Colbert file photo [18726]

Colbert

CountryFrance
Ship ClassSuffren-Class Heavy Cruiser
BuilderArsenal de Brest
Laid Down Date12 Jun 1927
Launch Date20 Apr 1928
Commission Date4 Mar 1931
Sunk Date27 Nov 1942
Displacement10,000 tons standard; 12,780 tons full
Length643 feet
Beam66 feet
Draft24 feet
MachineryRateau-Bretagne SR geared turbines, nine Guyot boilers, 3 shafts
Power Output100,000 shaft horsepower
Speed32 knots
Range4500nm at 15 knots
Crew773
Armament4x2x203mm Model 1924 guns, 8x90m anti-aircraft guns, 4x2x37mm anti-aircraft guns, 4x3x13.2mm anti-aircraft guns, 2x3x550mm torpedo tubes
Armor60mm belt, 25mm deck, 30mm turrets, 30mm tower
Catapults2
Aircraft2 Loire-Nieuport 130 seaplanes

Contributor:

ww2dbaseAt the start of the war, she was a member of the 1st Cruiser Squadron of the French fleet. She saw some action in 1940, including a bombardment of Genoa, Italy in Jun 1940, but for the following two years she generally sat idle at Toulon in southern France. On 27 Nov 1942, as German troops approached in an attempt to take control of the French fleet, her crew detonated her magazine in a successful attempt to scuttle her. She remained in place until 1948 when she was finally broken apart for scraps.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Jul 2013

Heavy Cruiser Colbert Interactive Map

Photographs

Aerial view of Colbert, date unknown; seen in US Navy Department Division of Naval Inteligence publication ONI203French cruiser Colbert, date unknown; seen in US Navy Department Division of Naval Inteligence publication ONI203French cruiser Colbert scuttled at Toulon, France, circa 27 Nov 1942German Panzer IV tank and crew at Toulon harbor, France, 27 Nov 1942; note French cruiser Colbert burning in background
See all 6 photographs of Heavy Cruiser Colbert

Colbert Operational Timeline

12 Jun 1927 The keel of Colbert was laid down at Brest Naval Shipyard, France.
20 Apr 1928 Colbert was launched at Brest Naval Shipyard, France.
4 Mar 1931 Colbert was commissioned into service.
14 Jun 1940 Colbert bombarded Genoa, Italy as a part of Operation Samoyède.
27 Nov 1942 Colbert was scuttled at Toulon, France to prevent German capture.




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Heavy Cruiser Colbert Photo Gallery
Aerial view of Colbert, date unknown; seen in US Navy Department Division of Naval Inteligence publication ONI203
See all 6 photographs of Heavy Cruiser Colbert


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