- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
I wanted to suggest something a little different from aircraft today, so here is a ship for a change of pace: the Paul Goffeny (F754, later A754).
Originally operated by the German Navy during the Second World War under the name Max Stinsky, the vessel was captured by French forces following Germany’s defeat. Originally designed as a seaplane tender and patrol vessel, it was subsequently transferred to French service and renamed Paul Goffeny, in honor of one of the free French pilots who died late in the war.
Under the French flag, the ship was given a role somewhat different from that for which it had originally been designed. Its large aft working deck provided considerable space for equipment and cargo, making it particularly useful as a transport vessel. It was consequently redesignated as an Aviso Colonial, or Colonial Sloop, and sent to Indochina to support French forces during the First Indochina War.
However, the Paul Goffeny was not particularly well suited to the tropical environment in which it was now expected to operate. The ship had originally been designed by the Germans for operations in the cold waters of the North Sea and Baltic, and its internal systems were not adapted to the extreme temperatures of Southeast Asia. In particular, the lack of an adequate ventilation system made life on board extremely difficult for the crew during deployments in the intense heat of Indochina.
In 1951, the ship suffered a serious accident when its forward 105 mm gun turret exploded. The explosion caused significant damage to the vessel and forced it to undergo several months of repairs before it could return to service. Following its return to operations, the Paul Goffeny continued to serve with the French Navy and was deployed to various French overseas territories, carrying out transport, patrol, and support missions.
As the French Navy modernized during the post-war period, the ship gradually became less useful in its original military role. It was withdrawn from combat service in the early 1960s and subsequently converted into an oceanographic research vessel, giving it a completely new role after more than a decade of military service.
The Paul Goffeny was eventually placed in reserve and remained there until 1968, when it was finally scrapped.
Characteristics
Length : 78.00 m
Width : 11.00 m
Draft : 3.60 m
Mass : 1 380 tons
The ship is powered by four coupled MAN diesel engines, delivering a maximum output of 4,800 hp. This enables it to reach a top speed of 20.5 knots.
The crew consists of 66 personnel.
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)
- 8 x 20mm guns (twin mounts at the stern and along the sides)
In-game, this ship would be an interesting addition—either as a reserve vessel for the bluewater fleet or as a high-BR ship for the coastal fleet—thereby effectively rounding out the French tech tree.
