The Guépard-class destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) were six ships of the French Navy, laid down in 1927 and commissioned in 1930. They were similar to the previous Chacal class, with a larger hull and with a slightly improved speed and gun armament with 138 mm guns of a new design. The first three ships bore 'animal' names like the Chacals, while the remaining three were given names starting with V, for two battles and a field-marshal. The class saw action in World War II.
Guépard class destroyer | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Guépard class |
| Operators |
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| Preceded by | Chacal class |
| Succeeded by | Aigle class |
| Built | 1927–1931 |
| In commission | 1929–1945 |
| Completed | 6 |
| Lost | 6 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 130.2 m (427 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in) |
| Draft | 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines |
| Speed | 35.5 knots (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph) |
| Range | 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) |
| Crew | 12 officers, 224 crewmen (wartime) |
| Armament |
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French naval ship classes of World War II | |
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| Aircraft carriers | |
| Battleships |
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| Heavy cruisers |
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| Light cruisers |
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| Large destroyers | |
| Torpedo boats |
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| Escorteurs |
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| Submarines |
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| Avisos |
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| Other |
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