De Grasse (C 610)

The "De Grasse" was an anti-aircraft cruiser of the French Navy. She was the first French vessel named in honour of François Joseph Paul, marquis de Grasetilly, comte de Grasse. She was notoriously involved in the nuclear test campaigns in Mururoa.

Initial Design

The "De Grasse" was designed in the late 30s, as the lead ship of a series of three cruisers a little heavier than the preceding La Galissonnière class cruisers , notably with an improved anti-aircraft equipment. The other two ships "Chateaurenault" and "Guichen" were cancelled.

pecifications (1938 design)

*Displacement: 8000 tons standard, 11,431 tons full load
*Dimensions: Length 180.4m, beam 18.6m, draught 5.5m
*Machinery: two shaft steam turbine, 4 boilers 110,000 hp
*Speed 33 knots
*Armament
** 9 - 152 mm guns (3 turrets)
** 6 - 100mm guns (3 twin turrets)
** 8 - 37mm guns
** 8 - 13.2 mmmachine guns
** 6 - 550mm torpedo tubes
*Armour
** Belt - 100mm
** Deck - 38mm
** Turets - 100mm
** conning tower 95mm
*Aircraft - two catapults, 2 seaplane
*Crew - 691

The unfinished ship was captured by the invading Germans during the Second World War. In August 1942 the Germans began converting De Grasse to an auxiliary aircraft carrier but the work was stopped in February 1943 because of the high cost, Allied bombing raids and sabotage. [http://german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/zplan/carrier/degrasse/index.html]

Post War

After the war the hull was eventually launched in 1946. The construction was halted again between 1946 and 1951, when she was towed to Brest to be completed, to a significantly modified design as an anti-aircraft cruiser. The trials began on 17 August 1954 and she was commissioned on 10 September 1956.

Nuclear testing Flagship

She was used as an anti-aircraft cruiser within the Atlantic squadron, until she joined the Pacific Experimentation Centre to participate in the first nuclear tests in French Polynesia. She undertook some modification in 1965, with the bridge being doubled, a quadripod mast mounted on the aft roof and half the armament removed. The ship was also made gas tight and fited with washdown facilities. The equipment was modernised and the crew was downsized to 560 men, as to make accommodations available for 160 engineers and technicians.

The ship was used for six testing campaigns between 1966 and 1972. She decommissioned in 1973 and was scrapped on 25 January 1974.

References

John Jordan and Bruno Guire, "The Cruiser de Grasse" in "Warship 2008" , Conway's Maritime Press.

External links

* [http://www.netmarine.net/bat/croiseur/degrasse/index.htm NetMarine.net]