| Career (France) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Indomptable |
| Launched: | 8 December 193 |
| Commissioned: | 8 June 1936 |
| Reclassified: | Training ship (April 1941) |
| Fate: | Scuttled in November 27, 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Fantasque-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 2,570 tonnes |
| Length: | 132.40 m |
| Beam: | 11.98 m |
| Draught: | 4.30 m |
| Propulsion: | 4 Penhoët boilers 2 Parsons or Rateau engines 74,000 to 81,000 hp 2 propellers |
| Speed: | 40 |
| Range: | 1,200 km at 34 knots |
| Armament: | 5 x 138 mm (5.4-inch) guns |
Indomptable was the name of a French large destroyer (contre-torpilleur) that served in World War 2.
After being launched in December 7, 1933, Indomptable entered in service in the spring of 1936.
After shortly served with Mediterranean fleet based at Casablanca, Indomptable was transferred to Indochina in September 1936. Based at Saigon from October 13, Indomptable realized several combat demonstrations at Tianjin to Chinese forces, who was in war with Japan. When WW2 started, Indomptable still was at Indochina, but returned to Europe in December 1939.
In April 11, 1940, Indomptable was at Trondheim with orders of attack Kriegsmarine convoys, and in April 28, she hit a mine and was beached for avoid her destruction. Finally, Indomptable returned to Brest in May 5 and was in that port when France surrendered. After the armistice, Indomptable escaped to Casablanca and her mission consisted in neutralize naval activity of Free France in the South Atlantic, however in February 1941 she was attacked by aircraft of HMS Hermes and returned to Toulon for repairs. After the repairs, Indomptable operated at the North Atlantic attacking Russian convoys with destiny to Murmansk; in several times, Indomptable attempted attack convoys with torpedoes, but failed, and in mid-August she hit several mines put by British aircraft and returned again to Toulon for repairs. After being repaired, Indomptable returned to the service, but this time at the Mediterranean, escorting Italian and German convoys. After of more patrol missions, Indomptable suffered a boiler accident near Crete in February 17, 1942, returning to Toulon in March 8. Still was under repair when Germany invaded Vichy France and was scuttled for avoid her capture; after the activation of demolition charges and opening of sea valves, Indomptable burned for several hours before the explosive charges ignited the torpedoes and subsequently caused to the ship blown up.
Refloated by the Italians in February 1943, was repaired and commissioned in the Regia Marina as FR23. Captured by allied forces in early September, was transferred to U.K and stranded at Portsmouth as gunnery school ship. Destination to Poland in January 1944, was commissioned at the Polish navy under the name of OF2 ('OF' was the abbreviation of 'Okręt Francuski', in Polish language, 'French Ship') and was based at Murmansk. In March 27, 1945, was torpedoed by a German submarine, and although not was sunk, the damage was too bad for repair and the ship was beached in the northwest of Murmansk. Decommissioned in April 22 and stricken off the Polish navy list to the next day, was donated to Soviet government in 1956 and subsequently was fade-out and her parts was used in the construction of aircraft and another ships.
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