Dumont d'Urville (PG 77)
Encyclopedia
Dumont d'Urville was an of the French Navy
, designed to operate from French colonies in Asia and Africa. She was built by Ateliers et Chantiers Maritime Sud-Ouest of Bordeaux
and launched on 21 March 1931.
After the Fall of France Dumont d'Urville remained under Vichy French
control and in September 1940 she was in New Caledonia
as a part the Vichy government's attempt to gain control of the French colony. However, the Royal Australian Naval
cruiser arrived carrying a Free French
temporary governor led the Vichy governor to depart aboard Dumont d'Urville on 25 September.
On the night of 16 –17 January 1941 Dumont d'Urville took partin the Battle of Koh Chang
.
In September 1942 Dumont d'Urville took part in rescuing survivors from which had torpedoed and sunk (the Laconia incident
).
By 1944 Dumont d'Urvilles armament had been augmented with the addition of four single-mounted 40 mm anti-aircraft (AA) guns, 11 single-mounted 20 mm AA guns, four anti-submarine mortar
s and two racks for 66 depth charge
s.
Dumont d'Urville remained in French Navy service after the war until 26 March 1958 when she was scrapped.
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
, designed to operate from French colonies in Asia and Africa. She was built by Ateliers et Chantiers Maritime Sud-Ouest of Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
and launched on 21 March 1931.
After the Fall of France Dumont d'Urville remained under Vichy French
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
control and in September 1940 she was in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
as a part the Vichy government's attempt to gain control of the French colony. However, the Royal Australian Naval
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
cruiser arrived carrying a Free French
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
temporary governor led the Vichy governor to depart aboard Dumont d'Urville on 25 September.
On the night of 16 –17 January 1941 Dumont d'Urville took partin the Battle of Koh Chang
Battle of Koh Chang
The Battle of Koh Chang took place on 17 January 1941 during the French-Thai War and resulted in a decisive victory by the French over the Royal Thai Navy. During the battle, a flotilla of French warships attacked a smaller force of Thai vessels, including a coastal battleship.In the end, Thailand...
.
In September 1942 Dumont d'Urville took part in rescuing survivors from which had torpedoed and sunk (the Laconia incident
Laconia incident
The Laconia incident was an abortive naval rescue attempt in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. On 12 September 1942, , carrying some 80 civilians, 268 British Army soldiers, about 1,800 Italian prisoners of war, and 160 Polish soldiers , was struck and sunk by a torpedo from Kriegsmarine...
).
By 1944 Dumont d'Urvilles armament had been augmented with the addition of four single-mounted 40 mm anti-aircraft (AA) guns, 11 single-mounted 20 mm AA guns, four anti-submarine mortar
Anti-submarine mortar
Anti-submarine mortars are artillery pieces deployed on ships for the purpose of sinking submarines by a direct hit with a small explosive charge. They are often larger versions of the mortar used by infantry and fire a projectile in relatively the same manner...
s and two racks for 66 depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s.
Dumont d'Urville remained in French Navy service after the war until 26 March 1958 when she was scrapped.