Duguay-Trouin-class cruiser

Lamotte-Picquet at Shanghai, 1939
Class overview
NameDuguay-Trouin class
Operators French Navy
Preceded by
Succeeded byJeanne d'Arc
Built1922–1927
In service1926–1952
In commission1926–1952
Completed3
Lost2
Retired1
General characteristics
TypeLight cruiser
Displacement
  • 7,249 tons (7,365 t) (standard)
  • 9,350 tons (9,500 t) (full load)
Length181.30 m (594.8 ft) overall
Beam17.50 m (57.4 ft)
Draught5.2 metres (17 ft)
Installed power
Propulsion4 shafts; geared steam turbines;
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement27 officers, 551 sailors
Armament
Armour
Aircraft carried

The Duguay-Trouin-class were the first major French warships built after World War I. They were excellent steamers and proved successful and seaworthy over a quarter century of service. All three achieved 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) on trials and could easily maintain 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) in service. Twenty-year-old Duguay-Trouin could still maintain 27.7 knots (51.3 km/h; 31.9 mph) at her post-war displacement of 10,900 tons.[1] They were fast and economical, although with a limited range.[2] The fate of these three ships after the French surrender illustrates the dichotomy within the French armed forces at the time: one ship was interned, then joined the Free French, another twice resisted Allied bombardment and was destroyed, and the third was disarmed at a French colonial port and subsequently sunk.

  1. ^ le Masson, pp. 89–90
  2. ^ Whitley, pp. 27–29