Le Hardi class destroyer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Le Hardi' class Destroyer | |
|---|---|
 Le Hardi class destroyer |
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| Class Overview | |
| Type: | Destroyer |
| Name: | Le Hardi |
| Number of ships: | 8 |
| Succeeded by: | T 47 class destroyer |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 1772 tons |
| Length: | 117m |
| Propulsion: | Geared turbines giving 58000 SHP |
| Speed: | 37 knots |
| Complement: | 187 officers and men |
| Armament: | 6x1 5.1in (130mm) guns
2x1 37mm AA guns 7x1 0.5in AA guns 6 21in torpedo tubes |
The Hardi class was a group of eight French navy destroyers (contre-torpilleur) laid down in 1936 to 1938 and commissioned in 1940. They were the lighter counterparts to the very fast larger destroyers of the Mogador class, and the successors of L'Adroit class.
The ships of the Hardi class were significantly heavier than the L'Adroits, carrying two additional 130mm guns and an extra torpedo tube. They were also 4kts faster.
Some of the eight ships of the class were renamed in 1941, taking the names of destroyers previously sunk during the war.
The ships of the class were:
- Le Hardi
- Mameluk
- Flibustier
- Casque
- Épée (later renamed to L'Adroit)
- Fleuret (later, Le Foudroyant)
- Lansequenet
- Corsaire (later renamed to Sirocco).
The entire class was scuttled in Toulon harbour in November 1942 to prevent them falling into German hands.
Three ships - Épée/l'Adroit, Fleuret/Le Foudroyant and Lansequenet, were raised, repaired and commissioned into the Italian navy during 1943 as FR33, FR36 and FR35 respectively. When Italy switched sides, all three were captured by the Germans. Épée was captured in turn by the Allies and the other two scuttled once more to prevent capture.
