- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting the last class of French submarine chasers developed during the interwar period: the Chasseur 41 class. To begin, let me introduce the lead ship of the class, the CH.41 Audierne (Q041).
Following the development of the Chasseur 5 class, the French Naval Staff sought to develop a further variant of the design. This time, the main objective was to simplify construction by replacing the metal hull with a wooden one. The resulting vessels were designated the Chasseur 41 class. The new class was ordered in 1938, but the worsening international situation meant that only the first three vessels could be completed before the outbreak of the Second World War. Construction of the lead ship began in Normandy in 1938, and the vessel entered service in 1940 as CH.41, also known as Audierne.
Shortly after entering service, Audierne was thrown directly into the fighting. During the Battle of France, she took part in the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, helping to rescue British soldiers trapped by the rapid German advance.
Following the evacuation, the vessel remained in England alongside the other completed ships of the class. When France capitulated in June 1940, the British took control of the French vessels stationed in Britain. Audierne was subsequently transferred to the Free French Naval Forces, allowing her to continue fighting alongside the Allies under the French flag. Throughout the remainder of the war, Audierne carried out a variety of escort and patrol missions.
Among the most notable operations in which she participated was the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. During the operation, Audierne served as part of the naval forces supporting the Allied assault, providing anti-submarine protection for the ships involved.
Two years later, she took part in an even larger amphibious operation: the Normandy landings in June 1944. Once again serving as an anti-submarine escort, Audierne helped protect the vast Allied fleet assembled off the Normandy coast from enemy submarine attacks.
Unlike many French vessels that were lost during the war, Audierne survived the conflict. She returned to France after the liberation and continued serving with the French Navy during the post-war period. The ship remained in French service for several more years before finally being decommissioned in 1952.
Characteristics
Length : 37.10 m
Width : 5.34 m
Draught : 1.95 m
Mass : 110 tons
The vessel is powered by two MAN diesel engines with a total output of 1,130 hp. This allows it to reach a top speed of 15.5 knots and cover a range of 680 nautical miles at an average speed of 13.5 knots.
The crew consists of 30 sailors.
Weapons
The ship’s armament is quite interesting, featuring a main battery capable of engaging similarly sized vessels and a secondary battery designed to effectively defend against aerial and submarine threats.
Initial configuration:
Guns:
- 1 x 75mm Mle 1897 gun
- 2 x twin 8mm Hotchkiss machine guns
Other:
- 2 x anti-submarine mortars
- 6 x anti-submarine depth charges
Post-refit configuration:
Guns:
- 1 x 75mm Mle 1897 gun
- 1 x 40mm gun
- 2 x 20mm guns
Other:
- 2 x stern depth charge launchers (16 depth charges total)
In-game, this vessel would be an interesting addition to the French tree, offering armament that is light yet effective, allowing it to engage all types of targets, and thus serving as a valuable complement to the coastal tree.
