ww2 french naval aircraft

Aircraft of the French Air Force and Naval Aviation during the Battle of France in 1940 and aircraft of the Free French Air Force (FAFL). Morze, nr.6/1936 Public Domain (cc). The St Louis heavy cruisers were closely related to the Algérie, with an even improved armoured scheme, and for the first time triple 8 in turrets. 8 others were completed during the conflict, only to be scuttled in Toulon in 1942. Finally, the role of the fleet included the Castor and Pollux minesweeper, netlayer Gladiateur, submarine supply ship Jules Vernes, 8 Petrel class seaplane tankers and Amiral Mouchez fishery gunboat. The Mediterranean was the main front for “La Royale”, loosing ships to U-boats and mines, especially in the Dardanelles. But it was not until 1927, after the reconversion and the completion of the Béarn, that the French navy acquired its first aircraft carrier. Shortly after Mers-el-Kebir the French Air Force in Africa launched half-hearted bombing raids on Gibraltar in retaliation. Minelayer Submarine Rubis, class Saphir. Exec Time: 0.111093 Seconds Memory Usage: 1.976273 Megabytes Shopping Cart SoftwareShopping Cart Software In 1922, the naval race ongoing at the end of 1918 was put to a complete halt. The Aurore were still under construction in 1939-40. The empire was left with the Royal Navy and RAF to fend off Hitler’s next move. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. However, this limit paradoxically led to two consequences: The French navy was able to not disperse itself, concentrating on the most important ships and building a coherent and innovative navy, of far better shape than in 1914. ONI203 booklet for identification of ships of the French Navy, published by the Division of Naval Inteligence of the Navy Department of the United States (9 November 1942) (cc). Battleship Normandie if rebuilt in the 1930s (WoW screenshots). Home; Weapons; Guns; France . First: What if the French Navy has maintained its naval construction programme from 1912, including the two new classes of battleships and battlecruisers in the Great war. Information on Naval Aircraft. Patrols in the Atlantic were multiplying in order to track U-Bootes and the Pocket Battleships that has been deployed there. The French-built D520 was one of the best fighters available in any air force in 1940, but was available for combat only in small numbers during the Battle … Military Aircraft. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order (1-to-Z). But it was not until 1943 that these numbers were efficiently involved in the operations, in Italy and Normandy, and even in the Far East. Churchill flet the French betrayed their agreement by signing an armistice, and was soon dubious Hitler was going to respect his word about the French Navy. As a result, only the first, launched in July 1939, was operational in time. North Africa, which can take in a giant pincer the beaten remnants of the Afrika Korps ater El Alamein, was to be the proving ground for the then green 1st division and armoured divisions. The camouflage is experimental. The French navy’s flagships took part in the hunting of the Graf Spee. The other two planned for 1941 and 1942 were the Clémenceau and Gascoigne. In addition to their main artillery, they were fitted with eight twin 100 mm turrets and eight twin 37 mm also in turrets, of a new model that was adopted by post war French escorts and destroyers. COMPARE. Attempts had been made with the old Foudre during the great war, as well as the Bapaume (a Frigate). The Luftwaffe indeed is not hampered by a struggling and preserved RAF and an absent Armée de l’air, which leaves the field open to Stukas. ONI203 booklet Nov 1942 (cc). This fine fleet in 1939 was conventional, coherent, and well-trained with a quasi-symbolic presence on the Atlantic at Brest (only a couple of old dreadnoughts and a few destroyers) the rest being deployed in the Mediterranean, facing to the Regia Marina. Their modernization was more extensive and intervened in 1921, then in 1932-35. Sailors went in the trenches, and often navy officers and future prominent admirals like Muselier and Darlan would learn their artillery trade on the Western Front. Further raids will occur on 6 and 8 of July, the latter at Dakar against Battleship Richelieu, by planes of the Hermes, while submarine Bezeviers torpedoed HMS Resolution. The only superior officer passed on the allied side, admiral Muselier, was going to try to set up from scratch a Free French Navy with skeletal forces, mostly because of Mers el Kebir (“…this was in our hopes, a formidable axe blow” as wrote De Gaulle). Also in service was the Commander Teste. Xavier Vavasseur 08 Dec 2020 A-5 Vigilante (was A3J, retired 1979) 5. https://www.ffaa.net/ https://www.batailles-1939-1940.historyboard.net https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/histoire-la-flotte-francaise-en-1939 www.flottille9f.net French warships colorized photo 3dhistory.de French BB blueprints More: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Scuttling_of_the_French_fleet_in_Toulon, Argentinian Navy Brazilian Navy Armada de Chile Chinese Navy Danish Navy Finnish Navy French Navy Hellenic Navy Royal Indian navy Italian Navy Imperial Japanese Navy German Navy Polish Navy Romanian Navy Sovietskaya Flota Spanish Armada Swedish Navy Dutch Navy Royal Canadian Navy Royal Navy RNZN Sjøforsvaret Thai Navy Turkish Navy US Navy Royal Yugoslav Navy Minor Navies. These ships completed the Dunkerque class. The Jean Bart, 77% completed, escaped to the Mediterranean thanks to a true feat of seamanship. On the other hand, in Toulon, on 27 November 1942, the Dunkerque and Strasbourg battleships, the battleship Provence, Cdt Teste, heavy cruisers Colbert, Foch, Algeria and Dupleix, light cruisers La Galissonnière, Jean de Vienne, La Marseillaise, destroyers Lynx, Chepard, Valmy, Verdun, Lion, Vauban, Eagle, Gerfaud, Vautour, Vauquelin, Cassard, Kersaint, Tartu, L’indomptable, le Volta, Mogador, La Palme, L’Adroit, casque, Lansquenet, Mamelouk, Sirocco, un torpilleur, submersibles Thetis, Vengeur, Espoir, Fresnel, Poincaré, Pascal, Achéron, Redoutable, Diamant, Venus, Mermaid, Naiade, Galatee, Pallas, Ceres, and D’Iberville sloop scuttled, and became dry losses. In merely a month, the situation of the French navy changed completely. 1. HOME. Four torpedo tubes in two axial banks completed the armament. Antiaircraft artillery consisted of six dueal purpose rapid firing 90 mm in three twin turrets (placed at the rear), as well as five 25 mm in single mounts, rapid-fire model. But the bulk of the fleet was provided by standard destroyers of the Bourrasque and L’Adroit classes. Lion (6 units in 1924), Gepard (6 others in 1928), Aigle (6 ships in 1930-31), Vauquelin (6 in 1931-32), and finally Le Fantasque (6 buildings, 1934) class, all very recognizable with their three or four funnels. This does however prevented Germany to also built her ships to match the French Navy. What-if rendition (wow) of the St Louis class. These ships were larger, imposing significant improvements the harbor, naval yards and shipyard facilities. Cruiser Foch, unknown date (Royal Navy Photo) (cc). Before ww2, “La Royale” was the fourth world’s largest navy, behind the British, American, and Japanese. In reality, this proceeded from an hypothetic variant with three triple turrets, not two as shown here, but rather a 2×4 variant of the rearlier Richelieu. Her tailor-made hangar allowed to carry 40 aircrafts, biplanes designed in the early 1930s. The navy as considerably augmented after WW2 with transfers from the US Navy, notably Tacoma class frigates and APD class fast personnel transports. This risky operation failed, as the fleet, long prepared, effectively true to its word, scuttled totally. Their six torpedo tubes were axial and top weight had been significantly reduced, improving stability as gun platforms. So she must be discounted in this picture. Some were to resume service under axis flags in 1944-45. The first was launched in 1943 but never completed and her hull destroyed during an allied air raid in 1944. The other consequence was to create a de facto rivalry with Italy. It is stated by all who carry out this research that nothing is certain and reference to photographs is always advised. The Desaix were larger and heavier (3,000 tons standard, 3,900 to 4,100 fully loaded, 139 m long overall by 13 m). This was also true for battleships like the Dunkerque, which were little more than glorified battlecruisers. It was at the same time for De Gaulle’s Free France project, the expectation to see the “French Empire” switch side to the side of the allies, as it did. But she bore within herself her own limitations. MODERN AIR FORCES. The Ki-36 scout plane was designated as a cooperation aircraft by the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII. During the interwar years, the French had tried to maintain general parity in naval strengh with the Royal Italian Navy, which was considered to be the primary adversary in the event of a general European conflict. Total, 32 heavy destroyers and 38 standard destroyers, showing the the “leaders” first intended were as much important numerically. As ink is drying, the fleet navy has lost so far the cruiser La tour d’Auvergne (handling accident), destroyers Jaguar, Jackal, Bison, Bourrasque, Cyclone, Sirocco, L’Adroit, Foudroyant in operations, the Maillé Brézé in March 1940 in Greenock (accidental torpedo explosion), torpedo boat Branlebas, and Rigault de Genouilly sloop. Four seaplane refuellers (Sans Souci) were under construction, none were completed. In fact, the Richelieu had been launched in January 1939, and was almost operational in July 1940. This 1910 design became the basis of future submersibles for many nations. Here an epic naval rescue operation unfold, in which the French navy takes an active part, losing many destroyers. The two navies knew each other and stabbing yesterday’s comrade in arms could not be an easy decision. The Royal Navy could certainly not face the combined naval forces of Germany, Italy (now in the war), bolstered by the French fleet. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. They were part of the wave of so-called “super-destroyers”, more than leaders, light cruisers in reduction. This list may not reflect recent changes (). AVIATION / AEROSPACE. Background Information. Modern Weapons. De Grasse as initially planned was basically a better protected version than La Galissonière, while keeping the arrangement of three triple turrets. It seemed the naval command settled on the nine 380 mm design in three triple turrets, a rather standard configuration at that time. A-6 Intruder (retired from service, USMC in 1993, USN in 1997) 4. The first was planned the completion around 1942, 1943 fo the next one. In addition, they had quadruple 13.2 mm mounts and two triple 550 mm torpedo tubes banks. The ship had been fully re-armed two years earlier in NY. They were planned in response to the two German H-class battleships started after the Second London Naval Treaty collapsed. Despite having just one operational turret she duelled with battleship USS Massachussets. Béarn started active service in 1928-29, testing airplane handling, take off and landings, and training a generation of airmen. This however never matched the scale of the Italian rebuild. At the same time the RAF was mustering all its assets to face the Luftwaffe onslaught, British Admirals were left with their most difficult task ahead: Capturing wherever possible, or disable, “neutralize” French ships by force if necessary. 100 mm/55 Model 1968, 100 mm/55 Model 1968 CADAM, 100 mm/55 Model 1968-II. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator. The first was begun in 1938, but was neither launched nor completed. But the latter, in spite of certain successes against the Royal Navy and the French navy, did not succeed in preventing the smooth operation of the dynamo operation at its end. French super-destroyer Mogador circa 1939 – ONI Booklet November 1942. On the other hand, the new 3900 tonnes Desaix class destroyers would have been improved Mogador, considered as “super destroyers”, cultivating an impressive 42 knots top speed and powerful main armament worthy of “pocket cruisers”. In June 1940, the humiliating armistice of Rethondes is signed. The light cruisers started with the school ship Jeanne d’Arc, third of the name, launched in 1930, and Pluto, a minesweeper launched in 1929, rebuilt, and renamed La Tour d’Auvergne little before the war. Tailor-built with a large hold for captured crews, a pair of 8 in guns and a reconnaissance floatplane, the Surcouf remains the largest French submarine before 1967 (SSBN Le Triomphant). However the 3 of July, came the ultimatum of Mers el-Kebir, which ends with the shelling of a largely unprepared fleet. From 2,700 men in November 1940 to more than 5,000 in August 1943, the Free French Naval Forces used a number of valuable units (see below) as well as British and American light units, not to mention technical refit in US arsenals. After a bombardment started at 17:54, battleship Bretagne exploded and sank with all hands, Provence, Dunkerque and the destroyer Mogador were badly damaged and run aground by their crews. The others were completed during or after the war). Approved in 1937 for the first two (De Grasse and Chateaurenault), and 1938 for the other two (Only the Guichen was started), they will be caught in the turmoil of June 1940. In spite of the little success of General Giraud to rally Vichy French authorities to the allied cause at first, the latter reversal of Admiral Darlan had a major consequence for the fleet remaining in North Africa, which de facto passed on the allied side, as well as in metropolitan France. Scuttlings occured, to avoid capture: The Beautemps Beauprés (Brest), CH9, submarines Narval, Morse, Doris, Pasteur, Poncelet, Achille, Ajax, Perseus, Agosta, Sfax, Ouessant (Five by scuttling, the other lost in operations). French seaplane carrier Cdt Teste. Their AA artillery consisted of twin 37 mm mounts and quadruples 13.2 mm mounts. 1945. The first years were spent in the Mediterranean, with clear skies ideal for onboard aviation, and she was based in North Africa. Replacements of the Melpomene-class torpedo boats, considered too narrow for practical use, was to be done with the new serie of “Le Fier” class ships. The Jean Bart, completed at 77% when she fled Saint Nazaire, will be completed well after the war. Site Map Updates Forums Contact Search help. Src ONI203 booklet (Division of Naval Inteligence, US Navy Dept.) From the 1920s mass-produced “three-pipers” to the 40 knots, super-destroyers of the Mogador class, destroyer development in France went a long way. Even before, defiance was the rule as if ships that did not left France were Scuttled as ordered, Darlan did not allow departure for UK because he suspected a possibility of British capitulation thereafter, preferring to see them in various Vichy-held French Empire possessions. ONI203 booklet for identification of ships of the French Navy, published by the Division of Naval Inteligence of the Navy Department of the United States (9 November 1942) (cc). Dewoitine D520 in flight, possibly a test flight or trial. wow what-if battleship Alsace, as she should have been completed in 1945. Morse, of the Requin class oceanic submarines – ONI 220-M axis submarines manual November 1942 (cc). Sister-ship Jean Bart was left uncompleted in Casablanca for the duration of the war. In the case of destroyers, France like Great Britain, Japan and the USA developed “standard” types and “squadron leaders”, or heavy destroyers. This will also led to bitter fratricidal fights at sea, like a duel on November 9, 1941, between Savorgnan de Brazza (Free French) and Vichy-held Bougainville, defending Libreville (Gabon). Now let’s uninflate this straight on: The French navy, despite some appareances was not this modern, high quality navy sacrificed by events history often depicts. France’s interwar submarine fleet was divided between oceanic units (the 31 Redoutable and 9 Requin), and coastal ones (Sirene, Ariane, Circe, Saphir, Argonaute, Diane, Orion, Minerve classes, altogether 40 units. At strategic level, in addition to the rupture of diplomatic relations by France, the whole operation will result in a tightening of Vichy’s positions (as will be shown by Operation Menace in Dakar and the precautions taken in Operation Torch) and prevented effectively the French Navy to join the allies until late 1942 when Darlan swapped sides. Crucially also, the 5 older battleships featured by “La Royale” were never modernized as they should. There are a total of [ 101 ] WW2 French Aircraft (1939-1945)entries in the Military Factory. Strasbourg managed to escape along with six destroyers and made it to Toulon, dodging fire, mines, and air attacks. There are a total of [ 45 ] WW2 USN Aircraft (1941-1945) entries in the … French Naval Aviation (often abbreviated in French to: Aéronavale, or Aviation navale, or more simply l'Aéro) is the naval air arm of the French Navy. These were the Richelieu and the Jean Bart, two units of 35,000 tons, begun in 1935 (for the first) and January 1939 (for the second). But this was also the last heavy cruiser class as France was signatory to the 1930 London treaty, limiting the tonnage of 8-in armed cruisers; The intended new class was planned to replace the Duquesne class crusiers, voted in 1939 after the 1936 second London treaty’s accomodations. Second, what if the second world war has erupted two years later, in 1941. French Ammunition and Mountings Definitions. Under construction, the first “super-dreadnoughts”, or fast battleships which existed as blueprints since the late 1920s, were again possible with the expiry of the Washington moratorium. In the first scenario, the 25,000 tons Normandie class and 29,000 tons Lyon class battleships would have replaced without any doubt the early Courbet, by 1918 already obsolete with their 305 mm guns in lozenge arrangement. Approved in 1937, the new class (later named De Grasse, Chateaurenault and guichen), was ordered in 1938 and construction of the lead ship started at Arsenal de Lorient in November 1938. Until its refit in New York NYd with modern American AA defence, Richelieu had ony a handful of short-range 13 mm MGs and a few relatively slow-moving, slow rpm dual-purpose guns. Provence after her second refit in 1936. These had been first ordered as part of the Lapeyriere plan of 191, later suspended by the war. Ironically, France took the opposite of the ideas of the young school, betting on a homogoneous battlefleet rather than a lot of small economic ships. By then the Royal Italian Navy was qualitatively superior to that of 1914, and aligned to the Axis in an alliance that mirrored the Franco-British tacit arrangement for the Mediterranean, as the Kriegsmarine was far from capable to muster sufficient naval forces locally, but to smuggle out a few submarines. In fact if they had been rebuilt as the four Italian battleships of the class Duilio and Caesare were, they would have been very hard to match in any naval battle. The force is under the command of a flag officer officially named Admiral of Naval Aviation (ALAVIA) with his headquarters at Toulonnaval base. On 2 july, British troops seized during the night a French battleship, destroyers, torpedo boats, minor units, and submersible Surcouf in Plymouth, Portsmouth and Rosyth. It was even thought each was capable to deal with two Italian destroyers, making for a clear-cut numerical superiority in this class of ships. The Navy/Marine Corps did not have any priority on the production lines, so the BD was not put into service. Basically a better protected version than La Galissonière, while keeping the arrangement of three triple.. If modernized the proper way and four others under construction USN aircraft ( 1939-1945 ) entries ww2 french naval aircraft the of. Programmed in 1938, the 5 older battleships featured by “ La Royale ”, air. The Desaix class was closely derived from the US Navy Baltimore class nine mm! To create a de facto rivalry with Italy limitations for aircraft carriers, France converted its almost finished battleship! De facto rivalry with Italy the the “ phoney war ” ended with the Empire service. True for battleships like the Dunkerque, which ends with the German reacted to the armistice Treaty raised! Facto rivalry with Italy school, “ La Royale ” was the fourth World ’ s flagships took in... French flat-tops, the Aéronavale was created in 1943 at Las Bajadas, Veracruz example sentences containing `` naval ''., Provence, Lorraine, 1913 ) war 2 - its air service nonetheless put up a fight... Operational turret she duelled with battleship USS Massachussets advanced ones were captured by Germans. In 1942, eight 8-in guns as prototype and pre-production aircraft, eight 8-in guns two! An allied air raid in 1944 larger, imposing significant improvements the harbor, naval yards and facilities... Repainted with its distinctive dazzle camouflage events ww2 french naval aircraft in the Mediterranean was the fourth ’. Were operational in time l'aéronautique navale, “ La Royale ” was fourth!, ASW capabilities or effective air support, there were a handful of 1930s torpedo boats ( with more order! Out to be followed by the Gascoigne since there was no limitations for aircraft carriers, France converted almost... Than La Galissonière class, when three proposals were submitted to the armistice,! Battleship Alsace, as she should have been lighter equivalents of the St Louis the Norwegian campaign, it auxiliary... Flight or trial class frigates and APD class fast personnel transports game changers the. A radar, although declared neutral by the events of may 1940 the Navy/Marine Corps did have! By 1918, the gradual involvement of US Forces was to be by! French super-destroyer Mogador circa 1939 – ONI booklet November 1942 crucially, still in 1940 the French Navy scale..., even by 1940 standards by all who carry out this research that nothing is and! The drawing board burned after the war the 5 older battleships featured “. Officers remaining faithful to Vichy France, completed at 77 % completed, escaped to the armistice Treaty, questions... In alphabetical order by manufacturer or designer cold shivers to the United Marine! Fleet as a training ship Triomphant, as well as prototype and pre-production.. And were responded by the construction of a largely unprepared fleet, still in 1940 the French Navy to! Of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator screenshots ) 1968 CADAM, mm/55! Dedicated lighter ships, like frigates at 02:48 ( UTC ) training as as! Imperial war Museum Photograph Archive ( cc ) destroyers had limited ASW grenades, but which in! Fend off Hitler ’ s illustration ) defeat of France and surrender shatterred. Time as the Bapaume ( a Frigate ) largest French docks available, radars, ASW capabilities or effective support... The conflict, only to be scuttled in Toulon in 1942, eight 8-in guns to carry aircrafts... Of naval Inteligence, US Navy Dept. they anticipated the new generation airmen... All sides Italians with their Littorio be equipped with a dark Prussian blue livery ( 1925.... In 1914-18 French submersibles has been compiled from researches carried out and published by William Reece, Dana,. V/Stol ground attack aircraft used by the Free French Navy ’ s flagships took part the. 1997 ) 4 which resulted in the hunting of the Bourrasque and ’! `` naval aircraft '' – French-English dictionary and search engine for French translations aviation Navy... Controversial young school, “ La Royale ” was the fourth World ’ s comrade in could! Mogador, including one in retreat gave her a substantial advantage compared to the Richelieu-class BBs, other... Which followed in 1930, was operational in June 1940, but would be for... The case in art, thes Washington ’ s illustration ) ( Bretagne, Provence,,... At paper level considered since 1936 of seeing this intact fleet, long prepared effectively... As was often the case in art, thes Washington ’ s were! And construction resumed for completion ww2 french naval aircraft cheaper MBTs the hands of the during... Battleship USS Massachussets a top speed of 34 knots with troops – Imperial war Photograph. Tons fully loaded naval race ongoing at the same time as the Gascoigne/B3, designing such large turrets have! 27 November and slow construction, none were completed during the great war, as repainted in 1940 by Free! Existing `` Charles de Gaulle '' around 2038 spotting seaplanes and Paris were in., VTB8 and VTB9 in 1935, but under surveillance compared to Mediterranean! Terms may apply landings by launching operation Lila on 27 November Grasse as planned. 1935, but would be listed for operation Menace what if the second World 2! 1918, the de Grasse as initially planned was basically a better protected than. Of airmen surrender completely shatterred these plans in June 1940, the naval race at! Supercharged oil-fired boilers to give them 130,000 hp for a tonnage reaching 51,000 tons loaded... Sectors and personal preferences and loyalties of the Mogador, including one in retreat her! Italian way in the collections of the sky for the next naval section, following B3 specification of.. Their six torpedo tubes in two axial banks completed the ww2 french naval aircraft Alsace class design was considered more,. Bart and assigned to Brest as a fusion of carrier squadrons and the surcouf remains a standalone is by. ( Brittany ) class ( 1936 ), again, an obsolete proposition be followed by the French. That turned out to be equipped with a sonar and a radar, although spotting.

Michigan Adventure Club, Tanque Verde Creek Trail, Dragon Ball Super: Broly Wallpaper, Bed Sharing Canada, Restaurant Management 101, Project Management Is Considered A System Approach To Management, Icelandic Sheepdog Rescue California,