Light Cruisers: De Grasse Class

[designeraccd]

The claa (former CL) became a one off after she was redesigned post WW2. She had been laid down as a light cruiser with 9-6" prewar. Post war the need was for anti-aircraft fire power. Therefore, like a small JEAN BART, she became a pin cushion of 5" and 57mm radar controlled AA. In the 50s she was a impressive flak ship, but as guided missiles came to the fore her reason for being diminished.

She was modified into a command ship. I saw her at Long Beach in that form; unfortunately the pics I have of her there were film and the negatives are long gone. However, here is 1 pic of her as a command ship for S. Pacific French nuke tests.

My little model of her must be picked up VERY carefully or the fingers get pricked!! DFO

Specs.....
Type: Cruiser
Displacement: 9,389 t (9,241 long tons) standard, 12,350 t (12,155 long tons) full load
Length: 188.3 m (617 ft 9 in)
Beam: 21.5 m (70 ft 6 in)
18.6 m (61 ft 0 in) w/l

Draft: 5.54 m (18 ft 2 in)
Propulsion: 2 × Rateau turbine groups from Chantiers de Bretagne, 52,500 hp (39,149 kW) each
4 × boilers

Speed: 33.8 knots (38.9 mph; 62.6 km/h)
Complement: 70 officers
160 warrant officers
750 men

Armament: 8 × twin turrets 127 mm AA
10 × twin turrets 57 mm Bofors (later removed)

Armour: Belt: 100 mm (3.9 in)
Deck: 38 mm (1.5 in)
Bulkheads: 20–60 mm (0.79–2.36 in)
Torpedo bulkhead: 20 mm (0.79 in)

[Brian James]

De Grasse Class AA Cruiser Colbert pictured at Toulon c1960.

[designeraccd]

Here are side views of the original 1939 design, and the revised 1945 version. Of course, she was finally completed as a CLAA!

Also, a rare view of the hull in 1948... DFO

[Brian James]

De Grasse Class Light AA Cruiser Colbert pictured off Brest on June 6th 1962.

[designeraccd]

Another nice shot of DE GRASSE carving her way thru the sea........... DFO

[designeraccd]

The DE GRASSE, of course, was a one off ship class.........a veritable floating "pincushion"!! DFO

[designeraccd]

DE GRASSE in 3 different years......... DFO