- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new class of French interwar naval vessels: the Chasseur 1 class of anti-submarine ships. To begin, let me introduce the first vessel of the class, the CH.1.
Designed in the early 1930s, the Chasseur 1 class consisted of four small anti-submarine warfare vessels. Unlike many French warships, they were never given individual names and were simply designated CH.1, CH.2, CH.3, and CH.4. These light vessels were intended to replace a number of older anti-submarine ships acquired during or shortly after the First World War, which were beginning to show their age after more than a decade of service.
The first vessel of the class, CH.1, was built in 1932 at the shipyards of Nantes. She was completed the following year and sent to Lorient, where she underwent a series of trials and acceptance tests. Once these were successfully completed, the ship was officially commissioned and joined the French naval forces.
For the remainder of the 1930s, CH.1 carried out various patrol and coastal missions, forming part of the French Navy’s efforts to monitor and protect its maritime approaches. By the outbreak of the Second World War, she was still in active service and continued performing duties along the French coastline.
When the French armistice was signed in June 1940, CH.1 was stationed at Toulon, alongside a large part of the French fleet. She remained there during the following years, under the increasingly restrictive conditions imposed on the French Navy after the armistice.
In November 1942, Allied forces landed in North Africa, prompting Germany to occupy the remainder of metropolitan France. As German forces moved into the previously unoccupied zone, the French fleet at Toulon became increasingly threatened with capture.
In November 1942, the crews of numerous French ships decided to scuttle their vessels rather than allow them to fall into German hands. CH.1 was among them, and her crew deliberately sank the ship in the harbor. The CH.4, which was also stationed at Toulon, was scuttled at the same time.
Unlike CH.4, which was later refloated by the Germans, CH.1 remained at the bottom of the harbor. The vessel was never returned to service, bringing the career of the first Chasseur 1 to an end.
Characteristics
Length : 48.10 m
Width : 5.50 m
Draught : 1.90 m
Mass : 180 tons
The vessel is powered by two MAN engines delivering a total of 2,400 hp, allowing the CH.1 to reach a top speed of 20 knots.
The crew consists of 41 sailors.
Weapons
The ship’s armament, while modest, enables it to engage a wide variety of targets.
Guns:
- 1 x 75mm Mle 1897 gun
- 2 x 8mm Hotchkiss machine guns
Other:
- 1 stern depth charge rack
In-game, this vessel would be a welcome addition to the French tree, offering a combat ship with light yet potent armament capable of engaging targets of respectable,albeit limited size, making it an interesting addition to the coastal fleet.
