 Le Triomphant inSan Diego harbor, 26 April 1941 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
  France | |
| Name | Le Triomphant |
| Namesake | "The triumphant one" |
| Ordered | 22 May 1931 |
| Builder | Ateliers et Chantiers de France,Dunkerque |
| Laid down | 28 August 1931 |
| Launched | 16 April 1934 |
| Completed | 25 May 1936 |
| Commissioned | 31 December 1935 |
| In service | 24 July 1936 |
| Reclassified | As alight cruiser, 28 September 1943 |
| Fate | Sold forscrap, December 1957 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class & type | Le Fantasque-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 132.4 m (434 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 12 m (39 ft 4 in) |
| Draft | 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 gearedsteam turbines |
| Speed | 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) (designed) |
| Range | 2,700–2,900 nmi (5,000–5,400 km; 3,100–3,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 11 officers, 254 sailors (wartime) |
| Armament |
|
Le Triomphant ("The triumphant one") was one of sixLe Fantasque-class largedestroyers (contre-torpilleur, "Torpedo-boat destroyer") built for theMarine Nationale (French Navy) during the 1930s. The ship entered service in 1935 and participated in theSecond World War. When war was declared in September 1939, all of theLe Fantasques were assigned to theForce de Raid which was tasked to hunt down Germancommerce raiders andblockade runners.Le Triomphant and two of hersister ships were based inDakar,French West Africa, to patrol the Central Atlantic for several months in late 1939. They returned toMetropolitan France before the end of the year and were transferred toFrench Algeria in late April 1940 in case Italy decided to enter the war.Le Triomphant played a minor role in theNorwegian Campaign in late April and was under repair when theGermans invaded France in May. She sailed to Britain to avoid capture in June.
The ship wasseized by the British in early July and was transferred to theFree French in August. After a refit,Le Triomphant began escorting convoys before the end of 1940 and was transferred to the Pacific Ocean in mid-1941. Later that year, she received orders to return to the Mediterranean in December, but they were cancelled when thePacific War began on 8 December. Aside from a refit that lasted 10 months, the ship was on convoy escort duties until late 1943. Ordered again to return to the Mediterranean,Le Triomphant was badly damaged by atyphoon in the Indian Ocean and had to be sent to the United States for permanent repairs and modernization that lasted until mid-1945.
The ship was sent toFrench Indochina after theJapanese surrender in September to provide support for the French forces there. After returning to Metropolitan France in mid-1946, she was intermittently active until late 1949.Le Triomphant was placed inreserve at that time and was sold forscrap in 1957.
TheLe Fantasque-class ships were designed to counter the fast ItalianCondottieri-classlight cruisers and one member of the class,Le Terrible, set a world record for a ship with a conventionalhull that was in excess of 45knots (83 km/h; 52 mph). They had anoverall length of 132.4 meters (434 ft 5 in), abeam of 12 meters (39 ft 4 in), and adraft of 4.5 meters (14 ft 9 in).[1] The ships displaced 2,569metric tons (2,528long tons) atstandard[2] and 3,417 metric tons (3,363 long tons) atdeep load.Le Triomphant was powered by twoParsons gearedsteam turbines, each driving onepropeller shaft, using steam provided by fourwater-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 74,000metric horsepower (54,000 kW; 73,000 shp), which would propel the ship at 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph). During hersea trials on 26 November 1935, her turbines provided 98,529 metric horsepower (72,468 kW; 97,181 shp) and she reached 43.1 knots (79.8 km/h; 49.6 mph) for a single hour. The Parsons turbines were more economical than theRateau-Bretagne turbines which gave those ships equipped with them a range of 2,900nautical miles (5,400 km; 3,300 mi) versus 2,700 nmi (5,000 km; 3,100 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The crew of theLe Fantasque class consisted of 11 officers and 221 crewmen in peacetime and the number of the latter increased to 254 in wartime.[3]
The main armament of theLe Fantasques consisted of fiveCanon de 138.6 mm (5.5 in) Modèle 1929 guns in single mounts, onesuperfiring pair fore and aft of thesuperstructure and the fifth gunabaft the aftfunnel. Theiranti-aircraft (AA) armament consisted of twoCanon de 37 mm (1.5 in) Modèle 1925 guns in single mounts positionedamidships and four HotchkissMitrailleuse de 13.2 mm (0.52 in) CA Modèle 1929 in two twin-gun mounts aft of the 37 mm mounts. The ships carried three above-water triple sets of 550-millimeter (21.7 in)torpedo tubes; the aft mount couldtraverse to both sides, but the forward mounts were positioned one on eachbroadside. A pair ofdepth charge chutes were built into their stern; these housed a total of sixteen 200-kilogram (440 lb) depth charges with another dozen available in the torpedomagazine. They could also be fitted with rails capable of handling 40naval mines.[4]
In April 1939, thebridge wings were enlarged to accommodate the Hotchkiss machine guns onLe Triomphant,L'Indomptable andLe Malin. After the war began, 200 kg depth-charge stowage increased to 48 and a pair of rails were installed on the stern for 35-kilogram (77 lb) depth charges. Each rail could accommodate 3 depth charges and 15 more were stored in the magazine. In early 1940 twin-gun 37 mm mounts replaced the single-gun mounts. Under Free French control as of 3 July,Le Triomphant was refitted in late 1940 during which she had her aft superfiring 138.6 mm gun replaced by a British4-inch (102 mm) Mk V AA gun and a Type 128ASDIC system that had been taken from a seized French destroyer was installed. The 35 kg depth charges and their rails were removed and the ship was fitted with four Modèle 1918 depth-charge throwers abreast the aft superstructure for 100-kilogram (220 lb) depth charges. Two of these were stowed next to each mount and eighteen more were stowed in the magazine.[5]
During a subsequent refit in mid-1941, the Hotchkiss machine guns were relocated to positions on the forecastle deck and their former positions were occupied by single mounts for2-pounder (40 mm (1.6 in)) Mk II AA guns. A quadruple mount for Hotchkiss machine guns taken from the battleshipParis was installed atop the aft superstructure and rails for 18 British Mk VIIH depth charges were installed on the stern. A fixed antenna for aType 286Msearch radar was also installed. A late 1942 refit in Australia exchanged the 13.2 mm machine guns for six20-millimeter (0.8 in) Oerlikon light AA guns and the Type 286M radar was replaced by aType 290 system with a rotating antenna.[6]
En route to theBoston Navy Yard in 1944 for a comprehensive refit,Le Triomphant stopped inBizerte,French Tunisia, where the British Mk V AA gun was replaced by a 138.6 mm gun fromL'Audacieux. The Americans installedSAearly-warning,SF surface-search and a BritishType 285fire-control radar, removed her aft torpedo tubes to save weight and converted someboiler feedwater tanks to fuel oil to improve her range. Her AA armament had been removed earlier and now consisted of six40-millimeter (1.6 in) Bofors guns in a twin-gun mount superfiring over the aft 138.6 mm guns, and two other twin mounts forward of the aft funnel; she now carried eleven Oerlikon guns in single mounts, four on the sides of thebridge and the remaining guns on platforms on the aft superstructure, on thequarterdeck, and where the aft torpedo mount had been.[7]
Ordered on 22 May 1931 as part of the 1930 Naval Program,Le Triomphant waslaid down on 28 August 1931 byAteliers et Chantiers de France at theirshipyard inDunkerque. She waslaunched on 16 April 1934,commissioned on 31 December 1935, completed on 25 May 1936 and entered service on 24 July. Completion was delayed when her turbines stripped some of their blades and required lengthy repairs. When theLe Fantasques entered service they were assigned to the newly formed 8th and 10th Light Divisions (Divisions légère) which were later redesignated as scout divisions (Division de contre-torpilleurs); both divisions were assigned to the 2nd Light Squadron (2eme Escadre légère) inBrest. As of 1 October 1936Le Triomphant,L'Indomptable andLe Malin were assigned to the 8th Light Division whileLe Fantasque,Le Terrible andL'Audacieux belonged to the 10th. Between 15 January and 26 February 1937, the 2nd Light Squadron cruised as far south asConakry,French West Africa. On 27 May,Alphonse Gasnier-Duparc,Minister of the Navy, reviewed the fleet, including all of theLe Fantasques.[8]
Both the 8th and 10th Scout Divisions were assigned to theForce de Raid at Brest when war was declared in September 1939; it made only a single sortie as a complete unit on 2–6 September when it responded to an erroneous report that German ships had left port. Afterwards it was dispersed into smaller groups to search for German commerce raiders and blockade runners.[9] During 21–30 October, theForce de Raid, including all of theLe Fantasques, screenedConvoy KJ 4 against a possible attack by theheavy cruiserAdmiral Graf Spee. On 25 November the 8th Scout Division, consisting ofLe Triomphant,L'Indomptable, andLe Malin, rendezvoused with the battleshipStrasbourg and escorted her to Brest.[10] Her sister,Dunkerque, sailed for Canada on 11 December with a cargo of gold and she was escorted for the next two days byLe Triomphant,Le Terrible,Valmy,Mogador andVolta.[11]
In anticipation of an Italian declaration of war, theForce de Raid, including the 8th Scout Division, assembled inMers-el-Kébir, French Algeria, on 5–9 April 1940, only to return to Brest when theGermans invaded Norway on the 10th. On the night of 23/24 April 1940, the 8th Scout Division made a high-speed patrol of the Skaggerak, hoping to attack German merchantmen headed for Norway. They encountered twopatrol boats and damaged one of them while also engaging a pair ofS-boats to little effect and narrowly missed spotting a convoy ofminelayers.Le Malin then began experiencing engine problems and the ships were forced to reduce speed. Near-misses by German bombers damaged one ofLe Triomphant's propeller shafts as they withdrew and she returned toLorient on 30 April for repairs.[12] As the Germans advanced in France and threatened the harbors inBrittany, the ship departed forPlymouth on 21 June.[13]
On 3 July she was seized by the British at Plymouth as part ofOperation Catapult, but the ship was turned over to theFNFL on 28 August and Commander (Capitaine de frégate)Philippe Auboyneau assumed command of the ship. She was partially refitted with British equipment in September–October and recommissioned on 23 October, although the ship was not ready to go back to sea until November when she was assigned to the11th Escort Group, based on theFirth of Clyde in western Scotland.Le Triomphant had constant problems with her propulsion machinery and propeller shafts during this time, which were aggravated when she broke loose from hermooring inGreenock during agale in February 1941 and collided with acargo ship. The ship received a major refit atHM Dockyard, Devonport in May–July to prepare her for service in the Pacific Ocean for which she departed on 31 July via thePanama Canal.[14] AsLe Triomphant passed through the canal on 16 August, she was recognised and reported by a Japanese observer, whose transmission was intercepted byMagic.[15] The ship reachedSan Diego on 25 August and received some minor repairs before she sailed forTahiti on 5 September.Le Triomphant transportedGeorges Thierry d'Argenlieu, the Free FrenchHigh Commissioner for the Pacific during this voyage and reachedPapeete harbor on 23 September. The ship spent the next month visiting many of the islands ofFrench Polynesia andBritish Fiji before arriving back in Papeete on 22 October.[14]
At that time, she received orders from theAdmiralty to return to the Mediterranean and to be atSuez,Egypt, no later than 13 December. While leavingWellington,New Zealand,Le Triomphant was damaged by a violent and sudden gust of wind and was under repair inSydney,Australia, on 8 December when theJapanese attacked Pearl Harbor.[16] In mid-December, she escorted thetroopshipSS Ormiston from Sydney toNouméa,New Caledonia,[17] and conducted other escort missions during this time. In late February 1942, as a Japanese invasion ofNauru andOcean Island was feared,Le Triomphant helped to evacuate the small military contingent and the European and Chinese workers from both islands. The ship resumed her earlier duties before she began a refit at theGarden Island Dockyard in Sydney on 19 March. Completion of the refit was delayed by the heavy workload there and it was not finished until 20 January 1943.Le Triomphant was reassigned to escort duties, mostly between Sydney andMelbourne and she rescued survivors of the torpedoedBHP Shippingiron ore carrierSS Iron Knight offCape Howe on 8 February. Between 10 February and 23 May, the ship conducted 19 escort missions before enteringWilliamstown Dockyard in Melbourne for the installation of herport propeller chase on 26 May.Le Triomphant resumed escort missions after the installation was completed on 17 June and Captain (Capitaine de vaisseau)Paul Ortoli relieved Auboyneau in July. The ship wasoverhauled again in Sydney from 8 September to 7 November. She was reclassified as a light cruiser on 28 September.[18]
On 24 November, a five-man liaison team from theRoyal Australian Navy boarded the ship in Melbourne.[19]Le Triomphant departedFremantle the following day to return to the Mediterranean, accompanied by the Americanoil tankerSS Cedar Mills. A few days later, an accident while starting to refuel damaged the oil transfer gear, which meant that the cruiser only had 170 metric tons (170 t) of fuel in her tanks; to conserve fuel,Cedar Mills started towingLe Triomphant. The transfer gear was finally repaired on 1 December and she was able to top off her oil tanks. During the night of 2/3 December, the ships were struck by a typhoon andLe Triomphant was badly damaged. She took on a 15 degreelist and her forwardboiler andengine rooms were flooded. After taking off some of the crew,Cedar Mills was able to re-establish the tow on 5 December. The heavy cruiserHMS Frobisher took over the task and towed the large destroyer toDiego Suarez,French Madagascar, on 19 December. Temporary repairs there took until 21 February 1944 when she sailed for Boston, Massachusetts, for permanent repairs that lasted for a year after her arrival there on 12 April.[20] En route,Le Triomphant stopped at Algiers where she was inspected by GeneralCharles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French, and the High Commissioner for the Navy,Louis Jacquinot.[19] Ordered to the Indian Ocean in 1945, she served with theEastern Fleet after her arrival inColombo,Ceylon, on 27 May. After a brief refit in Diego Suarez in July, she coveredthe British occupation of Singapore in early September together with theFrench battleship Richelieu.[21]
Le Triomphant was the first French warship to deploy toFrench Indochina after the war, arriving inSaigon on 3 October 1945 and alternated withLe Fantasque in providing gunfire support to the French garrison atNha Trang and then supporting French forces on the coast of theGulf of Tonkin until February 1946. On 6 March she led a convoy toHaiphong which the French were to take over from the Chinese, but they engaged the convoy for 20 minutes before a cease-fire could be negotiated.Le Triomphant was lightly damaged, but 8 of her crew had been killed and 39 wounded. The sisters participated in a naval review inHa Long Bay on 24 March beforeLe Triomphant departed for France on 9 April where she arrived at Toulon on 16 May.[22]
The ship was reduced to reserve upon her return and was refitted at Bizerte from February to November 1947. During this time, only two of the four surviving ships of the class were active at any one time because of a shortage of trained personnel. WhenLe Triomphant arrived at Toulon on 7 February, she relievedLe Malin in the 10th Light Cruiser Division (10e Division de croiseurs légers). The ship remained on active duty until she was placed in reserve at Bizerte on 1 November 1949.Le Triomphant was sold for scrap in December 1957 and was subsequently broken up.[23]
 French Navy | |
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 Kriegsmarine | |
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in July 1940 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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