At the outbreak of World War II the Marine nationale (French Navy) needed urgently ships for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) convoy escort and placed orders from Smiths Dock in South Bank, Middlesbrough for four Flower-class corvettes. Following this the Marine nationale ordered a further 18 ships, to be built both in British and French shipyards. These French Flower-class ships were identical to the British "Flowers" except that French 100 mm (3.9 in) and 13.2 mm AA guns were to be fitted.[2]
On 22 June 1940, the day of France's capitulation, La Bastiase was undergoing sea trials in the North Sea when she struck a mine off Hartlepool[3] and sank. The night before Luftwaffe planes had been dropping magnetic mines into the shallow coastal waters. Forty-three French sailors died, along with at least 18 British shipyard workers. La Bastiase was not part of FFL Navy as she was serving under the Marine nationale flag but France surrendered on the day of her loss. Her commander, Lieutenant de Vaisseau Georges Albert Lacombe, died in the sinking.[4]
Legacyedit
A memorial obelisk, with the names of all those who died when La Bastiaise hit a mine whilst on trials off the River Tees was dedicated at a service in Smiths Dock Park on Saturday 7 November 2015.
The crew members that died are remembered among the Forces Navales Françaises Libres members that died in the war.[5]
Cherry, OBE, Cdr. Alex H. (1951). Yankee R.N.: Being the story of a Wall Street banker who volunteered for active duty in the Royal Navy before America came into the war. London: Jarrolds. pp. not cited.
Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Lambert, John; Brown, Les (2008). ShipCraft Special: Flower Class Corvettes. St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada: Vanwall Publishing Limited. ISBN978-1-55068-986-0.
Le Masson, Henri (1969). The French Navy. Navies of the Second World War. Vol. 2. London: MacDonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. pp. 25, 28. ISBN0356023842.
External linksedit
uboat.net
(in French)Corvette LA BASTIAISE
January 07, 2024
french, corvette, bastiaise, bastiaise, flower, class, corvette, french, navy, marine, nationale, ship, built, british, shipyard, smiths, dock, their, middlesbrough, shipyard, completed, june, 1940, just, before, french, armistice, with, germany, sunk, mine, j. La Bastiaise was a Flower class corvette of the French Navy Marine nationale The ship was built by the British shipyard Smiths Dock in their Middlesbrough shipyard and was completed in June 1940 just before the French Armistice with Germany She was sunk by a mine on 22 June 1940 during sea trials La Bastiaise Flower class corvette in 1942 paintHistoryFranceNameLa BastiaiseLaid down18 November 1939Launched8 April 1940 1 Commissioned22 June 1940IdentificationPennant number J4138FateSunk 22 June 1940General characteristicsClass and typeFlower class corvetteDisplacement950 tonnesLength62 7 m 205 ft 9 in Beam10 9 m 35 ft 9 in Draught2 7 m 8 ft 10 in PropulsionEngine 4 cylinder triple expansion steam engine Fuel Gazole Pressure 225 PSI Power 2 750 hp 2 050 kW Speed16 knots 30 km h 18 mph Range3 450 nmi 6 390 km 3 970 mi at 12 knots 22 km h 14 mph 2 630 nmi 4 870 km 3 030 mi at 16 knots 30 km h 18 mph Fuel capacity 230 tonnesComplement70Sensors and processing systemsType 271 surface radarArmament1 BL 4 inch 101 6 mm Mark IX gun 1 Mark VIII 40 mm gun 2 Mark IIA 20 mm guns 2 Hotchkiss machine guns 4 Mark I depth charge launchers 2 ramps for Mark I depth charges 60 depth chargesThe name La Bastiaise was in honour of the inhabitants of the city of Bastia Corsica Contents 1 War service 2 Legacy 3 See also 4 Notes 5 Sources 6 External linksWar service editAt the outbreak of World War II the Marine nationale French Navy needed urgently ships for anti submarine warfare ASW convoy escort and placed orders from Smiths Dock in South Bank Middlesbrough for four Flower class corvettes Following this the Marine nationale ordered a further 18 ships to be built both in British and French shipyards These French Flower class ships were identical to the British Flowers except that French 100 mm 3 9 in and 13 2 mm AA guns were to be fitted 2 On 22 June 1940 the day of France s capitulation La Bastiase was undergoing sea trials in the North Sea when she struck a mine off Hartlepool 3 and sank The night before Luftwaffe planes had been dropping magnetic mines into the shallow coastal waters Forty three French sailors died along with at least 18 British shipyard workers La Bastiase was not part of FFL Navy as she was serving under the Marine nationale flag but France surrendered on the day of her loss Her commander Lieutenant de Vaisseau Georges Albert Lacombe died in the sinking 4 Legacy editA memorial obelisk with the names of all those who died when La Bastiaise hit a mine whilst on trials off the River Tees was dedicated at a service in Smiths Dock Park on Saturday 7 November 2015 The crew members that died are remembered among the Forces Navales Francaises Libres members that died in the war 5 See also editList of Escorteurs of the French NavyNotes edit Le Masson 1969 p 28 Gardiner amp Chesneau 1980 p 277 Le Masson 1969 p 26 Lloyd Chris 10 October 2015 The mystery of La Bastiaise The Northern Echo Retrieved 16 September 2018 http www memoiresdeshommes sga defense gouv fr dead link Sources editCherry OBE Cdr Alex H 1951 Yankee R N Being the story of a Wall Street banker who volunteered for active duty in the Royal Navy before America came into the war London Jarrolds pp not cited Gardiner Robert Chesneau Roger eds 1980 Conway s All The World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 Lambert John Brown Les 2008 ShipCraft Special Flower Class Corvettes St Catharines Ontario Canada Vanwall Publishing Limited ISBN 978 1 55068 986 0 Le Masson Henri 1969 The French Navy Navies of the Second World War Vol 2 London MacDonald amp Co Publishers Ltd pp 25 28 ISBN 0356023842 External links edituboat net in French Corvette LA BASTIAISE Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French corvette La Bastiaise amp oldid 1167110067, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
