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Primauguet file photo [28658]

Primauguet

CountryFrance
Ship ClassDuguay-Trouin-class Light Cruiser
BuilderArsenal de Brest
Laid Down16 Aug 1923
Launched21 May 1924
Commissioned1 Apr 1927
Displacement7,249 tons standard; 9,350 tons full
Length595 feet
Beam57 feet
Draft21 feet
Machinery4-shaft Parsons single-reduction geared turbines, 8 Guyot boilers
Power Output102,000 shaft horsepower
Speed33 knots
Range3,000nm at 15 knots
Crew578
Armament4x2x155mm/50 guns, 4x75mm anti-aircraft guns, 4x3x550mm torpedo tubes
Armor20mm deck, 30mm magazine, 30mm turrets, 30mm conning tower
Aircraft2 GL-832
Catapult1

Contributor:

ww2dbaseLight cruiser Primauguet was commissioned into service in 1927. Between May 1927 and Dec 1927, she cruised around the world, setting an annual travel pattern for her until Apr 1932 when she was transferred to French Indochina. In Jan 1936, she departed Asia for France for a scheduled refit. In Nov 1937, she arrived in Asia once again. In 1939, she returned to France. During the early months of WW2, she operated in the Atlantic Ocean. In Apr 1940, she operated out of Fort-de-France, Martinique in the French West Indies. When the Netherlands fell under German control, she landed ground forces at Aruba to secure oil facilities at that island. After the fall of France, she sailed to Dakar, Senegal, French West Africa to join the Vichy French fleet there. In Nov 1941, she began a period of refit in Casablanca, Morocco. Before the completion of the refitting, she was attacked by Allied forces during the Operation Torch landings in Nov 1941. She was shelled by battleship USS Massachusetts and cruisers USS Wichita, USS Tuscaloosa, USS Augusta, and USS Brooklyn, and was subjected to repeated aerial attacks by SBD Dauntless dive bombers from carrier USS Ranger, which caused heavy casualties among the crew and caused serious damage. To save the ship and the surviving men, the commanding officer of Primauguet ordered the cruiser to drop anchor in shallow waters and to prepare to abandon ship. Primauguet burned through the night. Although she remained afloat, the wreck was never repaired. She was sold for scrap in 1951.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Aug 2019

Light Cruiser Primauguet Interactive Map

Photographs

Aerial photograph from a USS Ranger plane showing three badly damaged French warships beached at Casablanca, French Morocco, 11 Nov 1942. They were damaged in the Battle of Casablanca 8 Nov 1942

Primauguet Operational Timeline

16 Aug 1923 The keel of Primauguet was laid down at the Arsenal de Brest in France.
21 May 1924 Primauguet was launched at the Arsenal de Brest in France.
1 Apr 1927 Primauguet was commissioned into service.
1 Apr 1940 Primauguet departed France for Fort-de-France, Martinique.
12 Jun 1940 Primauguet arrived at Dakar, Senegal, French West Africa.
8 Nov 1941 Primauguet began a period of refit in Casablanca, Morocco.
8 Nov 1942 Primauguet suffered heavy damage at the hands of US battleships and dive bombers at Casablanca, Morocco. To avoid sinking, her commanding officer sailed her to shallow waters. At anchor, she was abandoned and would burn overnight.




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Event(s) Participated:
» Start of the Battle of the Atlantic
» Operation Torch

Light Cruiser Primauguet Photo Gallery
Aerial photograph from a USS Ranger plane showing three badly damaged French warships beached at Casablanca, French Morocco, 11 Nov 1942. They were damaged in the Battle of Casablanca 8 Nov 1942


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