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fighting ships of the world

FRENCH NAVY (FRANCE)

ESCORTS

ARDENT 2nd class avisos (ASW gunboats) (1916-1917)

Boudeuse 1917

Tapageuse 1940

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Agile     Arsenal de Brest 1916 1916 1916 stricken 1933
Alerte     Arsenal de Rochefort 1916 1916 1916 stricken 1936
Ardent     Arsenal de Brest 1916 5.3.1916 1916 stricken 1936
Audacieuse     A C de Provence, Port-de-Bouc 1916 1917 1917 BU 1.1940
Batailleuse     A C de Provence, Port-de-Bouc 1916 1917 1917 sunk as target 1938
Belliqueuse     F C de la Gironde, Bordeaux 1916 1916 1916 stricken 1928
Boudeuse     F C de la Méditerranée, La Seyne 1916 1916 1916 to Romania 1920 (spares)
Capricieuse     A C de la Loire, St-Nazaire 1916 1916 1916 stricken 1934
Courageuse     Arsenal de Rochefort 1916 1916 1916 stricken 1920
Curieuse     Arsenal de Lorient 1916 1916 1916 stricken 1926
Dédaigneuse     F C de la Gironde, Bordeaux 1916 1916 1917 scuttled 27.11.1942
Emporté     A C de la Loire, St-Nazaire 1916 1916 1916 stricken 1928
Espiègle     Arsenal de Rochefort 1916 1017 1917 stricken 1920
Étourdi     Arsenal de Lorient 1916 21.3.1916 1917 scuttled 19.6.1940
Éveillé     F C de la Méditerranée, La Seyne 1917 1917 1917 stricken 1928
Gracieuse     Arsenal de Lorient 1916 1916 1916 stricken 1938
Impétueuse     F C de la Gironde, Bordeaux 1916 1917 1917 stricken 1938
Inconstant     Arsenal de Brest 1916 6.3.1916 1916 stricken 1933
Malicieuse     A C de Provence, Port-de-Bouc 1916 1916 1916 stricken 1939
Moqueuse     Arsenal de Lorient 1916 1916 1916 wrecked 1923
Railleuse     A C de Provence, Port-de-Bouc 1916 1916 1916 stricken 3.1920
Sans Souci     Arsenal de Lorient 12/1915 1916 1916 stricken 1936
Tapageuse     A C de Provence, Port-de-Bouc 1916 1917 1917 FNFL 11.1942, BU 1944

  

Displacement normal, t

Agile, Ardent, Emporté, Espiègle, Étourdi, Éveillé, Inconstant, Sans Souci: 266

others: 310

Displacement full, t

Agile, Ardent, Emporté, Espiègle, Étourdi, Éveillé, Inconstant, Sans Souci: 400

others: 410

Length, m

60.2

Breadth, m

7.20

Draught, m

2.90

No of shafts

Agile, Ardent, Emporté, Espiègle, Étourdi, Éveillé, Inconstant, Sans Souci: 1

others: 2

Machinery

Agile, Ardent, Emporté, Espiègle, Étourdi, Éveillé, Inconstant, Sans Souci: 1 VTE, 2 Du Temple or Normand boilers

others: 2 VTE, 2 Du Temple or Normand boilers

Power, h. p.

Agile, Ardent, Emporté, Espiègle, Étourdi, Éveillé, Inconstant, Sans Souci: 1200 - 1500

others: 1200 - 2200

Max speed, kts

Agile, Ardent, Emporté, Espiègle, Étourdi, Éveillé, Inconstant, Sans Souci: 14 - 17

others: 14 - 17

Fuel, t

coal 85

Endurance, nm(kts) 2000(10)

Armament

2 x 1 - 100/45 M1897, 2 DCT

Ardent, Étourdi, Sans Souci: 2 x 1 - 145/45 M1910, 2 DCT

Complement

55 - 60

Project history: These ships were officially classified as "anti-submarine gunboats". Partly they were equipped by steam engines removed from old torpedo boats, therefore significantly differed from each other on machinery power and speed. The majority of the class were converted to minesweepers in 1920s.

Modernizations: 1918 - 1920, all survived: were converted to minesweepers; + mechanical minesweeping gear.

Naval service: Étourdi was scuttled at Brest 18.6.1940, in a year raised by Germans and broken up. Dédaigneuse was scuttled at Toulon 27.11.1942, salvaged by Italians and named FR56; 9.9.1943 she was captured by Germans and served as minesweeper M6020, her ultimate fate is unknown.

Courageuse 1919

© Ivan Gogin, 2009-14