La Melpomène-class torpedo boat

La Melpomène-class torpedo boat
Class overview
Name:	La Melpomène
Completed:	12
Lost:	6
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	610 tons standard, 834 tons full load
Length:	81 m
Beam:	10.5 m
Draught:	2.65 m
Propulsion:	Geared turbines, 5 boilersgiving 55000 SHP, 2 shafts
Speed:	34.5 knots
Complement:	8 officers, 94 men
Armament:	2x 100 mm (3.9 in) guns 2 x 37 mm /50 DCA - 3.7 cm Mod 1933 AA guns 2 x 13 mm/50 DCA - 1.3 cm Mod 1927 machineguns 3 x 550 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes

The La Melpomène class was a group of 12 French torpedo boats built from 1933 to 1935. The La Melpomène class was one of the fastest ships of the time because they could achieve a maximum speed of 34.5 knots; although the French built the ship as torpedo boats, due to their size and structure, the class is considered a light destoyer.

Ships in class

After serving with Marine Nationale, the ships of the La Melpomène class saw service in World War II with Kriegsmarine, Marine Nationale de l´Armistice (Vichy French Navy), Regia Marina, Free French Navy, Royal Navy and United States Navy.

Ship	Builder	Commissioned	Fate
La Melpomène	AC de Bretagne, Nantes	12 November 1936	Sold in 1950
La Pomone	AC de la Loire, Nantes	6 December 1936	see below
La Flore	AC de Bretagne, Nantes	17 November 1936	Sold in 1950
L'Iphigénie	AC de la Loire, Nantes	21 November 1936	see below
La Bayonnaise	C Maritimes du Sud Ouest, Bordeaux	7 April 1938	see below
Bombarde	AC de la Loire, Nantes	1 August 1938	see below
L'Incomprise	AC Seine Maritime, Le Trait	12 March 1938	see below
La Poursuivante	AC de France, Dunkirk	10 November 1937	see below
La Cordelière	AC Augustin-Normand, Le Havre	11 November 1937	see below
Branlebas	AC Augustin-Normand, Le Havre	10 March 1938	Foundered off Eddystone in 14 December 1940
Baliste	AC de France, Dunkirk	14 May 1938	see below
Bouclier	AC Seine Maritime, Le Trait	6 August 1938	see below

Service histories

• La Melpomène was in a British port in June 1940. After brief service with the Royal Navy, she was transferred into FNFL (Free French) service. At the war's end she returned to France and in 1950 was sold for scrap.

• La Pomone was in Vichy service after June 1940. Seized by the Italians at Bizerta, in November 1942, she became the Italian FR42, and the German TA10 in May 1943. In action against HMS Eclipse near Rhodes, she was badly damaged, and scuttled on 27 September 1943.

• La Flore was in a British port in June 1940. She was transferred into FNFL (Free French) service. At the war's end she returned to France and in 1950 was sold for scrap.

• L'Iphigénie was in Vichy service after June 1940. Seized by the Italians at Bizerta, in November 1942, she became the Italian FR43, and the German TA11 in May 43. She was sunk in action at Piombino, 10 September 1943.
• La Bayonnaise was scuttled in Toulon on November 27, 1942, to avoid her capture. The ship was raised by the Italians and renamed FR44. She was repaired, but was taken over by the Germans after the Italian armistice and were renamed TA13. As TA13 she was scuttled on 23 August 1944.
• Bombarde was in Vichy service after une 1940. She was seized by the Italians at Bizerte in November 1942, entering into Italian service as FR41. However, she was once again captured by the Germans during the Italian armistice of September 1943, and were renamed TA 9. As TA 9 she was sunk by US aircraft off Toulon, 23 August 1944.
• L'Incomprise was seized by the British at Portsmouth after the Fall of France. She served with the Free French Forces. At the war's end she was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1950.
• La Poursuivante was in Vichy service after June 1940. She was scuttled in Toulon on November 27, 1942, to avoid her capture, leaving her a total constructive loss.
• La Cordelière was seized by the British at Portsmouth on 3 July 1940; she was returned to serve with Free French Forces. At the war's end she was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1950.
• Branlebas was seized by the British at Portsmouth on 3 July 1940; The Branlebas was retained by the Royal Navy but foundered 25 miles off Eddystone on 14 December 1940.
• Baliste was in Vichy service after June 1940. She was scuttled in Toulon on November 27, 1942, to avoid her capture. The ship was raised by the Italians and were renamed FR45. She was taken over by the Germans after the Italian armistice and was renamed TA12. As TA12 she was sunk by Allied aircraft on 22 August 1943.

• Bouclier was seized by the British at Portsmouth on 3 July 1940; She was first transferred to Royal Dutch Navy and renamed as HNLMS Bouclier, but was returned to the French forces in January 1941. At the war's end she was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1950.

Sources

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475. 
• Conway : Conways All the Worlds Fighting Ships 1922-1946 (1980) ISBN 0-85177-146-7
• Whitley, MH : Destroyers of World War Two (1988) ISBN 1-85409-521-8

Bibliography

• Marc Saibène: Les Torpilleurs Légers Francais 1937-1945. Librairie de la Mer, Marines Editions, Paris, 2004, ISBN 978-2-9153-7913-6
• Carles Salou: Les Torpilleurs de 600 tW du Type 'La Melpomène'. Lela Presse, Outreau, 2004, ISBN 2-914017-22-7

External links

• Images of the class