Smederevac94

krille95, on 20 June 2013 - 09:03 AM, said: wow she really has a low water line Yeap

Tnx man!

Freiherr_von_Keks, on 19 June 2013 - 09:15 PM, said: :medal: :honoring:

Murr, on 19 June 2013 - 07:03 PM, said: Nice ship looks cool :honoring: Did you know that the word "U-Boat" just is used for german submarines?? :veryhappy: Murr Thanks, yes. :honoring:

Freiherr_von_Keks, on 19 June 2013 - 06:36 PM, said: thx Smederevac :medal: No problem man.

krille95, on 19 June 2013 - 03:30 PM, said: for some reason I find that French ships is a lite bit sexy Whatever you say bro... :teethhappy:

Freiherr_von_Keks, on 19 June 2013 - 03:10 PM, said: thx :honoring: :honoring:

Sorry about this thing multi-posting and enjoy!!! :honoring:

Service: The ships were: -La Galissonnière: scuttled at Toulon -Montcalm: scrapped 1970. -Georges Leygues: scrapped November 1959 -Jean de Vienne:scuttled at Toulon -Marseillaise: scuttled at Toulon -Gloire: sold for scrap January 1958. When completed, La Galissonnière, Jean de Vienne, and Marseillaise formed the 3rd Cruisers Division, flagship Marseillaise, attached to the Mediterranean Squadron, and based in Bizerte, Georges Leygues, Montcalm, and Gloire formed the 4th Cruisers Division, flagship Georges Leygues, attached to the Atlantic Fleet, and based in Brest. The 4th Cruisers Division carried out an endurance cruise to Indochina, from December 1937 to April 1938, and represented France at the New York World's Fair, in July 1939. Phoney war, and under Vichy's orders: During the Phoney War, the 4th Cruisers Division was attached to the Force de Raid, a fast warships squadron, under Admiral Gensoul, with Dunkerque and Strasbourg fast battleships, heavy cruisers and large destroyers, first based in Brest. This squadron took part to the safety of Atlantic convoys, and tried unsuccessfully to give chase to the German surface raiders. As Italy remains neutral, in Mediterranean, the Marseillaise and Jean de Vienne took part to the shipping to Canada of a part of the Banque de France's reserve gold, in December 1939, and shipped troops in Mediterranean in March 1940. In April 1940, as Émile Bertin was damaged by the Luftwaffe, off Norway, Montcalm replaced her, and take part to the evacuation of Namsos. In front of the more and more dubious attitude of Italy, on April 1940, the Force de Raid was sent in Mediterranean Sea, and the 3rd and 4th Cruisers Divisions were then based in Algiers. After Italy entered war in June, they carried out two sorties, and chased vainly the Italian cruisers. On the July 3, 1940, Admiral Sommerville's Force H was sent to Mers-el-Kebir. As the French Admiralty signalled in a radio message in clear, that the Algiers cruisers had been ordered to rejoin the battleship squadron off Mers-el-Kebir, the British Admiralty warned Admiral Somerville and hurried him to put an end to the negotiations with Admiral Gensoul and to open fire. So the six cruisers had only one thing to do, to steer for Toulon, where they arrived the day after. Two months after, the Vichy authorities obtained permission from the German Armistice Commission to send the 4th Cruisers Division (George Leygues, Montcalm and Gloire), and three large destroyers, to Libreville, to counter the Free French Forces which had taken control of French Equatorial Africa territories, except Gabon. As the oiler Tarn, escorted by the French cruiser Primauguet has been intercepted in the Bight of Benin by British warships, and bound to Casablanca, refueling was no longer possible in Libreville, and the French cruiser squadron had to turn back to Dakar. Slowed by machinery problems, the Gloire was intercepted by British cruisers, and was only allowed to proceed too to Casablanca, as the Georges Leygues and Montcalm reached Dakar at full speed, and so took part to its defence against Operation Menace. Until 1943, they stayed there, where the Gloire joined them in March 1941: from September 15 to 25, 1942, she was sent to rescue the victims of the sinking of the British trooper Laconia, torpedoed by the German submarine U 156. In Toulon, two of the three cruisers from the 3rd Cruisers Division (Marseillaise and La Galissonnière, the latter being replaced on March 15, 1941 by Jean de Vienne), were incorporated in a so-called High Seas Force, which nearly never went to high sea, due to the lack of fuel, but only in November 1940, to cover the return to Toulon of the battleship Provence, severely damaged by British gunfire, in July, 1940. In January 1942, the Jean de Vienne was sent to rescue the liner Lamoriciere, whose sinking in a winter tempest, off the Balearic Islands, caused more than 300 deaths. After the successful Allied landings in Morocco and Algeria, on November 1942, the Germans occupied the Zone libre, and tried to seize the French warships staying in Toulon (Operation Lila). But the three La Galissonière -class cruisers, La Galissonnière, Jean de Vienne, Marseillaise, as most of the ships based at Toulon, were scuttled, on November 27, 1942. In 1943, the Italian Navy tried to salve Jean de Vienne and La Galissonnière, and registered them as FR11 and FR12. In 1944, after the Italian surrender, the Germans rendered the wrecks to the Vichy authorities, but they were sunk, following to Allied aircraft bombings, Jean de Vienne, on November 24, 1943 and La Galissonnière, on April 18, 1944 . They were both scrapped post war. On the Allies' side: As all the French warships staying in Africa and French Antilles, Georges Leygues, Montcalm and Gloire joined the Allied Forces. Since February 1943, Georges Leygues carried out, from Dakar, patrols in the Central Atlantic, and on 13 April, she intercepted the German blockade runner Portland, as the Flag Officer, French Navy West Africa, was Admiral Collinet, formerly Commanding Officer on Strasbourg, at Mers-el-Kebir. In February 1943, the Montcalm was sent to Philadelphia, to be refitted with American help, till August 1943. The Gloire was sent to Brooklyn, from July to November 1943, and the Georges Leygues, to Philadelphia, from July to October 1943. Their aircraft installations were removed, they received a new anti-aircraft quick firing short range artillery. Sent in Mediterranean, the Montcalm supported the Liberation of Corsica, in September 1943, and Gloire carried out bombing missions against land, in the Gulf of Gaeta, in early 1944. The Georges Leygues and Montcalm supported Allied June 6, 1944 landings in Normandy, and, together with Gloire, the August 15, 1944 Provence landing. Georges Leygues victoriously returned to Toulon, on September 13, 1944, bearing the flag of the Chef d'état-major de la Marine, Vice Admiral Lemonnier, her Commanding Officer when she had left Toulon, and at Dakar, in 1940. As far as April 1945, the three cruisers were part of the so-called Flank Force, operating off the Mediterranean cost of the western Italian Riviera. Post war: Since 1945, they carried out various missions to Indochina, and after 1954, off Algeria coasts. The Gloire was flagship of the French Mediterranean Squadron, in 1951-52, Montcalm from October 1952 to June 1954, and Georges Leygues afterwards, and she take part as flagship of the Intervention Force to the operations off Egypt, during the Suez Crisis, carrying out a bombing mission against Rafah on November 1, 1956, and supporting the landing at Port-Saïd. The Gloire and Georges Leygues were scrapped in 1958 and 1959, and the Montcalm in 1970. Displacement: 7,600 tons (standard) 9120 tons (full load) Length: 179 m (587 ft) Beam: 17.5 m (57 ft) Draught: 5.35 m (17.6 ft) Propulsion: 2-shaft geared turbines (Parsons or Rateau-Bretagne) 4 Indret boilers 84,000 shp (63 MW) Speed: 31 kn (57 km/h) Range: 7,000 nmi (13,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h) 6,800 nmi (12,600 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h) 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h) 1,650 nmi (3,060 km) at 34 kn (63 km/h) Complement: 540 Armament: 9x152 mm / 54.3 calibre (3x3) 8x90 mm anti-aircraft (4x2) 24x40 mm (6x4) 4x550 mm torpedo tubes (2x2) Armour: main belt: 105 mm end bulkheads: 30 mm sides: 120 mm deck: 38 mm turrets: 100 mm tower: 95 mm Aircraft carried: up to 4 GL-832, later 2 Loire 130 flying boats

Design: La Galissonière -class cruisers were very different, in displacement, armament, and protection from the London Naval Treaty Type B cruisers, such as the British Dido class, American Atlanta class or Italian Da Giussano-class cruisers, with a displacement of 6,000 tons or less, armed with numerous guns of caliber sometimes inferior to 152 mm, to the large light cruisers (Duca degli Abruzzi), the Brooklyn or Town class cruisers, (about 10,000 tons, and from ten to fifteen 152 mm guns). With a displacement of 7,500 tons, and nine 152 mm guns, the La Galissonière-class cruisers belong to a middle category, comparable with the last Kriegsmarine light cruiser Nürnberg (an improved version of the Leipzig),[38] the Italian Montecuccoli cruiser (from the intermediate version of the Condottieri), or the nine gun units of the Crown Colony-class cruisers,[39] reduced version of the Town class cruisers. The displacement of French cruisers was around 7-9,000 tons, yet it was enough to accommodate both heavy armour and heavy armament, while maintaining good maximum speed. Main artillery: Their main artillery, in three triple mountings, was concentrating a lot of firepower in a relatively short hull. Their displacement was of the 7,000 ton class, just like Italian Condottieri 's III Group (Attendolo and Montecuccoli). While Condottieri's had four turrets with eight 152 mm guns, French cruisers had only three turrets with nine guns. As we saw it above, the generalized use of triple turrets allowed, on the U.S. Navy cruisers, for example, to have nine 203 mm guns, and even fifteen 152 mm guns, on hulls of 10,000 tons, or on the German light cruisers, to have nine 5.9-in (150 mm) guns, with less than 7,000 tons displacement. The armament comprised the powerful 152 mm gun (152 mm/55 Model 1930), the only French-built of this caliber. Despite the inferior caliber, this gun was more powerful than the previous 155 mm gun, and capable of reaching 26,300 m with a 57.17 kg shell (2,854 ft/s (870 m/s) muzzle velocity). These weapons were even able to send the US 58.8 kg SAP shell 26,960 m, while a typical UK 152 mm gun was considerably inferior (50.8 kg at 23 km). With this US ammunition, it was possible to pierce 122 mm steel plate at 9,970 m, an extremely powerful shot when compared to that of a usual 152 mm gun. The DP version of this mount was employed on Richelieu class battleships, but without great success since it was a bit slow for anti-aircraft purpose. The cruiser mount was the Model 1930, that displaced 169.3 tons (172 mt). The rate of fire was one shell every 12 seconds (5 rounds per mn). Since the race against Italians, this weapon was appreciably better to the 152 mm/55 cal. that Condottieri's last group and Littorio's had with only 25,700 m range, despite the heavier shell (57.17 kg vs 50 kg). Against the previous Condottieri 's cruisers, the advantage was more marked, since the 152 mm/35 cal. had around 22–24 km maximal range and a considerable dispersal. Nawveapons.com states that 152 mm Model 1930 was overall a quite successful design, at least in the single purpose installation (on cruisers), so there were not only theoretical data, even if the rate of fire was relatively slow. Anti-aircraft artillery, torpedoes, aircraft facilities: The secondary armament comprised also another unusual gun, in the French Navy tradition, the 90 mm/50 cal Model 1926. This weapon was very powerful for its time, despite using a lighter projectile than later 90 mm guns. (12-15 rpm, 9,5 kg shell, range 15,440 m at 45°, AA ceiling 10,600 m AA at 80°). It was a decided improvement over the old 75 mm guns, being mounted single or twin. La Galissonnière cruisers had four twin mounts. These ships were also fitted with two twin torpedo tubes, on sides, amidship. The torpedoes were the 550 mm (21.7 in) 23 DT model, in service since 1925, capable of very high performances (weight 2,068 kg, length 8.28 m, 310 kg TNT, 9,000 m/39 knots or 13,000 m/35 knots). Their aircraft installations, with hangar and derrick on stern, and a catapult fitted on the top of the aft 152 mm turret, could accommodate four Loire 130 seaplanes. Like most French warships completed prewar, they were originally weak in light anti-aircraft artillery, with four twin 37 mm guns, and six 13.2 mm twin mount machine guns. Four more were added in 1941, with one 37 mm and one double 25 mm guns, and two Hotschkiss 13.2 mm twin mount machine guns. The three ex-Vichy units received a refit, with American help, in 1943. Georges Leygues, Montcalm, and Gloire, had their aircraft installations and all their original anti-aircraft artillery removed, and were fitted with six quadruple Bofors 40 mm guns, and twenty single Oerlikon 20 mm guns. Protection: The armour was thicker than that of many other cruisers of the time (such as the Italian Condottieri, for example) heavy enough to withstand cruiser ammunition. The belt and deck armour was substantially thicker than usual. Condottieri 's Group III had only 60 mm belt and 30 mm deck, while La Galissonnière had 75–105 mm (unclear where it was 120 mm) armoured belt, and 37–50 mm deck armor thickness. This was enough to withstand a 152 mm round at combat range (navweapons.com gives 76 mm at 11,000 m, when fired from a British gun), while Italian counterparts cannot have done the same with their light armour, sacrificed for the best speed. Only the last group of Condottieri was superior, with a heavier displacement of 9,100 tons (20% more than French cruisers), 10 guns, and up to 130 mm armour (thought to withstand 152 mm as well), but they were only two ships. In any event, these powerful ships never fought one another. The La Galissonière-class cruisers 105 mm armored belt was also thicker than the Nürnberg's (50 mm), the HMS Dido's (76.2 mm), or the Fiji's (3.5-inch or 88 mm), and equivalent to the Leander's. The turret protection, with 100 mm (4-in.) on faces, and 50 mm (2-in.) on sides, back, and roofs was also better than on other cruisers with similar displacement (1.25-inch on German cruisers, 1-in, on the British ones, 2-in on Town or Fiji classes, and 3 to 5-in on Brooklyn class). Propulsion: The propulsion was provided by four Indret boilers, and four Parsons turbines on La Galissonnière, Georges Leygues, Montcalm, or Rateau Bretagne turbines on the other ones, and two shafts, for a speed of 31 knots (57 km/h), with 84,000 hp (63,000 kW). They easily maintained 31/32 knots and all exceeded by far the expected trial speed of 33 knots (61 km/h). Thus, the Marseillaise steamed an average of 34.98 knots (64.78 km/h) during an 8-hour trial and 35.39 knots (65.54 km/h) during a ninth hour. At the end of the war, they could still easily make 32 knots (59 km/h), on a full load displacement then increased to 10,850 tons. The endurance (5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)), was considerably better than Italian equivalents (Condottieris: around 3,800 nmi (7,000 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)), but similar to the comparable light British or German cruisers, for the speed and radius, except the HMS Leander and HMS Arethusa class cruisers, which had an exceptional radius of 12,000 nmi.

:great:

Nice info. Thanks Sabiha. :honoring:

Nice Pichu!

Nice!

Well done Pichu! :great:

Very informative. Thanks for the post.

Nice find krille, thanks! :great:

EnermaX, on 18 June 2013 - 01:50 PM, said: It would have been an even bigger fail if the Americans recognized the planes on the radar... That is true...

Pichu_Trainer, on 18 June 2013 - 01:43 PM, said: Actually it wasn't a complete failure Can be called whatever you want...

By the way....Atack on Pear Harbor was a total failure....

Thanks for sharing!

+1 from me, thanks for sharing Pichu_Trainer...I like documentaries about the WW2 the most. :honoring:

Well done man, nice topic! :great:

Well done Federica!

Nice, keep up the good work. :honoring: