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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new ship that served with French forces after the Second World War: the Marcel Le Bihan (A759).
Originally commissioned by the German Navy in 1937 under the name Greif, the vessel was designed as a seaplane tender. It served throughout the Second World War, supporting German naval aviation and operating as part of the Kriegsmarine’s seaplane support fleet. Following Germany’s defeat in 1945, the ship was acquired by the French Navy, which was in the process of rebuilding its fleet and incorporating a wide variety of captured and transferred vessels.
Like several other former German ships taken into French service, the Greif was given a new role within the French Navy. It was converted into an Aviso Colonial, or Colonial Sloop, and subsequently deployed to Indochina to support French forces during the First Indochina War. It was during this period that the vessel received the name Marcel Le Bihan, in honor of a French naval aviator who was killed while defending his air base during the German invasion of France in 1940.
The ship spent several years operating in Indochina, supporting French forces and carrying out the various transport and logistical missions required by the conflict. Following the end of the war, it returned to France, where its career took a completely different direction.
After undergoing a major refit, the former colonial aviso was converted into a support and deployment vessel for French bathyscaphes. This new role required the ship to carry, deploy, recover, and provide logistical support for these deep-sea research vehicles, making it an important platform for French oceanographic exploration.
The Marcel Le Bihan notably played a major role in the operations of the bathyscaphe Archimède, one of the most advanced deep-diving vehicles of its time. The ship supported the bathyscaphe during its deep-sea missions, including its record-breaking dive to approximately 9,000 meters.
In 1978, the ship was renamed Gustave Zédé, taking the name of another famous French vessel associated with submarine development and naval experimentation. It was subsequently converted into a dedicated experimental vessel, continuing its career in support of French research and naval testing.
The Gustave Zédé eventually remained in service until 1986, when it was finally decommissioned and retired.
Characteristics
Length : 72.00 m
Width : 10.60 m
Draft : 3.20 m
Mass : 800 tons
The vessel is powered by a set of diesel engines with a total output of 2,800 hp, enabling it to reach a top speed of 23.50 knots, a respectable speed for a ship of this size. Its crew consists of 89 sailors.
Weapons
The ship’s armament is quite interesting, comprising an assortment of medium- and light-caliber guns that allow it to defend against various types of threats, provided they are not heavily armored.
- 1 x 150mm gun (forward turret)
- 2 x 40mm guns (mounts on either side of the bridge)
- 2 x 20mm guns ( mounts along the sides)
In-game, this ship would be an interesting addition to the French tree, offering a vessel capable of engaging lightly armored targets and defending against enemy aircraft, while possessing a high top speed that allows it to escape even the most critical situations.
Pictures
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