World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseCruiser Georges Leygues was commissioned into the French Navy in 1937. When the European War began in 1939, she patrolled the Atlantic Ocean against German raiders; the only engagement she saw during this time was a friendly-fire incident with French submarine Casabianca. In 1940, she escaped the British attack at Mers-el-Kébir in French Algeria, and then assisted in the defense of Dakar in French West Africa from Allied attack; during the battle at Dakar, she hit HMAS Australia twice and successfully evaded British torpedo bomber attacks. She would see no combat in 1941, although she made one gold bullion ferrying run from France to Casablanca in Aug. In late 1942, after the Allies landed in North Africa, she switched allegiance away from Vichy France in favor of the Allies. From early 1943 through mid 1944, she patrolled the Atlantic Ocean, successfully intercepting German blockade runner Portland in Apr 1943. She was refitted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States between Jul and Oct 1943, during which time she had her seaplanes and aircraft catapult removed to make room for additional anti-aircraft weapons. She provided naval support for both the Overlord and Dragoon invasions of France, and remained along the French-Italian coast lines through Mar 1945, bombarding Italian positions on several occasions. She had a major refit at Casablanca between May 1945 and late Jan 1946. In the 1950s, she saw action in the First Indochina War and in the Suez Crisis. She was sold for scrap in Nov 1959.

Light Cruiser Georges Leygues Interactive Map

Photographs

Georges Leygues Operational Timeline