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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today we’re taking a look at a unique vessel of the French Navy, the Gladiateur.
The Gladiateur is a net-laying vessel of the French Navy, laid down in the early 1930s and entered service in 1935. Designed at a time when protection against underwater threats was becoming a major issue, it belonged to a type of specialized vessel intended to deploy anti-submarine nets and defensive barriers in ports and strategic areas. With a displacement of approximately 1,800 tons, a modest speed of just under twenty knots, and light armament (90 mm cannons and machine guns), the Gladiateur was not designed for offensive naval combat, but for passive defense missions essential to maritime security. Its name, evocative of strength and courage, was in keeping with the French Navy’s tradition of endowing its vessels with symbolic names.
Originally based in Toulon, the Gladiator was sent to Asia during the defeat of 1940. Returning to Toulon in 1942, the ship was scuttled by its crew upon the arrival of German forces. Captain Le Roch led his men and some of the crews of nearby ships in this maneuver. The Germans ordered the ship to be refloated, which was carried out by an Italian company. The ship sank a second time in 1944 during bombing raids by the Allied forces, it was subsequently refloated in 1947 to be broken up.
Characteristics
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Length : 113 m
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Width : 12.7 m
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Draft : 3.50 m
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Mass : 2293 tons
The ship is powered by Parsons steam turbines coupled with Indret boilers, giving the ship 6,000 hp, which allows the Gladiator to reach a top speed of 18 knots. The crew consists of 132 sailors.
Weapons
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Guns :
- 2 x 2 90mm Mle 1926 canons
- 2 x 2 13.2mm Hotchkiss machine gun (according to some sources but unsure)
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Other :
- 8 net
In game this ship would bring a large but weakly armed combat ship that could bring a new style of gameplay to the French low-br tree. This would therefore make it an interesting addition.
Pictures
