| T 53-class destroyer | |
|---|---|
 The Bouvet (D624), a T 47-class destroyer whose lines are similar of the T53 | |
| Class overview | |
| Builders: |
Arsenal de Brest Arsenal de Lorient Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne |
| Operators: |
 French Navy |
| Preceded by: | T 47 class |
| Succeeded by: | Aconit |
| Subclasses: |
T 56 class Anti-submarine and anti-air variants after refit |
| In commission: | 1957-1992 |
| Completed: | 6 |
| Retired: | 6 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Destroyer |
| Displacement: |
2,750 long tons (2,794 t) standard 3,740 long tons (3,800 t) full load |
| Length: | 128.6 m (421 ft 11 in) |
| Beam: | 12.7 m (41 ft 8 in) |
| Draught: | 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion: | 4 boilers, Geared turbines, 63,000 hp (46,979 kW), 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Range: | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement: |
347: 19 officers 328 men |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
|
| Armament: |
|
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.
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.[1]
- 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).[2]
La Galissonnière[]
The La Galissonnière differed slightly in specification from the rest of the class as she was built specifically to test the Malafon anti-submarine missile.[3]
- 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
Forbin visiting Bantry Bay, Ireland
Ships[]
| Pennant | Name | Named after | Builder | Commissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D633 | Duperré[4] | Guy-Victor Duperré | Arsenal de Lorient | 8 October 1957 | Trials ship for Cormoran I sonar, 1967–71 Rearmed 1972 Decommissioned 1 June 1992. As of 2012 at Landévennec awaiting demolition. |
| D634 | La Bourdonnais[5] | Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais | Arsenal de Brest | 3 March 1958 | Decommissioned July 1976 Sunk by an Exocet SM39 from the submarine Ouessant, May 1992 |
| D635 | Forbin[6] | Claude de Forbin | Arsenal de Brest | 1 February 1958 | Converted to helicopter training ship, 1973 Decommissioned 1 June 1981 Sunk as a target off Brest, 17 May 1999 |
| D636 | Tartu[7] | Jean-François Tartu | AC Bretagne | 5 February 1958 | Decommissioned December 1979 Sunk, 80 miles off Lorient, 9 December 1998 |
| D637 | Jauréguiberry[8] | Bernard Jauréguiberry | FC de la Gironde | 15 July 1958 | Decommissioned 16 September 1977 Sunk by Exocet MM40 missile off the Île du Levant, 30 May 1986 |
| D638 | La Galissonnière[9] | Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière | Arsenal de Lorient | 11 July 1962 | Decommissioned 20 April 1990 As of 2012 at Landévennec awaiting demolition. |
References[]
- ↑ Roche, Jean-Michel (2012). "Duperré : Caractéristiques principales". netmarine.net. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/duperre/caracter.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2013. (French)
- ↑ Roche, Jean-Michel (2012). "Forbin : Caractéristiques principales". netmarine.net. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/forbin/caracter.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2013. (French)
- ↑ Roche, Jean-Michel (2012). "La Galissonnière : Caractéristiques principales". netmarine.net. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/lagalissonniere/caracter.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2013. (French)
- ↑ Roche, Jean-Michel (2012). "Duperré". netmarine.net. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/duperre/index.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2013. (French)
- ↑ Roche, Jean-Michel (2012). "La Bourdonnais". netmarine.net. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/labourdonnais/index.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2013. (French)
- ↑ Roche, Jean-Michel (2012). "Forbin". netmarine.net. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/forbin/index.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2013. (French)
- ↑ Roche, Jean-Michel (2012). "Tartu". netmarine.net. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/tartu/index.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2013. (French)
- ↑ Roche, Jean-Michel (2012). "Jauréguiberry". netmarine.net. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/jaureguib/index.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2013. (French)
- ↑ Roche, Jean-Michel (2012). "La Galissonnière". netmarine.net. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/lagalissonniere/index.htm. Retrieved 26 March 2013. (French)
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
External links[]
The original article can be found at T 53-class destroyer and the edit history here.