NAVYPEDIA

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Albatros 1941

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate	Modification
Aigle			A C de France, Dunkerque	10.1928	19.2.1931	11.1932	scuttled 27.11.1942	"C" group
Gerfaut			A C de Bretagne, Nantes	5.1929	14.6.1930	3.1932	scuttled 27.11.1942	"C" group
Albatros	T06, 1950- D614		A C de la Loire, St-Nazaire	1.1929	27.6.1930	1.1932	BU 9.1959	"C" group
Vautour			F C de la Méditerranée, La Seyne	2.1929	28.8.1930	6.1932	scuttled 27.11.1942	"C" group
Épervier			Arsenal de Lorient	8.1930	14.8.1931	5.1934	beached 9.11.1942	"D" group
Milan			Arsenal de Lorient	12.1930	13.10.1931	5.1934	beached 8.11.1942	"D" group

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	2441
Displacement full, t	3410
Length, m	122.4 pp 128.5 oa Épervier, Milan: 122.4 pp 129.3 oa
Breadth, m	11.8
Draught, m	4.97
No of shafts	2
Machinery	Aigle: Zoelly geared steam turbines, 4 Yarrow or Penhoët boilers Gerfaut, Épervier: Rateau-Bretagne geared steam turbines, 4 Yarrow or Penhoët boilers Albatros, Vautour, Milan: Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Yarrow or Penhoët boilers
Power, h. p.	64000 Épervier, Milan: 68000
Max speed, kts	36
Fuel, t	oil 580
Endurance, nm(kts)	3650(18)
Armament	5 x 1 - 139/40 M1927, 1 x 1 - 75/50 M1927, 4 x 1 - 37/50 M1925, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 2 x 3 - 550 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (44) Épervier, Milan: 5 x 1 - 139/40 M1927, 4 x 1 - 37/50 M1925, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 1 x 3 - 550 TT, 2 x 2 - 550 TT, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (44), 20 mines
Complement	230

Graphics

Project history

Built under the 1927 program, the second series of "four-funnelers", a little differing from Guépard class. Last two ships were re-ordered under the special program and had machineries with raised steam parameters. Installation of different boiler types on these two ships has been undertaken for their comparison. As consequence of the raised profitability of a new machinery the endurance was increased. Leaders of "D" group have appeared also faster. So, Milan reached 41.94kts instead of 41.2kts of Gerfaut.

There were also some external differences between ships of "C" and "D" groups, other stern and superstructures form concerned to the most significant. Main M1927 guns with increased firing rate (theoretically to 12-15 shots/min) became the basic difference from the first series. For the first time in the French Navy "D" group ships can carry mines.

Vautour has sticked on a slipway and her launch was delayed for three days.

Modernizations

late 1932, Aigle, Gerfaut, Albatros, Vautour: - 1 x 1 - 75/50

early 1940, Vautour, Gerfaut; 1942, Albatros: + sonar

1940 - 1942, Aigle: + 1 x 2 - 37/50 M1933

1940 - 1942, Gerfaut, Albatros, Vautour: + 1 x 2 - 37/50 M1933, 2 x 1 - 13.2/94

1941, Épervier, Milan: + 1 x 2 - 37/50 M1933, 2 x 1 - 37/50 M1925, 2 x 1 - 13.2/94

Naval service

Three ships have been scuttled at Toulon 27.11.1942; they were salvaged, but were never repaired, and from November, 1943 till March, 1944 were sunk by Allied aircraft. Milan and Épervier 8.11.1942 during Allied landing at Casablanca and Oran were hard damaged by gunfire of British and American ships and ran aground next day.

Albatros was also damaged at Casablanca and ran aground. After war she was repaired and converted to tender assigned to gunnery school, she had her fwd boilers and funnels removed, speed being reduced to 24kts.