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COMMANDANT TESTE seaplane tender (1932)


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Commandant Teste

Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Commandant Teste     F C de la Gironde, Bordeaux 6.9.1927 12.4.1929 18.4.1932 scuttled 27.11.1942


Technical data


Displacement standard, t

10000

Displacement full, t

11500

Length, m

156.3 pp 167.0 oa

Breadth, m

27.0

Draught, m

6.93

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 sets Schneider-Zoelly geared steam turbines, 4 Yarrow-Loire boilers

Power, h. p.

21000

Max speed, kts

20.5

Fuel, t

coal 720 + oil 290

Endurance, nm(kts)6000(10)
Armour, mmbelt: 50, deck: 36, CT: 80
Armament

12 x 1 - 100/45 M1927, 8 x 1 - 37/50 M1925, 6 x 2 - 13.2/76, 4 catapults, 26 seaplanes (F.B.A.17, CAMS.37, G.L.810, G.L.812)

Complement644


Air group


Year Reconnaissance torpedo bombers
1940 14 Loire 130 12 Laté 298


Standard scale images


<i>Commandant Teste</i> 1940
Commandant Teste 1940
<i>Commandant Teste</i> 1940
Commandant Teste 1940


Graphics


<i>Commandant Teste</i>
Commandant Teste


Aircraft facilities

 (ha - 2,268m² / 15,876m³): Seaplanes were stored in hangar (84x27x7m). There were 4 catapults, seaplanes were handled by 5 5-12t cranes.

Project history

Built under the 1926 programme, should to serve as an aircraft transport, seaplane carrier with the limited repair capacities and seaplane depot ship for battleships and cruisers. The largest seaplane carrier in Europe. Launch of seaplanes was ensured by 4 catapults, arresting was provided by a towed awning. To the ship two squadrons (Laté 298 torpedo bomber seaplanes and LN 130 reconnaissance flying boats) have been assigned, but really they never been based on the ship.

Ship protection

Main 50mm belt protected most part of length from CT to stern hangar deck. Armoured 36mm deck covered only machinery.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

After defeat of France Commandant Teste remained under the control of Vichy Government. She was scuttled at Toulon 27.11.1942, raised by Italians 1.5.1943, then captured by Germans and 19.8.1944 sunk by Allied aircraft. In 1945 ship was again salvaged, but plans of conversion to training aircraft carrier or personnel transport were not been realised, Commandant Teste was used as store ship for US equipment and sold in May, 1950.