T 47 class destroyer

The T 47 class were the first destroyers built for the French Navy after the Second World War. Twelve ships were built between 1955 and 1957. The ships were modernised in the 1960s and decommissioned in the 1980s when they were replaced by "Georges Leygues" class frigates

These ships were larger than other contemporary European destroyers and were based on the wartime "Le Hardi" class destroyers but were enlarged and had a dual purpose armament. The ships were designed as fleet escorts rather than for independent operations therefore had a slower speed than their predecessors. The main guns were a French design firing a 127mm (5 inch) shell, which enabled them to use US ammunition.

General characteristics

Original design

*Displacement: 2750 tons standard, 3740 tons full load
*Length: 128.6 m
*Beam: 12.7 m
*Draught: 5.4 m
*Machinery: 2 shaft geared turbines, 4 boilers, 63,000 hp
*Speed: 34 knots
*Range: 5000 nmi at 18 knots
*Armament:
** 6 - 127mm guns (3 twin turrets)
** 6 - 57mm guns (3 twin turrets)
** 4 - 20mm guns (4x1)
** 12 - 550mm torpedo tubes (4x3)
*Crew: 347

AAW Modernisation

Four ships were modernised as anti air warfare guided missile destroyers in 1962-1995
*Armament: 1 Tartar Missile launcher
**6 - 57 mm guns (3 twin turrets)
**1 anti-submarine mortar
*Crew 277

Anti Submarine Modernisation

Five ships were modernised as anti submarine destroyers in 1968-1970
*Armament
**2 - 100mm guns
**1 - anti submarine mortar
**1 - Malafon Anti submarine missile launcher
**2 - 20mm guns

hips

References

* Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995