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The Pluton is a minelaying cruiser built for the French Navy in the late 1920s. Laid down at the Lorient shipyards in 1928, launched on April 10, 1929, and commissioned in 1931, it was specially designed for the rapid laying of offensive minefields on the high seas. Its compact architecture and high speed (nearly 30 knots) made it both mobile and versatile. In addition to its carrying capacity for more than 200 mines, it was armed with 138 mm guns and anti-aircraft guns, allowing it to defend itself against surface and air threats. The Pluton was a unique unit within the French fleet, as it represented the desire to experiment with specialized ships for mine warfare, at a time when this strategy was once again becoming an important issue.
The Pluton was assigned to the Atlantic Squadron upon entering service, then deployed to Toulon in the 1930s. Although it participated in several maneuvers and exercises, its operational use remained limited in peacetime. At the outbreak of the Second World War, it was sent to Casablanca in September 1939 to lay a minefield to protect the port. On September 13, 1939, as it was preparing to unload part of its stock of mines for security reasons, an accidental explosion occurred on board. The blast completely destroyed the ship, killing 186 sailors and causing heavy damage to the port. This tragedy remains one of the most significant accidents of the French Navy between the two wars. The Pluton therefore never had the opportunity to be used in its operational role, and its tragic fate has left a lasting mark on French naval memory.
Characteristics
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Length : 152.5 m
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Width : 15.55 m
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Draft : 5.20 m
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Mass : 5321 tons
The ship is powered by two 57,000 hp oil-fired steam turbines, enabling it to reach a top speed of 30 knots and travel up to 4,510 nautical miles at a speed of 14 knots.
The ship has no armor except that in its main turrets.
The crew consists of 424 sailors.
Equipment
Before 1933 :
- 2 x Rangefinder
After 1933 :
- 8 x OPL Rangefinder
- 4 x Zeiss Rangefinder
- 3 x Barr & Cloud Rangefinder
Weapons
Before 1933 :
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Guns :
- 4 x 138.6 mm Mle 1923 canons
- 10 x 37 mm CA Mle 1925 canons
- 6 x 2 8 mm Hotchkiss machine gun
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Other :
- 250 Bréguet B4mines
After 1933 :
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Guns :
- 4 x 138.6 mm Mle 1923 canons
- 4 x 75 mm Mle 1922 canons
- 2 x 37 mm CA Mle 1925 canons
- 1 x 37 mm Mle 1915 canons (for disembarkation)
- 6 x 2 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun
- 3 x 8 mm Hotchkiss machine gun
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Other :
- 250 Bréguet B4 mines
In game this ship would be an interesting addition to the French tree, bringing an imposing minelaying ship capable of defending itself against larger opponents, its armament being already in game it would be easy to balance and the Pluton would complete the French tree in a very interesting way by bringing unique gameplay
