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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new class of ships that served with French forces during the Second World War: the Chasseur 5 class. To start things off, let me introduce the first vessel of the class, CH.5, also known as Carentan.
In the late 1930s, the French Navy began developing a new series of small vessels dedicated to anti-submarine warfare. Weighing around 100 tons, these ships were intended primarily for coastal patrols, with the mission of detecting and engaging submarines operating close to the French coastline.
The new design followed the earlier Chasseur 1 class, which consisted of four vessels. The successor was designated the Chasseur 5 class, or CH.5 class, and was intended to provide the French Navy with a larger number of small and relatively inexpensive anti-submarine vessels.
The first vessel of the series was designated CH.5. Although Carentan was not her official name, the ship was commonly referred to by this name. She was laid down near Le Havre in 1938 and eventually entered service with the French Navy in 1940, just as France was facing the German invasion.
One of her first major wartime missions came during the Battle of France. As Allied forces became trapped in northern France, CH.5 took part in the evacuation of British troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. Like many small French naval vessels, she was called upon to contribute to the desperate effort to evacuate as many Allied soldiers as possible before the German advance cut off their escape. Following the evacuation, the ship returned to France. Unfortunately, relatively little information is available regarding her activities during the following years. By 1943, however, CH.5 had made her way to Britain, where she was taken over by the Free French Naval Forces and operated by a French crew.
Late that same year, Carentan was assigned to escort a British submarine between two British ports. The mission was routine, but the voyage quickly turned into a disaster when the ship encountered a violent storm off the English coast.
The small CH.5 was simply not designed to withstand such extreme conditions. Despite the crew’s efforts to keep the vessel under control, the heavy seas eventually proved too much for her. Carentan capsized and sank, taking most of her crew with her. Of the 30 sailors on board, 24 lost their lives in the sinking. The loss of CH-5 therefore brought the career of the first Chasseur 5 to a tragic end, after only a few years of service.
Although her operational career was relatively short, Carentan represents an interesting example of the many small French naval vessels that continued to serve throughout the Second World War, from the desperate evacuation of Dunkirk to service alongside the Free French forces in Britain.
Characteristics
Length : 37.10 m
Width : 5.60 m
Draught : 1.95 m
Mass : 107 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 90mm Mle 1926 gun
- 1 x twin 37mm Mle 1941 gun
- 2 x 7.5mm Darne machine guns
Other:
- 2 x stern depth charge launchers (16 depth charges total)
In-game, this vessel would be a very interesting addition; it is a light combat ship that nonetheless boasts impressive firepower, thereby rounding out the French coastal fleet tree.
Pictures
Sources
- Mémorial national des marins morts pour la France - CH-5 - Carentan
- JMM - 6/6 - CEREMONIE A LA MEMOIRE DES MARINS DU CH5 CARENTAN - Le blog de l’association Aux Marins
- * CARENTAN (1940/1943)
- Deux pièces du navire Carentan au Normandy Victory Museum
- CH5 submarine chasers (1939 - 1940)
- La Flotte des Forces Navales Françaises Libres - Page 3