destroyer Le Fantasque class, Le Malin

Tim4499 · June 8, 2020

Le Malin

Le Malin at speed off Toulon on 1 August 1951.

About Le Fantasque-class:

The class of the Le Fantasque was a group of six destroyers among the most advanced and fastest ships that was ordered by Marine Nationale and built in 1930s. However, the ships of the Le Fantasque-class performed a relatively diversity on retrofits of both armaments and equipments because of the dissimilar events that each ship underwent after the Downfall of the Third Republic.

Le Malin, along her other four sisters still remained service under Vichy Navy. However, she and her sisters Le Fantasque and Le Terrible were captured by the Allied after Operation Torch in November 1941 and were subsequently refitted in Boston. Le Malin was acquired much perfect modernization than her sister, especially in navigation devices, more AA guns and anti-sub weapons. After all, it would be a much more unique experience for players to get access to these varied Le Fantasque-class destroyers.

Le Malin, November 1943. (Jordan & Moulin)

About Le Malin:

Like no one but her sisters, Le Malin was originally equipped with Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1929, a powerful naval gun that fired both HE and SAP shell at high fire rate of 8~12 rpm. Her original anti-air defense was not quite effective just like most destroyers built before World War II, she had two 37mm single AA mounts (later changed to twin mount) but with only 15~21 rpm.

Following the outbreak of the war, Le Malin, with her sisters L'Indomptable and Le Triomphant, was assigned to 8^e division de contre-torpilleurs as part of Force de Raid. During the Battle of France, Le Malin and L'Indomptable kept moving into the Western Mediterranean from the North Sea while Le Triomphant was forced to be repaired at Plymouth. Under service of Vichy Navy, Le Malin underwent a refit, like any another of her sisters except Le Triomphant, by giving her two additional 13.2mm Browning machine gun.

As Operation Torch was launched, Le Malin, which still moored at Casablanca for refueling, suffered bombard from the Allied forces. A 16-inch shell fired by USS Massachusetts hit the jetty beside Le Malin and explode between them tearing a large hole in her side amidships, which caused 7 crews killed in action. Fortunately, she was lucky enough to survive, and later departed for Boston to received a further refit. The modernization in Boston was much overall than any one that Le Malin had undergone, even for Le Fantasque and Le Terrible, which were also refitting in Boston at the same time. Le Malin was upgraded with brand new US navigation and fire control system as well as anti-aircraft weapons, a 40mm quadruple AA mount, two 40mm twin AA mounts and ten 20mm Oerlikon guns to replace her former, vulnerable anti-air defense. Her anti-sub capability was also improved by adding four Thornycroft depth charge throwers (Y-gun). Yet, in exchange, one of her triple torpedo tubes was removed.

Had been assigned to the Free French, Le Malin joined Le Fantasque to begin her mission in the Mediterranean in search of German blockade runners and merchant ships. She was also providing naval support for the Allied force during Operation Shingle and Operation Dragoon. While the Allied enjoyed a series of triumphant in both Europe and Mediterranean theater, a devastating disaster came upon Le Malin during a night exercise in December 1944 when she was collided with her sister Le Terrible causing total 70 deaths between two ships and totally destroying the bow of Le Malin. The accident drive Le Malin to be repaired immediately at La Ciotat with the bow cut from her sister L'Indomptable which had been scuttled in November 1942.

Le Malin finally recommissioned in November 1945. In order to serve as an escort for the French aircraft carriers Arromanches, Le Malin was received refit again in 1951, which made her attain a speed of 41 knots (76 km/h). She accompanied with the carrier Arromanches as she departed for French Indochina and headed back in Toulon in the same year. In the later years, she was under service as a stationary training ship until she was decommissioned on 3 February 1964. Le Malin used as a breakwater at Lorient until she was broken up in 1977.

Specifications

Standard displacement		2,570 t
Full load displacement		3,417 t
Full Length		132.4 m
Waterline length		125.4 m
Beam		12.0 m
Draft		4.5 m
Max speed (1935)		42.26 knots (78.26 km/h)
Shaft horse power		74,00 HP (4 × water-tube boilers)
Complement		265
Armament (1940.5)	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun		5
	37 mm Mle 1933 CAD twin AA mount		2
	13.2 mm Mle 1929 CAD twin AA mount		2
	550 mm triple torpedo tubes		3
	Depth charge chute		2
	Guiraud Mle 1922 depth charge		48
	35 kg depth charge		6
Armament (1942)	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun		5
	37 mm Mle 1933 CAD twin AA mount		2
	37 mm Mle 1925 CAS AA gun		1
	13.2 mm Mle 1929 CAD twin AA mount		2
	13.2 mm Browning AA gun		2
	550 mm triple torpedo tubes		3
	Depth charge chute		4
	Guiraud Mle 1922 depth charge		48
	35 kg depth charge		6
Armament (1943)	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun		5
	40 mm Bofors quadruple AA mount		1
	40 mm Bofors twin AA mount		2
	20 mm Oerlikon AA gun		8
	550 mm triple torpedo tubes		2
	Thornycroft Mk IV anti-submarine mortar		4
	Mk VIIH depth charge		??
Armament (post-war)	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun		5
	40 mm Bofors quadruple AA mount		1
	40 mm Bofors twin AA mount		2
	20 mm Oerlikon AA gun		8

Weapons

Spoiler

Just some date for original armaments .

138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun

(Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1929)


Projectiles	OPFA Mle 1924 (39.9kg) (SAP) OEA Mle 1928 (40.2kg) (HE) OEcl Mle 1925 (30kg) (Starshell)
Muzzle velocity	800 m/s
Range at 30°	20,000m
Elevation	–10° / +30°
Firing cycle (per gun)	8~12 rpm
Protection	5mm

37 mm Mle 1933 AA gun


Projectiles	OEA Mle 1925 (0.73kg) (HE) OI Mle 1924 (0.73kg) (Incendiary)
Muzzle velocity	810 m/s
Max. range	8,000m (theoretical) 5,000m (effective)
Elevation	–15° / +80°
Firing cycle (per gun)	30 rpm (theoretical) 15~21 rpm (practical)

13.2 mm Hotchkiss Mle 1929


Projectiles	AP HE
Muzzle velocity	800 m/s
Max. range	3,500m (theoretical) 2,500m (effective)
Elevation	–15° / +90°
Firing cycle (per gun)	450 rpm (theoretical) 250 rpm (practical)

550 mm Torpedo Mle 1923DT

Charge

TNT (308 kg)

Picric acid (1.5 kg)

Range / Speed

9000m at 39 knots (72 km/h)

13,000m at 35 knots (64.8 km/h)

Comparison of Le Fantasque-class

Here provides some comparison between four ships of Le Fantasque-class, this might help you to figure out the features of each ship.

Spoiler

.

	*Le Fantasque*		*Le Malin*		*Le Terrible*		*Le Triomphant*
Speed (1935)	42.80 knots (79.26 km/h)		42.26 knots (78.26 km/h)		43.78 knots (81.08 km/h)		43.12 knots (79.85 km/h)
Armament	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 5	(same as Le Fantasque)		(same as Le Fantasque)		(same as Le Fantasque)
(1936)	37 mm Mle 1925 CAS AA gun	x 2
	13.2 mm Mle 1929 CAD twin AA mount	x 2
	550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 3
	Depth charge chute	x 2
	200 kg Guiraud Mle 1922 depth charge	x 8
Armament	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 5	(same as Le Fantasque)		(same as Le Fantasque)		(same as Le Fantasque)
(1940.5)	37 mm Mle 1933 CAD twin AA mount	x 2
	13.2 mm Mle 1929 CAD twin AA mount	x 2
	550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 3
	Depth charge chute	x 2
	200 kg Guiraud Mle 1922 depth charge	x 48
	35 kg depth charge	x 6
Armament	N/A		N/A		N/A		138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 4
(1941.7)							102 mm Mk V HA gun	x 1
							40 mm Vickers 2pdr Mk II	x 2
							37 mm CAD Mle 1933 twin AA gun	x 2
							13.2 mm Mle 1929 CAQ quadruple AA mount	x 1
							13.2 mm Mle 1929 CAD twin AA mount	x 2
							8 mm Hotchkiss machine gun	x 2
							550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 3
							240 mm Mle 1918 anti-submarine mortar	x4
							Depth charge rack	x 2
							259 kg Mk VIIH depth charge	x 18
Armament	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 5	(same as Le Fantasque)		(same as Le Fantasque)		N/A
(1942)	37 mm Mle 1933 CAD twin AA gun	x 2
	37 mm Mle 1925 CAS AA gun	x 1
	13.2 mm Mle 1929 CAD twin AA gun	x 2
	13.2 mm Browning AA gun	x 2
	550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 3
	Depth charge chute	x 2
	200 kg Guiraud Mle 1922 depth charge	x 48
	35 kg depth charge	x 6
Armament	N/A		N/A		N/A		138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 4
(1942.3)							102 mm Mk V HA gun	x 1
							40 mm Vickers 2pdr Mk II	x 2
							37 mm CAD Mle 1933 twin AA mount	x 2
							20 mm Oerlikon AA gun	x 6
							550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 3
							Mle 1918 anti-submarine mortar	x 4
							Depth charge rack	x 2
							259 kg Mk VIIH depth charge	x 18
Armament	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 5	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 5	(same as Le Fantasque)		N/A
(1943)	40 mm Bofors quadruple AA mount	x 1	40 mm Bofors quadruple AA mount	x 1
	40 mm Bofors twin AA mount	x 2	40 mm Bofors twin AA mount	x 2
	20 mm Oerlikon AA gun	x 8	20 mm Oerlikon AA gun	x 10
	550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 2	550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 2
			Thornycroft Mk IV anti-submarine mortar	x 4
			259 kg Mk VIIH depth charge	??
Armament	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 5	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 5	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 5	138.6 mm Mle 1929 naval gun	x 5
(post-war)	40 mm Bofors quadruple AA mount	x 1	40 mm Bofors quadruple AA mount	x 1	40 mm Bofors quadruple AA mount	x 1	*
	40 mm Bofors twin AA mount	x 2	40 mm Bofors twin AA mount	x 2	*		40 mm Bofors twin AA mount	x 3
	*		*		40 mm Bofors AA gun	x 2	*
	20 mm Oerlikon AA gun	x 8	20 mm Oerlikon AA gun	x 10	20 mm Oerlikon AA gun	x 8	20 mm Oerlikon AA gun	x 11
	550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 2	550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 2	550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 2	550 mm triple torpedo tubes	x 3

Source

Jordan, John & Moulin, Jean (2015). French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d'Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs 1922–1956. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-198-4.

Wikipedia contributors. French destroyer Le Malin. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. February 18, 2020, 12:23 UTC. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=French_destroyer_Le_Malin&oldid=941410356. Accessed June 8, 2020.

Edited June 9, 2020 by Tim4499