunkerque-class battleships. The design evolved from the extremely fast Le Fantasque class, being 300 tons heavier and carrying eight guns in semi-enclosed twin turrets rather than five guns in single open mounts. With their eight 138.6 mm (5.46 in) guns they approached a light cruiser in firepower.
Both Mogador and her sister Volta were present during the British attack on Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July 1940, but only Volta managed to escape to Toulon. Mogador was struck by a 15-inch (38 cm) shell in the rear hull that detonated her ready depth charges despite not actually detonating itself. This destroyed most of her stern above water, but she remained afloat and was repaired enough to be sent to Toulon on 1 November 1940 for reconstruction. Both ships were scuttled in Toulon Harbour when the Germans tried to seize them on 27 November 1942.