French destroyer Audacieux
Encyclopedia
The Audacieux was a large destroyer ("contre-torpilleur") of the French Navy which served during the Second World War.
In October 1939, with her sister ships Terrible
and Fantasque captured the German cargo ship Santa Fé and took part in the pursuit of the 'pocket battleship' Graf Spee. From November to December operated in patrols in the North Atlantic.
In March 1940 she took part in ASW patrols at Mediterranean from her base of Casablanca
. In May of the same year, Audacieux had various fights with German planes, but not was hit, and the day 29, after took part in Operation Dynamo
, Audacieux collided with the destroyers Frondeur and Boulonnais off Dunkerque and was send to repairs to Brest
until June 13. On June 18, Audacieux with Léopard
and Courbet
patrolled Cherbourg. On July 3, Audacieux took part in the battle of Mers-el-Kebir, engaging British aircraft. She attempted to launch torpedo attacks on British heavy fleet units, but was retired for cover Strasbourg
during her retire to Toulon
. On September 23, she operated in the battle of Dakar
; after being heavily damaged, Audacieux was beached. Refloated in february 1941, was towed to Toulon: too badly damaged for be repaired, was immobilized as training unit.
Audacieux was taken over by the Germans on November 27, 1942, the day that French fleet was scuttled at Toulon harbour
, and was renamed as ZF-5. Towed to Bizerte
, Tunisia on May 4, 1943 for repair her, she was sunk by British planes three days later.
History
Audacieux was launched on March 14, 1934 and commissioned on August 8, 1936.In October 1939, with her sister ships Terrible
French destroyer Le Terrible
The Terrible was a large destroyer of the French Navy in service during World War II.-History:Terrible was launched in 1933 and displaced 2,570 tonnes with 74,000 HP...
and Fantasque captured the German cargo ship Santa Fé and took part in the pursuit of the 'pocket battleship' Graf Spee. From November to December operated in patrols in the North Atlantic.
In March 1940 she took part in ASW patrols at Mediterranean from her base of Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
. In May of the same year, Audacieux had various fights with German planes, but not was hit, and the day 29, after took part in Operation Dynamo
Operation Dynamo
The Dunkirk evacuation, commonly known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and the early hours of 3 June 1940, because the British, French and Belgian troops were...
, Audacieux collided with the destroyers Frondeur and Boulonnais off Dunkerque and was send to repairs to Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
until June 13. On June 18, Audacieux with Léopard
French destroyer Léopard
The Léopard was a Chacal class destroyer of the French Navy. As one of the large destroyers of her time, she was designed to escort convoys, large naval units, or serve as a light cruiser in remote sectors of the French Empire...
and Courbet
French battleship Courbet (1911)
Courbet was the lead ship of her class, the first dreadnoughts built for the French Navy. She was completed before World War I and named in honour of Admiral Amédée Courbet. She spent the war in the Mediterranean, helping to sink the Austro-Hungarian protected cruiser in August 1914...
patrolled Cherbourg. On July 3, Audacieux took part in the battle of Mers-el-Kebir, engaging British aircraft. She attempted to launch torpedo attacks on British heavy fleet units, but was retired for cover Strasbourg
French battleship Strasbourg
The Strasbourg was a more heavily armoured Dunkerque-class battleship of the French Navy, labeled as a "fast battleship". Faster than full battleships, but not as heavily armed or armoured as them, they were designed to counter the threat of the German "pocket battleships" - the Deutschland-class...
during her retire to Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
. On September 23, she operated in the battle of Dakar
Battle of Dakar
The Battle of Dakar, also known as Operation Menace, was an unsuccessful attempt in September 1940 by the Allies to capture the strategic port of Dakar in French West Africa , which was under Vichy French control, and to install the Free French under General Charles de Gaulle there.-Background:At...
; after being heavily damaged, Audacieux was beached. Refloated in february 1941, was towed to Toulon: too badly damaged for be repaired, was immobilized as training unit.
Audacieux was taken over by the Germans on November 27, 1942, the day that French fleet was scuttled at Toulon harbour
Scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon
The French fleet in Toulon was scuttled on 27 November 1942 on the order of the Admiralty of Vichy France to avoid capture by Nazi German forces during Operation Lila of the Case Anton takeover of Vichy France.- Context :...
, and was renamed as ZF-5. Towed to Bizerte
Bizerte
Bizerte or Benzert , is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia and the northernmost city in Africa. It has a population of 230,879 .-History:...
, Tunisia on May 4, 1943 for repair her, she was sunk by British planes three days later.