- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
After taking a break of several months from French naval subjects, I am finally back at it. To get things started, here is a new cruiser from the French auxiliary fleet: the Colombie, also designated X10.
In the late 1930s, the French Navy was a major naval power, but it lacked sufficient vessels capable of carrying out large-scale troop and personnel transport. With another major war looming over Europe, numerous civilian ships, particularly ocean liners, were requisitioned and adapted for military use. Many of them were converted into troop transports, forming part of what became known as the French auxiliary fleet, which included the X-class cruisers.
The Colombie was originally an ocean liner launched in the early 1930s and operated by the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. The ship was primarily used on routes between mainland France and the French Caribbean, providing a regular service between France and its overseas territories. She was a modern and comfortable liner for her time, capable of carrying nearly 500 passengers.
In 1939, with war approaching, the Colombie was requisitioned by the French Navy and placed in dry dock for several weeks to undergo a series of military modifications. The most significant changes involved the installation of armament, transforming the civilian liner into an auxiliary warship. After completing her conversion, the ship visited several French ports, including Oran and Algiers, before joining the fleet during the deployment of French forces to Norway. During this operation, the Colombie transported nearly a thousand troops to Scandinavia.
Following her return to France, the Colombie eventually docked at Marseille, where she remained for some time. It was there that the ship experienced her first combat action. During a German bombing raid against the port, the Colombie was one of the few vessels in the harbor equipped with anti-aircraft artillery. Her guns were consequently used to defend the surrounding ships and port facilities against the attacking aircraft.
As the situation in France deteriorated, the Colombie was subsequently evacuated to Oran, near Mers El Kébir. Unfortunately for her crew, the ship arrived just in time to become a witness to one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of the French fleet: the British attack on the French squadron at Mers El Kébir.
Following these events, the X10 was eventually decommissioned and withdrawn from French naval service. Her story, however, was far from over. During the following years, the ship came under Allied control, and the Americans converted her into a hospital ship. In this new role, the former auxiliary cruiser served until the end of the war.
After the conflict, the ship was returned to the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique and resumed civilian service, once again operating routes between mainland France and the French Caribbean islands. She continued in this role for many years before being sold to a Greek shipping company in 1964.
Characteristics
Length : 147.73 m
Width : 20.31 m
Draught : 7.00 m
Mass : 13,390 tons
The ship is powered by two steam engines delivering a total output of 8,800 hp, enabling it to reach a maximum speed of 16 knots. The crew consists of just under 200 people.
Weapons
The ship’s armament is very similar to that found on other auxiliary cruisers. It therefore includes guns from several countries, some of which are nearly twenty years old.
- 7 x 152mm guns
- 2 x 75mm anti-aircraft guns
- 2 x 37mm anti-aircraft guns
- 4 x 13.2mm Hotchkiss machine guns
In the game, this ship would be a very interesting addition to the French tech tree, introducing a large, unarmored vessel with significant firepower, thereby complementing the high-seas fleet in a very compelling way.
