Bourrasque class destroyer

The Bourrasque class was a group of twelve French navy destroyers ("contre-torpilleur") laid down in 1923 and commissioned from 1926 to 1936. Along with the heavier "Chacal" class, they were part of a plan to modernise the French fleet after World War I. The "Bourrasques" were smaller and slower than the "Chacals", but were nonetheless comparable with the British 'W' class. The class saw varied service in the Second World War, in five different navies, on both sides. Thes ships were named after types of wind.

hips

*"Bourrasque" (Snow storm - 12, 24, 24, 41, T41) - built by At & Ch de France, Dunkirk, completed 23 September 1926 - Lost 30 May 1940
*"Cyclone" (51, 52, 56, 61, T61) - built by f & Ch de la Mediterranee, Le Havre, completed 1 June 1928 - damaged by E-boat "S-24" 30 May 1940, scuttled at Brest 18 June 1940
*"Mistral" (Mistral - 52, 53, 62, 63, T63, H03)- built by f & Ch de la Méditerranée, Le Havre, completed 1 June 1927 - decommissioned 17 February 1950
*"Orage" (Storm - 13, 16, 12, 22, 43, T43) - built by Ch Nav Francais, Caen, completed 1 December 1926 - Lost 23 May 1940
*"Ouragan" (Hurricane - 12, 15, 13, 23, 42, T42, H16) - built by Ch Nav Français, Caen, completed 19 January 1927 - decommissioned 1949
*"Simoun" (Simoom - 13, 12, 54, 58, 6, 3, T33, T52, T61, T62)- built by At & Ch de St Nazaire Panhoet, completed 29 April 1926 - decommissioned 17 February 1950
*"Sirocco" (Sirocco - 53, 57, 52, 63, 62, T62)- built by At & Ch de St Nazaire Panhoet, completed 1 July 1927 - lost 31 May 1940
*"Tempête" (Tempest - 11, 13, 31, 58, 7, 3, T13, T62, T61) - built by Anciens Ch Dubigeon, completed 28 September 1926 - decommissioned 1950
*"Tornade" (Tornado - 31, 33, 73, 76, T73) - built by Ch Dyle & Bacalan (Bordeaux) completed 10 May 1928 -sunk 8 November 1942
*"Tramontane" (34, 31, 83, 75, T71) - built by F & Ch Girodins Bordeaux , completed 15 October 1927 - lost 8 November 1942
*"Trombe" (Waterspout - 32, 82, T82, T64) - built by F & Ch Girodins Bordeaux , completed 27 October 1927- decommissioned 17 February 1950
*"Typhon" (Typhoon - 33, 72, T72) - built by F & Ch Girodins Bordeaux , completed 27 June 1928 - scuttled 9 November 1942

Four ships of the class - "Bourrasque", "Cyclone", "Orage" and "Sirocco" - were lost in 1940; "Orage" on 23 May, sunk by German bombers; "Bourasque" by German mines and artillery fire on 30 May while evacuating troops from Dunkirk; "Sirocco" on 31 May, to German torpedo boats while engaged in the same operation; and "Cyclone", having been badly damaged on 30 May by torpedo boats was scuttled at Brest on 18 June to prevent her capture.

"Mistral" and "Ouragan" were captured by the British in Plymouth harbour on 3 July 1940 during Operation Catapult. Both were eventually transferred to the Free French. Somewhat circuitously, "Ouragan" was first transferred to the Free Polish navy. Both survived the war.

"Tornade" and "Tramontaine" were lost in the same engagement off Oran on 8 November 1942, against allied units protecting Operation Torch. "Typhon" was scuttled in Oran harbour to stop her being acquired by the Allies.

"Simoun" and "Tempête", based at Casablanca, joined the Allies in November 1942. They may have joined the battleship "Jean Bart" in engaging the Allied 'Covering Group', a taskforce based on the battleship "Massachusetts".

"Trombe" was the only ship of the class to be scuttled at Toulon in November 1942 alongside much of the French navy. She was later raised, commissioned into the Italian navy as FR31, and then re-transferred to the Free French on 28 October 1943.

References

*M.H Whitley, Destroyers of World War 2, 1988 Cassell Publishing ISBN 1-85409-521-8
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=285&navy=FR "Bourrasque" class on uboat.net]
* [http://bpcmistral.fr/index.php/2007/03/17/15-mistral-un-nom-une-histoire "Mistral" : Un nom, une histoire]