The French destroyer Basque was one of 14 L'Adroit-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1920s.

History
France
Name	Basque
Ordered	1 June 1926
Builder	Ateliers et Chantiers de Seine-Maritime Rouen
Laid down	18 September 1926
Launched	25 May 1929
Completed	5 March 1931
In service	24 October 1940
Stricken	10 December 1952
General characteristics
Class and type	L'Adroit-class destroyer
Displacement	1,380 t (1,360 long tons) (standard) 2,000 t (2,000 long tons) (full load)
Length	107.2 m (351 ft 8.5 in)
Beam	9.9 m (32 ft 5.8 in)
Draft	3.5 m (11 ft 5.8 in)
Installed power	31,000 PS (22,800 kW; 30,576 shp) 3 du Temple boilers
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Range	3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Crew	9 officers, 153 crewmen (wartime)
Armament	4 × single 130 mm (5.1 in) guns 2 × single 37 mm (1.5 in) anti-aircraft guns 2 × triple 550 mm (21.7 in) torpedo tubes 2 chutes and 2 throwers for 22 depth charges

Design and description

The L'Adroit class was a slightly enlarged and improved version of the preceding Bourrasque class. The ships had an overall length of 107.2 meters (351 ft 8 in), a beam of 9.9 meters (32 ft 6 in), and a draft of 3.5 meters (11 ft 6 in). The ships displaced 1,380 metric tons (1,360 long tons) at standard load and 2,000 metric tons (2,000 long tons) at deep load. They were powered by two geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by three du Temple boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 31,000 metric horsepower (22,800 kW; 30,576 shp), which would propel the ships at 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). The ships carried 386 metric tons (380 long tons) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[1]

The main armament of the L'Adroit-class ships consisted of four Canon de 130 mm Modèle 1924 guns in single mounts, one superfiring pair each fore and aft of the superstructure. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of a pair of Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925 guns. The ships carried two above-water triple sets of 550-millimeter (21.7 in) torpedo tubes. A pair of depth charge chutes were built into their stern; these housed a total of sixteen 200-kilogram (440 lb) depth charges. In addition two depth charge throwers were fitted for which six 100-kilogram (220 lb) depth charges were carried.[2]

Construction and career

Basque was laid down on 18 September 1926, launched on 25 May 1929 and completed on 5 March 1931.

Postwar, she underwent a major overhaul in the second half of 1945 before being attached to the École Navale. After participating in the 1948 summer cruiser, Basque was decommissioned, placed in special reserve on 1 January 1949, and struck on 10 December 1952.[3]

Notes

References

• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Jordan, John & Moulin, Jean (2015). French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d'Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs 1922–1956. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-198-4.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.