The Mogador and her sister Volta were the last contre-torpilleurs built by the French Navy, a not entirely successful attempt to build a ship capable of out-fighting every other ship below her tonnage. "In technological terms Mogador and Volta were ships with the armament of a light cruiser in the hull of destroyer; the contre-torpilleur as a type had been pushed past the limits of its capabilities."[1]
Mogador had an overall length of 137.5 meters (451 ft 1 in), a beam of 12.57 meters (41 ft 3 in), and a maximum draft of 4.74 meters (15 ft 7 in). She displaced 2,997 metric tons (2,950 long tons) at standard load and 4,018 metric tons (3,955 long tons) at deep load. The Rateau-Bretagne geared steam turbines were designed to produce 92,000 shaft horsepower (68,604 kW), which would propel the ship at 39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph). However, during sea trials in March 1938, Mogador's turbines provided 118,320 shp (88,230 kW) and she reached 43.45 knots (80.47 km/h; 50.00 mph) for one hour. The ship carried 360 metric tons (354 long tons) of fuel oil at normal load and an additional 350 metric tons (340 long tons) at deep load.[2]
Mogador carried eight Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1929 in four twin turrets, two each superimposed, fore and aft. Her anti-aircraft armament consisted of two 37 mm (1.5 in) Mle 1933 guns in a single mount positioned on the rear deck house forward of the rear turrets. She also mounted four 13.2 mm (0.52 in) Mle 1929 heavy machine guns in two twin mounts located between the forward superstructure and the forward guns. Mogador carried 10 above-water 550-millimeter (22 in) torpedo tubes: a pair of triple mounts between the funnels and a pair of double mounts aft of the rear funnel. A pair of depth charge chutes were built into Mogador's stern; these housed a total of 16 Guirard depth charges. Mine rails were fitted on the rear deck that had a maximum capacity of 40 mines.[3]
Service historyedit
Mogador, with her sisterVolta, comprised the 6th Large Destroyer Division (6e Division de contre-torpilleurs) and was assigned to the Force de Raid based at Brest when the war began. This group's purpose was to hunt German blockade runners and raiders and to escort convoys that might be in danger from the same. From 21–30 October 1939 the Force de Raid escorted the KJ.4 convoy to protect it against the Deutschland which had sortied into the North Atlantic before the war began. A sortie by Gneisenau and Scharnhorst into the North Atlantic on 21 November prompted Force de Raid to sail from Brest to rendezvous with the British battlecruiser HMS Hood and patrol the area south of Iceland, but the German ships were able to return safely under the cover of heavy weather without being engaged.[4]
Mogador was refitted at Lorient between January and March 1940 and a number of minor changes were made. The necessary improvements identified for the main armament during her sea trials a year prior were finally implemented, the canvas cover for the back of the turrets was replaced by a rolling door, new radios were installed, and shields were fitted to the anti-aircraft machine guns and the searchlights. A SS-6sonar was fitted in June 1940, but proved to be ineffectual.[5]
Mogador immediately after the attack on 3 July 1940
Mogador was present during the British attack on Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July 1940 and was severely damaged by a hit from an armour-piercing 15-inch (38 cm) shell in the rear hull that detonated her ready depth charges although it failed to detonate itself. The explosion destroyed her upper rear hull, but, miraculously, the rear magazines failed to explode. 38 men were killed,[6] the port propeller shaft was damaged and a blade from the starboard propeller was shattered. She was towed to Oran for repairs. She was dry docked on 17 July, the remains of her No. 4 turret were removed and the after bulkheads repaired and reinforced to make her seaworthy. She sailed for Toulon on 1 December where she was docked pending reconstruction.[7]
The French Navy decided to reinforce her anti-aircraft armament in light of its wartime experience. Her no. 3 gun turret was to be moved to the No. 4 position, its magazine converted for extra fuel storage, and a new twin 37 mm Mle 1933 mount would replace it on top of the rear deck house. Two more Mle 1933 mounts were to fitted on each side of the rear deckhouse and a fourth mount was to replace the 13.2 Hotchkiss machine guns forward of the bridge. One 13.2 mm Browning machine gun was to planned to be mounted on each side of the forward twin 37 mm guns. This plan was later amended to add a degaussing cable, replacement of the SS-6 sonar by a French copy of the British ASDIC and six of the new mitrailleuse de 25 mm contre-aéroplanes Modèle 1940 anti-aircraft guns, plus two more 13.2 mm Brownings mounted on the forward corners of the center deck house.[8]
The rebuilding was slowed by material shortages and she wasn't taken into hand by the shipyard Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranée at La Seyne-sur-Mer until late February 1942. In October it was estimated that she wouldn't be completed until July 1943.[9] She was scuttled in La Seyne-sur-Mer on 27 November 1942 to prevent her capture by the Germans. She was refloated by the Italians on 5 April 1943, but not repaired.[10]Mogador was sunk by Allied bombers in late 1944,[11] but was raised in 1949 and scrapped.[12]
Jordan, John (2007). "The Contre-Torpilleurs of the Mogador Class". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2007. London: Conway. pp. 45–60. ISBN978-1-84486-041-8.
Roche, Jean-Michel. Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours (in French). Vol. II: 1870–2006. Toulon: J.-M. Roche. ISBN978-2-9525917-0-6.
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.
Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-326-1.
O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009). Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN978-1-59114-648-3.
External linksedit
—plans and photos of Mogador
Mogador-class at uboat.net
April 11, 2024
french, destroyer, mogador, mogador, lead, ship, french, navy, mogador, class, destroyers, french, contre, torpilleur, named, after, moroccan, town, built, before, outbreak, world, ship, heavily, damaged, during, british, attack, mers, kébir, july, 1940, later. Mogador was the lead ship of the French Navy s Mogador class of destroyers French contre torpilleur Named after the Moroccan town she was built before the outbreak of World War II The ship was heavily damaged during the British attack on Mers el Kebir on 3 July 1940 but was later repaired and sailed to Toulon She was scuttled in Toulon Harbor when the Germans tried to seize her along with the rest of the fleet on 27 November 1942 MogadorHistoryFranceNameMogadorNamesakeMogador MoroccoBuilderArsenal de LorientLaid down28 December 1934Launched9 June 1937Commissioned8 April 1939FateScuttled at La Seyne sur Mer 27 November 1942 scrapped 1949General characteristicsClass and typeMogador class destroyerDisplacement2 997 tonnes 2 950 long tons 3 304 short tons Standard 4 018 tonnes 3 955 long tons 4 429 short tons Deep load Length137 5 m 451 ft 1 in Beam12 57 m 41 ft 3 in Draft4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power92 000 shp 69 000 kW Propulsion2 shafts 2 Rateau Bretagne geared steam turbines 4 Indret boilersSpeed39 knots 72 km h 45 mph Range4 345 nmi 8 047 km 5 000 mi at 15 knots 28 km h 17 mph 1 780 nmi 3 300 km 2 050 mi at 28 knots 52 km h 32 mph Complement12 officers 226 menArmament4 2 138 mm 5 4 in Mle 1934 guns 2 1 37 mm 1 5 in Mle 1933 AA guns 2 2 13 2 mm 0 52 in Mle 1929 AA guns 2 3 2 2 550 mm 22 in torpedo tubes 32 depth charges and up to 40 minesThe Mogador and her sister Volta were the last contre torpilleurs built by the French Navy a not entirely successful attempt to build a ship capable of out fighting every other ship below her tonnage In technological terms Mogador and Volta were ships with the armament of a light cruiser in the hull of destroyer the contre torpilleur as a type had been pushed past the limits of its capabilities 1 Contents 1 Design and description 2 Service history 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksDesign and description editMogador had an overall length of 137 5 meters 451 ft 1 in a beam of 12 57 meters 41 ft 3 in and a maximum draft of 4 74 meters 15 ft 7 in She displaced 2 997 metric tons 2 950 long tons at standard load and 4 018 metric tons 3 955 long tons at deep load The Rateau Bretagne geared steam turbines were designed to produce 92 000 shaft horsepower 68 604 kW which would propel the ship at 39 knots 72 km h 45 mph However during sea trials in March 1938 Mogador s turbines provided 118 320 shp 88 230 kW and she reached 43 45 knots 80 47 km h 50 00 mph for one hour The ship carried 360 metric tons 354 long tons of fuel oil at normal load and an additional 350 metric tons 340 long tons at deep load 2 Mogador carried eight Canon de 138 mm Modele 1929 in four twin turrets two each superimposed fore and aft Her anti aircraft armament consisted of two 37 mm 1 5 in Mle 1933 guns in a single mount positioned on the rear deck house forward of the rear turrets She also mounted four 13 2 mm 0 52 in Mle 1929 heavy machine guns in two twin mounts located between the forward superstructure and the forward guns Mogador carried 10 above water 550 millimeter 22 in torpedo tubes a pair of triple mounts between the funnels and a pair of double mounts aft of the rear funnel A pair of depth charge chutes were built into Mogador s stern these housed a total of 16 Guirard depth charges Mine rails were fitted on the rear deck that had a maximum capacity of 40 mines 3 Service history editMogador with her sister Volta comprised the 6th Large Destroyer Division 6e Division de contre torpilleurs and was assigned to the Force de Raid based at Brest when the war began This group s purpose was to hunt German blockade runners and raiders and to escort convoys that might be in danger from the same From 21 30 October 1939 the Force de Raid escorted the KJ 4 convoy to protect it against the Deutschland which had sortied into the North Atlantic before the war began A sortie by Gneisenau and Scharnhorst into the North Atlantic on 21 November prompted Force de Raid to sail from Brest to rendezvous with the British battlecruiser HMS Hood and patrol the area south of Iceland but the German ships were able to return safely under the cover of heavy weather without being engaged 4 Mogador was refitted at Lorient between January and March 1940 and a number of minor changes were made The necessary improvements identified for the main armament during her sea trials a year prior were finally implemented the canvas cover for the back of the turrets was replaced by a rolling door new radios were installed and shields were fitted to the anti aircraft machine guns and the searchlights A SS 6 sonar was fitted in June 1940 but proved to be ineffectual 5 nbsp Mogador immediately after the attack on 3 July 1940Mogador was present during the British attack on Mers el Kebir on 3 July 1940 and was severely damaged by a hit from an armour piercing 15 inch 38 cm shell in the rear hull that detonated her ready depth charges although it failed to detonate itself The explosion destroyed her upper rear hull but miraculously the rear magazines failed to explode 38 men were killed 6 the port propeller shaft was damaged and a blade from the starboard propeller was shattered She was towed to Oran for repairs She was dry docked on 17 July the remains of her No 4 turret were removed and the after bulkheads repaired and reinforced to make her seaworthy She sailed for Toulon on 1 December where she was docked pending reconstruction 7 The French Navy decided to reinforce her anti aircraft armament in light of its wartime experience Her no 3 gun turret was to be moved to the No 4 position its magazine converted for extra fuel storage and a new twin 37 mm Mle 1933 mount would replace it on top of the rear deck house Two more Mle 1933 mounts were to fitted on each side of the rear deckhouse and a fourth mount was to replace the 13 2 Hotchkiss machine guns forward of the bridge One 13 2 mm Browning machine gun was to planned to be mounted on each side of the forward twin 37 mm guns This plan was later amended to add a degaussing cable replacement of the SS 6 sonar by a French copy of the British ASDIC and six of the new mitrailleuse de 25 mm contre aeroplanes Modele 1940 anti aircraft guns plus two more 13 2 mm Brownings mounted on the forward corners of the center deck house 8 The rebuilding was slowed by material shortages and she wasn t taken into hand by the shipyard Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranee at La Seyne sur Mer until late February 1942 In October it was estimated that she wouldn t be completed until July 1943 9 She was scuttled in La Seyne sur Mer on 27 November 1942 to prevent her capture by the Germans She was refloated by the Italians on 5 April 1943 but not repaired 10 Mogador was sunk by Allied bombers in late 1944 11 but was raised in 1949 and scrapped 12 Notes edit Jordan p 59 Jordan p 50 Jordan pp 52 54 Rohwer pp 7 9 Jordan pp 55 57 60 O Hara 2009 p 19 Jordan p 56 Jordan pp 57 58 Jordan p 58 Whitley p 45 Jordan p 60 Roche p 348References editJordan John 2007 The Contre Torpilleurs of the Mogador Class In Jordan John ed Warship 2007 London Conway pp 45 60 ISBN 978 1 84486 041 8 Roche Jean Michel Dictionnaire des batiments de la flotte de guerre francaise de Colbert a nos jours in French Vol II 1870 2006 Toulon J M Roche ISBN 978 2 9525917 0 6 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 Whitley M J 1988 Destroyers of World War Two An International Encyclopedia Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 326 1 O Hara Vincent P 2009 Struggle for the Middle Sea The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater 1940 1945 Annapolis MD Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 1 59114 648 3 External links editPlans de bateaux MOGADOR 1937 plans and photos of Mogador Mogador class at uboat net Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French destroyer Mogador amp oldid 1146744801, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
