French cruiser Pluton

The "Pluton" was a specialist minelaying cruiser built for the French Navy in the early 1930s.

Design

The Marine Nationale decided to build a fast minelayer after the British HMS "Adventure" made its debut in the early 1920s. This ship was similar in many respects being armed with four single mid-caliber guns but was smaller and faster. She could also be used as a fast transport for up to 1000 troops. The ship had unitised machinery with geared steam turbines and could carry 250 mines. There was no armour protection.

ervice

She entered service with the French Mediterranean fleet based in Toulon in 1932. The "Pluton" experienced many teething problems, particularly with the machinery. It was then decided to give her an extra role as a gunnery training ship which involved installing extra rangefinders and other fire control equipment, as well as two 75mm AA guns. The machinery was refurbished in the late 1930s, and it was planned to convert her into a full-time training ship as consort to the cuiser "Jeanne d'Arc".

As war approached it was decided to retain her as a minelayer, and most of the extra fire control equipment was removed. The ship was then based at Brest on the Atlantic coast. In September 1939 she was ordered to lay a defensive minefield outside Casablanca, Morocco. The order was, however, cancelled at the last minute, and the ship was ordered to disembark the mines. While landing the mines one of them exploded, destroying the ship and killing 186 people. A further 37 of the ship's crew and 47 shore-based personnel were injured, and significant damage was caused by flying debris.

References

* John Jordan, "The Minelaying Cruiser Pluton", in Warship 2004 Conway's Maritime Press