French destroyer Le Terrible
Encyclopedia
The Terrible was a large destroyer
of the French Navy
in service during World War II
.
On 25 October 1939, along with her sister-ship Fantasque
, she captured the German cargo ship Santa Fe.
She took part in the battle of Mers-el-Kebir
on 3 July 1940, exiting the harbour and engaging the British fleet. She attempted to torpedo large British units, but was recalled to escort the Strasbourg
back to Toulon.
Terrible took part in the Battle of Dakar
in September 1940.
Shortly after Operation Torch
, French West Africa
and its fleet, including Terrible, turned to the Allies
. In March 1943, she entered a major refit and modernisation in Boston
, where she was fitted with two radar
s, a new ASDIC, new anti-air gunnery and other improvements. She was then reclassified "light cruiser
" to match Allied standards, and was sent to the Mediterranean theater of war.
She took part in Allied invasion of Italy
, bombarding shore targets and repelling German planes. On 13 December 1943, she landed 250 men in Ajaccio
.
In 1944, she formed the 10th Light Cruiser Division, along with her sister-ships Fantasque and Malin, attacking Axis convoys in swift night actions. In August, she took part in Operation Dragoon
, the Allied invasion of south France.
In December, she was heavily damaged in a collision with the Malin, which left her under repair until 1945.
After the war, Terrible was put in the reserve, and reclassified as "swift escort" to match NATO standards, with pennant number
D611. She served as an escort to the French carriers La Fayette
(R96), Bois Belleau (R97) and Arromanches (R 95).
From 1956, she was used as a training ship in Brest, and she was eventually scrapped in June 1962.
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
of the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
in service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
Terrible was launched in 1933 and displaced 2,570 tonnes with 74,000 HP. She became the fastest destroyer ever when she reached 45.1 knots during trials in 1935.On 25 October 1939, along with her sister-ship Fantasque
Le Fantasque (1935)
The Fantasque was a large destroyer of the French Navy which served during the Second World War...
, she captured the German cargo ship Santa Fe.
She took part in the battle of Mers-el-Kebir
Destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir
The Attack on Mers-el-Kébir, part of Operation Catapult and also known as the Battle of Mers-el-Kébir, was a naval engagement fought at Mers-el-Kébir on the coast of what was then French Algeria on 3 July 1940...
on 3 July 1940, exiting the harbour and engaging the British fleet. She attempted to torpedo large British units, but was recalled to escort the Strasbourg
French battleship Strasbourg
The Strasbourg was a more heavily armoured Dunkerque-class battleship of the French Navy, labeled as a "fast battleship". Faster than full battleships, but not as heavily armed or armoured as them, they were designed to counter the threat of the German "pocket battleships" - the Deutschland-class...
back to Toulon.
Terrible took part in the Battle of Dakar
Battle of Dakar
The Battle of Dakar, also known as Operation Menace, was an unsuccessful attempt in September 1940 by the Allies to capture the strategic port of Dakar in French West Africa , which was under Vichy French control, and to install the Free French under General Charles de Gaulle there.-Background:At...
in September 1940.
Shortly after Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
, French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
and its fleet, including Terrible, turned to the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
. In March 1943, she entered a major refit and modernisation in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, where she was fitted with two radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
s, a new ASDIC, new anti-air gunnery and other improvements. She was then reclassified "light cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
" to match Allied standards, and was sent to the Mediterranean theater of war.
She took part in Allied invasion of Italy
Allied invasion of Italy
The Allied invasion of Italy was the Allied landing on mainland Italy on September 3, 1943, by General Harold Alexander's 15th Army Group during the Second World War. The operation followed the successful invasion of Sicily during the Italian Campaign...
, bombarding shore targets and repelling German planes. On 13 December 1943, she landed 250 men in Ajaccio
Ajaccio
Ajaccio , is a commune on the island of Corsica in France. It is the capital and largest city of the region of Corsica and the prefecture of the department of Corse-du-Sud....
.
In 1944, she formed the 10th Light Cruiser Division, along with her sister-ships Fantasque and Malin, attacking Axis convoys in swift night actions. In August, she took part in Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
, the Allied invasion of south France.
In December, she was heavily damaged in a collision with the Malin, which left her under repair until 1945.
After the war, Terrible was put in the reserve, and reclassified as "swift escort" to match NATO standards, with pennant number
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
D611. She served as an escort to the French carriers La Fayette
La Fayette (R96)
The La Fayette was an 11,000-ton that served French Navy as the from 1951 to 1963. She was the first French vessel named after the 18th century general Marquis de Lafayette...
(R96), Bois Belleau (R97) and Arromanches (R 95).
From 1956, she was used as a training ship in Brest, and she was eventually scrapped in June 1962.