T 47-class destroyer

Model of Chevalier Paul (D626) in her original configuration.
Class overview
Name:	T 47 or Surcouf class
Builders:	Arsenal de Brest Arsenal de Lorient Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne
Operators:	French Navy
Preceded by:	Fantasque class, Hardi class
Succeeded by:	T 53 class
Subclasses:	Anti-submarine and anti-air variants after refit
In commission:	1955-1991
Completed:	12
Preserved:	Maillé-Brézé
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 (422 ft)
Beam:	12.7 m (41 ft 8 in)
Draught:	5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
Installed power:	63,000 shp (47 MW)
Propulsion:	4 diesel boilers Parsons geared steam turbines 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
Armament:	As built: 6 × Model 1948 127 mm (5 in) guns (3 twin turrets) 6 × 57mm/60 modèle 1951 guns (3 twin turrets) 4 × 20 mm (0.8 in) guns (4×1) 12 × 550 mm (21.7 in) torpedo tubes (4×3)

The T 47 class or Surcouf class were the first destroyers built for the French Navy after the Second World War. Twelve ships were built between 1955 and 1957. The ships were modernised in the 1960s and decommissioned in the 1980s, when they were replaced by the Georges Leygues-class frigates.

These ships were larger than other contemporary European destroyers and were based on the wartime Hardi class, but were enlarged and had a dual purpose armament. The ships were designed as Squadron escorts (Escorteur d'escadre) rather than for independent operations, therefore they had a slower speed than their predecessors. The main guns were the French designed Model 1948 127-millimetre (5 in)/54 gun, which enabled them to use the same 5-inch shells as the U.S. Mark 18 gun.^[1] The secondary armament was composed of 57mm/60 modèle 1951 guns.

Modifications

During the 1960s the entire class were modernised and modified as either flotilla flagships, anti-aircraft guided missile or anti-submarine destroyers.

Flagships

Three ships — Surcouf, Cassard, and Chevalier Paul — were converted into flotilla flagships (conducteurs de flottilles) between 1960 and 1962. One 57 mm gun turret, two triple torpedo launchers and two 20 mm guns were removed in order to enlarge the superstructure to accommodate an admiral, his staff, and additional communications equipment.^[2]

AAW modernisation

Bouvet (D624) after her "Tartar" refit

Four ships — Bouvet, Kersaint, Dupetit-Touhars and Du Chayla — were modernised as anti-aircraft guided missile destroyers in 1962–1965.

Armament

• 1 × Tartar missile launcher
• 6 × 57 mm guns (3 twin turrets)
• 1 × Model 1972 sextuple 375 mm anti-submarine mortar^[3]
• Crew: reduced to 277

ASW modernisation

Five ships — D'Estrées, Maillé-Brézé, Vauquelin, Casabianca and Guépratte — were modernised as anti-submarine destroyers in 1968–1970.

Armament

• 2 × 100 mm guns
• 1 × anti-submarine mortar
• 1 × Malafon anti-submarine missile launcher
• 2 × 20 mm guns

Ships

T 47-class destroyer
Du Chayla at sea  Bridge and 100 mm gun turret of Maille Braize  Triple torpedo launcher on Kersaint  Tartar missile launcher on Kersaint

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to T47 class destroyers.

• ex-Bouvet D624 waiting scrapping May 2012 on ShipSpotting.com