Vauquelin-class destroyer

The Vauquelin-class large destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) of the French navy were laid down in 1930 and commissioned in 1931. They were very similar to the previous, the only difference being a single extra torpedo tube. The class saw action in World War II.

Ships

 * FRENCH DESTROYER Cassard
 * (Pennant numbers: 2, 3, 93 and X92)
 * Named after the 18th century naval captain Jacques Cassard
 * Built by Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne, Nantes
 * Completed 10 September 1933
 * Scuttled 27 November 1942
 * Broken up in situ 1956


 * Chevalier Paul
 * (Pennant numbers: 3, 2, 53, X52)
 * Named after 17th century admiral Chevalier Paul
 * Built by Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, Le Havre
 * Completed 20 July 1934
 * Torpedoed and sunk off Syrian coast 16 June 1941


 * Kersaint
 * (Pennant numbers: 9, 92, X93)
 * Named after Admiral Armand de Kersaint
 * Built by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, St Nazaire
 * Completed 31 December 1933
 * Scuttled 27 November 1942
 * Broken up in situ 1950


 * FRENCH DESTROYER Maillé Brézé
 * (Pennant numbers: 7, 91, X91)
 * Named after French admiral Jean Armand de Maillé-Brézé,
 * Built by Ateliers et Chantiers de St Nazaire-Penhoet, St Nazaire
 * Completed 6 April 1933
 * Lost by accidental explosion 30 April 1940, Greenock, Scotland
 * Refloated and scrapped


 * Tartu
 * (Pennant numbers: 1, 51, X51)
 * Named in honour of Jean-François Tartu
 * Built by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, St Nazaire
 * Completed 31 December 1932
 * Scuttled 27 November 1942
 * Broken up in situ 1956


 * Vauquelin
 * (Pennant numbers: 8, 52, X53)
 * Named after Moise Vauquelin
 * Built by Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk
 * Completed 3 November 1933
 * Scuttled 27 November 1942
 * Broken up in situ 1951

Maillé Brézé was lost on 30 April 1940 after a torpedo accident at Greenock, Scotland, killing 25 of her crew (sabotage was suspected at the time). Chevalier Paul was sunk off the coast of Syria on 16 June 1941, by British torpedo bombers. Vauquelin, Cassard, Kersaint and Tartu were all scuttled in Toulon Harbour on 27 November 1942 to prevent their capture by Germany, these ships were too badly damaged to be salvaged.