Quercy X20 auxiliary cruiser

Mathll · June 20, 2026, 2:46am

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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion

Today I present to you a new auxiliary cruiser that served France during the Second World War, the X20 Quercy

At the start of the Second World War, France had colonies and territories all around the planet, making it one of the greatest world powers. However, the number and diversity of these territories make them a significant weakness in the event of a conflict, requiring a significant number of ships to defend them all. It is for this reason that in 1939, just as was done during the First World War, the French government launched a mobilization of all possible means to defend the interests of the country. This requisition obliges shipowners to provide ships which will be armed and equipped in order to be able to serve as auxiliary combat ships. The Quercy is one of these ships.

Initially ordered by a Norwegian shipowner, the Quercy is a so-called banana ship launched in 1938 and immediately purchased by the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. In 1939 she was requisitioned as an auxiliary cruiser X20 and was sent to the Penhoët shipyard to be armed and modified into a combat ship. In approximately 1 month the work will be completed and the ship will put to sea, it is then responsible for accompanying the 4th submarine division which escorts merchant convoys going from the United States to the United Kingdom. The ship therefore traveled the waters of the Atlantic for almost a year, going from Canada to the Antilles via the coasts of West Africa.

However, due to the surrender of the French government the following year, orders were given for the auxiliary ships to be decommissioned. Located then at Fort de France, the Quercy laid down its arms and the ship was returned to its original owner. But this is not the end of the story of this ship, in fact, in 1941 it was repaired as an armed transport to supply the French colonial ports of Dakar and the island of Madagascar. For the next 2 years he will continue his transport missions, whether goods or personnel, without experiencing a real combat situation. However, he will be targeted by several torpedo shots which he will dodge each time.

At the end of the war, she remained under French control and was the first ship flying the flag of Free France to enter Toulon harbor. It still remained in service with the French forces for 2 years before being this time definitively returned to its owner. Sold to a shipowner in Liberia, she remained in service until 1965, the year when several successive accidents led to her demolition (grounding off the coast of Panama then fire during maintenance.

The ship is named in honor of Quercy, a natural French region located in the south of the Lot river’s source.

Characteristics

Length : 98.50 m

Width : 13.20 m

Draft : 5.20 m

Mass : 3100 tons

The ship is powered by a 3000 hp two-stroke engine, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 15.50 knots. Its crew consists of 190 sailors.

Weapons

The ship’s armament evolved several times throughout its history, and surprisingly, its most interesting configuration was the first, because following its initial decommissioning, the Quercy never regained a similar firepower.

1939 - 1940 :

7 x 138.6mm cannons
2 x 75mm cannons
2 x 37mm cannons
4 x 13.2 machine gun

1941 - 1943 :

3 x 138.6mm cannons
2 x 37mm cannons
4 x 13.2 machine gun

1943 - 1944 :

1 x 138.6mm cannons
2 x 37mm cannons
4 x 13.2 machine gun

1944 - 1946 :

1 x 138.6mm cannons
2 x 37mm cannons
4 x 20mm cannons

It should be noted that the ship was equipped with an American sea-to-sea radar during its final years of service with the armed forces in order to improve its capabilities.

In practice, this ship would be an interesting addition to the French high seas fleet, providing a relatively well-armed (in its first configuration) but rather slow ship, thus being able to be placed between the last destroyers and the first light cruisers.

Pictures

Sources

CharAznable3 · June 20, 2026, 2:51am

In her early years with 7 138.6mm cannons she can really slug it out.