T47 class destroyer Surcouf, the last evolution of the French contre-torpilleurs

[Arghail 1,220]

Escorteur d'escadre Surcouf

The last contre-torpilleur

 

 

About the T47 class and its interest in War Thunder

 

 The T47 class is the first class of French warships built after the war. It integrates every lessons learned, especially the hard way, about the lack of AA among WW2 french designs. As such, it is a unique machine in the roster of French destroyer as it is the last heir of the French contre-torpilleur design (it borrows heavily from the Mogador series), but more oriented toward an AA role with dual-purpose artillery. Thus, I believe it would be a nice addition as an AA destroyer in the game, and a welcomed gameplay change from the usual heavy french destroyers hitters.

 

T47 class, a modern AA destroyer.

 

The 1950's in France saw the modernisation of their entire fleet, and the renewal of the French naval industry. The idea was to slowly bring back French made equipment into the Marine Nationale, which was mostly relying on American or British made equipment since the end of the war. The first heavy surface warship class born from this initiative was the T47 class, known as "Escorteur d'escadre", or flotilla escort ships. These heavy destroyers heavily borrowed from the pre-war Mogador class, with however, an emphasis on AA and anti-submarine capabilities, and they were equipped with brand new French-made dual-purpose 127mm AA canons, as well as 57mm canons and anti-sub torpedo tubes. 12 of those ships were commissioned between 1955 and 1957, the first of which being the Surcouf.

 

About the Surcouf :

 

After extensive trials, it was the first of its class to be commissioned on november 1st, 1955. Its first operations was to escort battleship Jean Bart during a presidential visit to Denmark. After which it participated to the Suez Crisis, as well as the Algerian war, patrolling the coast. It was almost used to shell the coast during the revolt of Bab-el-Oued in 1962 but the order was ultimately cancelled to avoid unnecessary loss of life. Early 1961, it was transformed into a command escort ship, and lost a turret in favor of more space and a command bridge to accomodate for the role. Already severely damaged by a collision with a cargo ship in 1961, bad luck would strike again 10 years later, as the ship collided with the Soviet tanker General Busharov on the night of June 6th, 1971. The ship was almost cut in half by the impact and 10 sailors were killed. The bow of the ship sank shortly after while being towed, and the ship was decommissioned as the damages were too extensive. The hull was sunk by an Exocet missile a few year later as a target practice.

 

General Characteristics :

Tonnage:	2750 tons (standard) 3750 tons (max overload)
Length:	128,60 m
Beam:	12.71 m
Draught:	5 m
Propulsion:	Parson steam turbines  63 000 HP
Cruise speed : Max Speed:	34 knots (63 km/h)         38 knots (70.4 km/h)
Range:	5000 nautical miles at 18 knots

Crew :                    347 men

 

 

Armament (original, 1955) :

 

- 6 x 127mm mle 1948 canons (3 x 2)

- 6 x 57mm mle 1951 AA canons (3 x 2)

- 4 x 20mm autocanons (4 x 1)

- 6 x 550mm short tubes anti-sub TLT (2 x 3)
- 6 x 550mm long tubes anti-ship TLT (2 x 3)

 

Armament (command ship, 1961) :

 

- 6 x 127mm mle 1948 canons (3 x 2)

- 4 x 57mm mle 1951 AA canons (2 x 2)

- 4 x 20mm autocanons (4 x 1)

- 6 x 550mm short tubes anti-sub TLT (2 x 3)

About the 127mm mle 1948 canons :
 

Spoiler

 

 

 

About the Turrets :

 

Designation	Twin Mounts
Weight	48 tons (49 mt)
Elevation	-10 / +80 degrees
Rate of Elevation	N/A
Train	about -150 / +150 degrees
Rate of Train	N/A
Gun Recoil	N/A

 

About the Gun

 

Designation	127 mm/54 (5") Model 1948
Ship Class Used On	Surcouf (T47), Duperré (T53), De Grasse and Colbert classes
Date Of Design	1948
Date In Service	1956
Gun Weight	N/A
Gun Length	N/A
Bore Length	About 270.0 in (6.858 m)
Rifling Length	N/A
Grooves	N/A
Lands	N/A
Twist	N/A
Chamber Volume	825.38 in3 (13.525 dm3)
Rate Of Fire	15 - 18 rounds per minute

 

About the 57mm mle 52 canons :

 

Spoiler

Rate of Fire : 120 rpm (240rpm for the turret)

 

Specifications
Mass	17.3 tonnes
Barrel length	60 calibres
Crew	8
Calibre	57 mm
Elevation-	-8° to 93°
Muzzle velocity	956 m/s
Effective firing range	3000 m (practical)

 

About the 550mm torpedoes :
 

Spoiler

Long tubes :

Type |  Year |  Usage | Propulsion |  Diameter |  weight | length |  Speed |  Range |  Immersion |  Vector | 24Q  1924 Surface  pres. air    550mm 1720kg  7,12m  35 knts  15km       N/A  surf. ship

Short tubes :

Type	|  Year |	Usage |	Propulsion |	Diameter |	weight |	length |	Speed |	Range |	Immersion	|  Vector |
L3	1961	sub/surf	elec. engine	550mm	910kg	4.30m	25 knts	5km	300 meters	surf. ship

 

 

PHOTOS :

Plans :

 

Spoiler

After 1961 modifications :

Photos of the Surcouf (original loadout):
 

Spoiler

Photos of the 1961 modifications :
 

Spoiler

Other ships of the class :
 

Spoiler

VIDEO :
 

Spoiler

 

SOURCES :

http://www.navypedia.org/ships/france/fr_dd_surcouf.htm
http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/surcouf/caracter.htm
http://www.netmarine.net/bat/ee/surcouf/index.htm
https://ceach.fr/index.php/les-associations-membres/mer/aammac-34/aammac-34/2016-06-13-22-04-24/3337-lescorteur-descadre-surcouf-d-621
http://forummarine.forumactif.com/t8972-escorteurs-d-escadre-t47
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNFR_5-54_m1948.php
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNFR_57-60_m1951.php
MOULIN JEAN, Escorteurs d'Escadre, MARINES éditions, Nantes, 1997


 

 

Edited September 15, 2020 by Arghail

[ItssLuBu 1,802]

Approved and open for discussion. 

[Milocat 4,856]

+1, looks like a great destroyer for the French tree.

[Arghail 1,220]

3 hours ago, ItssLuBu said:

Approved and open for discussion. 

 

Thank you.

[Arghail 1,220]

EDIT : Modified the 1961 armament which was wrongly put, and added a couple photos.

[sam_dom 87]

 

[Abaddon75 460]

+1

[Arghail 1,220]

A video of the Surcouf  shortly after being commissioned, in 1954. Lots of aerial views, lots of shots.
 

 

Edited September 15, 2020 by Arghail

[sam_dom 87]

Edited November 22, 2020 by sam_dom

[sam_dom 87]

A B17 flying over Tartu ( T53 ) , during the Lobster war

Edited November 7, 2021 by sam_dom

[JAF_R98 27]

Some picture of this superb series of post-war french destroyers.  They have their place in the game in a Tech tree or in premium in initial or retrofit version

 

 

 

[JAF_R98 27]

T 47 Surcouf (D621)

 

Some pics of famous T47 Surcouf 

Edited April 30, 2023 by JAF_R98

[JAF_R98 27]

Beautiful period documentary that recounts the beginnings of the Surcouf from the studies, the construction, the launch and the sea trials

 

https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/le-surcouf-escorteur-d-escadre.html

 

 

[Fireraid233 4,274]

Yeah this will be a very good DD in game +1

[PARDUS IX@live 263]

We need the version with the Tartar MK 13 dual purpose ASW-SAM missile launcher as well. similar to the recent russian AA-ASW missile destroyer.

 

Edited June 19, 2023 by PARDUS IX@live