The French destroyer Lynx was a Chacal-classdestroyer (contre-torpilleur) built for the French Navy during the 1920s. The Chacals were regarded as obsolete by 1935 and Lynx became a training ship for the torpedo school at Toulon that year. She was assigned convoy escort duties in the Atlantic after the start of World War II in September 1939. In July 1940, the ship was present when the British attacked the French ships at Mers-el-Kébir, but managed to escape without damage. After she reached Toulon, Lynx was placed in reserve where she remained for the next two years. On 27 November 1942, she was scuttled at Toulon when the Germans attempted to capture the French ships there. Her wreck was salvaged in 1944, but she was not broken up until 1948.
The Chacal-class ships were designed to counter the large Italian Leone-class destroyers. They had an overall length of 126.8 meters (416 ft 0 in), a beam of 11.1 meters (36 ft 5 in),[1] and a draft of 4.1 meters (13 ft 5 in). The ships displaced 2,126 metric tons (2,092 long tons) at standard[2] and 2,980–3,075 metric tons (2,933–3,026 long tons) at deep load. They were powered by two geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by five du Temple boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 50,000 metric horsepower (37,000 kW; 49,000 shp), which would propel the ship at 35.5 knots (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph). During her sea trials on 20 April 1927, Lynx's turbines provided 57,810 metric horsepower (42,520 kW; 57,020 shp) and she reached 35.54 knots (65.82 km/h; 40.90 mph) for a single hour. The ships carried 530 metric tons (522 long tons) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Their crew consisted of 10 officers and 187 crewmen in peacetime and 12 officers and 209 enlisted men in wartime.[3]
The main armament of the Chacal-class ships consisted of five Canon de 130 mm Modèle 1919 guns in single mounts, one superfiring pair fore and aft of the superstructure and the fifth gun abaft the aft funnel. The guns were numbered '1' to '5' from front to rear. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of two Canon de 75 mm modèle 1924 guns in single mounts positioned amidships. The ships carried two above-water triple sets of 550-millimeter (21.7 in) torpedo tubes. A pair of depth charge chutes were built into their stern; these housed a total of twenty 200-kilogram (440 lb) depth charges. They were also fitted with four depth-charge throwers for which they carried a dozen 100-kilogram (220 lb) depth charges.[4]
Construction and career
Lynx, named after the eponymous feline, was ordered on 26 February 1923 from Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire. She was laid down at their Saint-Nazaireshipyard on 14 January 1924, launched on 25 February 1925, completed on 18 October 1927 and entered service on 15 November. Completion was delayed by problems with her propulsion machinery and late deliveries by sub-contractors. The ship was assigned to the 4th Light Division (DL) (4e division légère) of the 2nd Squadron (2e Escadre) based at Brest upon completion, together with her sister shipsLéopard and Jaguar. On 3 July 1928, Lynx participated in a naval review by Gaston Doumergue, President of France, off Le Havre. The four depth charge throwers were removed in 1932. The next year, the ship was present when the fleet was reviewed by the new President of France, Albert Lebrun, in Cherbourg on 20 July 1933. About two years later, the 75-millimeter guns were replaced by four twin mounts for 13.2-millimeter (0.5 in)anti-aircraft machineguns. The ship was assigned to the 11th DL of the Torpedo Training School (Ecole d'application du lancement à la mer) at Toulon in 1935 as the Chacals were regarded as obsolete.[5]
When the war started in September 1939, Lynx belonged to the 4th Large Destroyer Division (4e division de contre-torpilleurs) with her sisters Panthère and Tigre. She was assigned to the Western Command (Forces maritimes de l'Ouest) for convoy escort duties from October to May 1940 where she guarded convoys traveling between Gibraltar and Brest as well as Casablanca, French Morocco, and Le Verdon-sur-Mer. In January 1940, the ship had a British Type 123 ASDIC installed; several months later Lynx had two depth-charge throwers reinstalled, No. 3 gun removed, and her depth charge stowage reduced to a dozen 200 kg and eight 100 kg depth charges to improve her stability. She was transferred to Mers-el-Kébir, French Algeria, on 27 May and she was still there on 25 June after France surrendered.[6] The ship managed to escape the harbor during the British attack on Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July and together with her sister Tigre briefly engaged the destroyer HMS Wrestler. The sisters then depth charged the submarine HMS Proteus[7] as the French ships headed for Toulon, where they arrived the following day.[8] As the oldest contre-torpilleurs in French service, Lynx and her sisters were reduced to reserve and stripped of their light anti-aircraft armament. On 27 November 1942, Lynx was scuttled at Toulon with the rest of the French fleet to prevent her capture by the Germans. She was refloated on 23 January 1944 and beached at the adjacent port of Brégaillon. The wreck was raised in 1948 and broken up.[9]
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Jordan, John & Dumas, Robert (2009). French Battleships: 1922–1956. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN978-1-59114-416-8.
Jordan, John & Moulin, Jean (2015). French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d'Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs 1922–1956. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-198-4.
Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-59114-119-2.
August 19, 2023
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For other ships with the same name see French ship Lynx The French destroyer Lynx was a Chacal class destroyer contre torpilleur built for the French Navy during the 1920s The Chacals were regarded as obsolete by 1935 and Lynx became a training ship for the torpedo school at Toulon that year She was assigned convoy escort duties in the Atlantic after the start of World War II in September 1939 In July 1940 the ship was present when the British attacked the French ships at Mers el Kebir but managed to escape without damage After she reached Toulon Lynx was placed in reserve where she remained for the next two years On 27 November 1942 she was scuttled at Toulon when the Germans attempted to capture the French ships there Her wreck was salvaged in 1944 but she was not broken up until 1948 Sister ship Chacal turningHistoryFranceNameLynxNamesakeLynxOrdered26 February 1923BuilderAteliers et Chantiers de la Loire NantesLaid down14 January 1924Launched24 February 1925Completed18 October 1927In service15 November 1927Out of serviceJuly 1940FateScuttled 27 November 1942 Scrapped 1948General characteristics as built Class and typeChacal class destroyerDisplacement2 126 t 2 092 long tons standard 2 980 3 075 t 2 933 3 026 long tons full load Length126 8 m 416 ft 0 1 in Beam11 1 m 36 ft 5 0 in Draft4 1 m 13 ft 5 4 in Installed power50 000 PS 37 000 kW 49 000 shp 5 du Temple boilersPropulsion2 shafts 2 geared steam turbinesSpeed35 5 knots 65 7 km h 40 9 mph Range3 000 nmi 5 600 km 3 500 mi at 15 knots 28 km h 17 mph Crew12 officers 209 crewmen wartime Armament5 single 130 mm 5 1 in guns 2 single 75 mm 3 0 in anti aircraft guns 2 triple 550 mm 21 7 in torpedo tubes 2 chutes four throwers for 32 depth charges Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 Notes 4 ReferencesDesign and description EditThe Chacal class ships were designed to counter the large Italian Leone class destroyers They had an overall length of 126 8 meters 416 ft 0 in a beam of 11 1 meters 36 ft 5 in 1 and a draft of 4 1 meters 13 ft 5 in The ships displaced 2 126 metric tons 2 092 long tons at standard 2 and 2 980 3 075 metric tons 2 933 3 026 long tons at deep load They were powered by two geared steam turbines each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by five du Temple boilers The turbines were designed to produce 50 000 metric horsepower 37 000 kW 49 000 shp which would propel the ship at 35 5 knots 65 7 km h 40 9 mph During her sea trials on 20 April 1927 Lynx s turbines provided 57 810 metric horsepower 42 520 kW 57 020 shp and she reached 35 54 knots 65 82 km h 40 90 mph for a single hour The ships carried 530 metric tons 522 long tons of fuel oil which gave them a range of 3 000 nautical miles 5 600 km 3 500 mi at 15 knots 28 km h 17 mph Their crew consisted of 10 officers and 187 crewmen in peacetime and 12 officers and 209 enlisted men in wartime 3 The main armament of the Chacal class ships consisted of five Canon de 130 mm Modele 1919 guns in single mounts one superfiring pair fore and aft of the superstructure and the fifth gun abaft the aft funnel The guns were numbered 1 to 5 from front to rear Their anti aircraft armament consisted of two Canon de 75 mm modele 1924 guns in single mounts positioned amidships The ships carried two above water triple sets of 550 millimeter 21 7 in torpedo tubes A pair of depth charge chutes were built into their stern these housed a total of twenty 200 kilogram 440 lb depth charges They were also fitted with four depth charge throwers for which they carried a dozen 100 kilogram 220 lb depth charges 4 Construction and career EditLynx named after the eponymous feline was ordered on 26 February 1923 from Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire She was laid down at their Saint Nazaire shipyard on 14 January 1924 launched on 25 February 1925 completed on 18 October 1927 and entered service on 15 November Completion was delayed by problems with her propulsion machinery and late deliveries by sub contractors The ship was assigned to the 4th Light Division DL 4e division legere of the 2nd Squadron 2e Escadre based at Brest upon completion together with her sister ships Leopard and Jaguar On 3 July 1928 Lynx participated in a naval review by Gaston Doumergue President of France off Le Havre The four depth charge throwers were removed in 1932 The next year the ship was present when the fleet was reviewed by the new President of France Albert Lebrun in Cherbourg on 20 July 1933 About two years later the 75 millimeter guns were replaced by four twin mounts for 13 2 millimeter 0 5 in anti aircraft machineguns The ship was assigned to the 11th DL of the Torpedo Training School Ecole d application du lancement a la mer at Toulon in 1935 as the Chacals were regarded as obsolete 5 When the war started in September 1939 Lynx belonged to the 4th Large Destroyer Division 4e division de contre torpilleurs with her sisters Panthere and Tigre She was assigned to the Western Command Forces maritimes de l Ouest for convoy escort duties from October to May 1940 where she guarded convoys traveling between Gibraltar and Brest as well as Casablanca French Morocco and Le Verdon sur Mer In January 1940 the ship had a British Type 123 ASDIC installed several months later Lynx had two depth charge throwers reinstalled No 3 gun removed and her depth charge stowage reduced to a dozen 200 kg and eight 100 kg depth charges to improve her stability She was transferred to Mers el Kebir French Algeria on 27 May and she was still there on 25 June after France surrendered 6 The ship managed to escape the harbor during the British attack on Mers el Kebir on 3 July and together with her sister Tigre briefly engaged the destroyer HMS Wrestler The sisters then depth charged the submarine HMS Proteus 7 as the French ships headed for Toulon where they arrived the following day 8 As the oldest contre torpilleurs in French service Lynx and her sisters were reduced to reserve and stripped of their light anti aircraft armament On 27 November 1942 Lynx was scuttled at Toulon with the rest of the French fleet to prevent her capture by the Germans She was refloated on 23 January 1944 and beached at the adjacent port of Bregaillon The wreck was raised in 1948 and broken up 9 Notes Edit Jordan amp Moulin p 22 Chesneau p 267 Jordan amp Moulin pp 18 22 27 Jordan amp Moulin pp 27 33 Jordan amp Moulin pp 20 21 38 39 213 14 217 Jordan amp Moulin pp 39 202 225 231 Jordan amp Dumas p 83 Rohwer p 31 Jordan amp Moulin pp 40 213 14 217 248References EditChesneau Roger ed 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 Jordan John amp Dumas Robert 2009 French Battleships 1922 1956 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 1 59114 416 8 Jordan John amp Moulin Jean 2015 French Destroyers Torpilleurs d Escadre amp Contre Torpilleurs 1922 1956 Barnsley UK Seaforth Publishing ISBN 978 1 84832 198 4 Rohwer Jurgen 2005 Chronology of the War at Sea 1939 1945 The Naval History of World War Two Third Revised ed Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 59114 119 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French destroyer Lynx amp oldid 1068337647, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
