French destroyer Malin
Encyclopedia
The Malin was a large destroyer ("contre-torpilleur") of the French Navy which served during the Second World War.
At breakout of WW2, Malin was at North Atlantic, taking part in pursuit of Graf Spee in mid-october.
In may 29, 1940, Malin -with Bourrasque- took part in evacuation of allied troops at Dunkerque
and both ships hit mines: Malin survived and was repaired, but Bourrasque was sunk by a german submarine.
Malin was lightly damaged by british aircrafts on Mers-el-Kebir in july 3, and after being repaired, she took part in battle of Dakar
in september, but was sent to Casablanca
in mid october.
In november 1942, after Operation Torch
, Malin joined with the allies. In march 1943 she received a massive refit at Boston; received 2 radars, ASDIC and her 37 and 13.2 mm armament was replaced by guns of 40 and 20 mm. After the refit, Malin was reclassified as light cruiser for match allied standards and was sent to Mediterranean, operating in the landings of Salerno in september 9, 1943. From the nights of october 13 and 14, Malin landed more than 250 commandos at Ajaccio
.
In 1944 spring, with her sister ships Fantasque and Terrible, Malin formed the 10th Light Cruiser Division, attacking german convoys in night actions. In august, she took part in Operation Dragoon
, the allied invasion of southern France and in december she collided with Terrible and was under repair until 1945.
From 1946 to 1947, Malin served at Indochina
. Put in reserve from 1951, Malin was converted in a floating headquarter in 1953. Malin collided with a reef in the north of France in november 1963; was decommissioned in december, was struck of navy list in january 1964 and was sold for scrapping to the next month.
History
Malin was launched in august 1933 and commissioned in june 1936.At breakout of WW2, Malin was at North Atlantic, taking part in pursuit of Graf Spee in mid-october.
In may 29, 1940, Malin -with Bourrasque- took part in evacuation of allied troops at Dunkerque
Operation Dynamo
The Dunkirk evacuation, commonly known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and the early hours of 3 June 1940, because the British, French and Belgian troops were...
and both ships hit mines: Malin survived and was repaired, but Bourrasque was sunk by a german submarine.
Malin was lightly damaged by british aircrafts on Mers-el-Kebir in july 3, and after being repaired, she took part in 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, but was sent to Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
in mid october.
In november 1942, 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....
, Malin joined with the allies. In march 1943 she received a massive refit at Boston; received 2 radars, ASDIC and her 37 and 13.2 mm armament was replaced by guns of 40 and 20 mm. After the refit, Malin was reclassified as light cruiser for match allied standards and was sent to Mediterranean, operating in the landings of Salerno in september 9, 1943. From the nights of october 13 and 14, Malin landed more than 250 commandos at 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 spring, with her sister ships Fantasque and Terrible, Malin formed the 10th Light Cruiser Division, attacking german convoys in 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 southern France and in december she collided with Terrible and was under repair until 1945.
From 1946 to 1947, Malin served at Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
. Put in reserve from 1951, Malin was converted in a floating headquarter in 1953. Malin collided with a reef in the north of France in november 1963; was decommissioned in december, was struck of navy list in january 1964 and was sold for scrapping to the next month.