Marseillaise file photo [16821]

Marseillaise

CountryFrance
Ship ClassLa Galissonnière-class Light Cruiser
BuilderA. C. de la Loire, Nantes, France
Laid Down23 Oct 1933
Launched17 Jul 1935
Commissioned10 Oct 1937
Sunk27 Nov 1942
Displacement7,600 tons standard; 9,120 tons full
Length589 feet
Beam57 feet
Draft17 feet
Machinery2-shaft Parsons single reduction geared turbines, 4 Indret boilers
Power Output84,000 shaft horsepower
Speed34 knots
Range7,000nm at 12 knots, 6,800nm at 14 knots, 5,500nm at 18 knots, 1,650nm at 34 knots
Crew540
Armament3x3x152mm guns, 4x2x90mm AA guns, 6x4x40mm guns, 2x2x550mm torpedo tubes
Armor105mm belt, 30mm bulkheads, 120mm sides, 38mm deck, 100mm turrets, 95mm tower
AircraftFour GL-832 or two 130 flying boats
Catapult1

Contributor:

ww2dbaseMarseillaise was commissioned into French Navy service in Oct 1937. In the following year, she was made the flagship of the French Mediterranean Squadron under Contre-Amiral Jean Decoux. In 1939, she was assigned to the French 3rd Cruiser Division based in Casablanca, Morocco; later in the same year, she became the flagship of the 4th Squadron based in Toulon in southern France. In Apr 1940, she transported French gold to Canada for safekeeping, and then patrolled the Mediterranean coast of French colonies in North Africa. On 4 Jul 1940, after the French surrender, she arrived in Toulon and joined the French High Seas Fleet. On 27 Nov 1942, as German forces marched toward Toulon, the commanding officer of Marseillaise ordered the valves to be opened on one side, aiming to capsize the ship to prevent German capture. To ensure that she would be useless to the Germans, scuttling charges were also detonated; the fires caused by the charges burned for seven days. The hull of Marseillaise remained in place through the war, not scrapped until 1946.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Dec 2012

Light Cruiser Marseillaise Interactive Map

Photographs

Marseillaise, Jul 1941Cruiser Marseillaise aflame at Toulon, France, circa 27 Nov 1942French cruiser Marseillaise afire and sinking, Toulon, France, 27 Nov 1942Aerial view of Toulon, France, 28 Nov 1942; note smoke rising from burning ships
See all 6 photographs of Light Cruiser Marseillaise

Marseillaise Operational Timeline

23 Oct 1933 The keel of Marseillaise was laid down by A. C. de la Loire in Nantes, France.
17 Jul 1935 Marseillaise was launched at Nantes, France.
10 Oct 1937 Marseillaise was commissioned into service.
4 Jul 1940 Marseillaise arrived at Toulon, France.
27 Nov 1942 Marseillaise was scuttled by her own crew at Toulon, France.




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More on Marseillaise
Personnel:
» Decoux, Jean

Event(s) Participated:
» Scuttling of the French Fleet

Related Books:
» Warship 2013

Light Cruiser Marseillaise Photo Gallery
Marseillaise, Jul 1941
See all 6 photographs of Light Cruiser Marseillaise


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