1935 MARSEILLAISE. One of the six-strong La Galissonnire class of light cruisers, completed for the French Navy in 1935 and 1937, three of which, including the Marseillaise, were scuttled at Toulon on the collapse of the Vichy regime in November 1942.
THE LA GAIJISSONNIERE CLASS
During the 1930s, the French built some magnificent cruisers, both heavy, like the redoubtable Algerie, and light; of the latter, the best were the six ships of the La Galissonnire class. Following the fall of France in June 1940, three of them were left in the hands of the Free French Navy, and were subsequently refitted in the United States, while the three which had remained in Toulon in the hands of the Ptain government, were scuttled on its fall, to prevent their falling into Axis hands. Marseillaise was the third of the ships to be constructed, by Ateliers et Chantiers de Ia Loire at Nantes. Laid down in 1 933, she was launched on 17 July 1935 and completed on 25 October 1937.
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
Designed to produce 97,600shp at emergency overload, for a maximum speed of 32.5 knots (60km/h; 84,000shp/31 knots normal), these ships proved to be considerably faster, Marseillaise reaching almost 35.5 knots (66km/h) on trial. They were also very economical. One of the features of the design was a long, clear quarter deck, to allow the speedy recovery of the four aircraft they carried in a hangar which formed the aft super structure. In the three vessels refitted in the USA, the hangar was removed, and the weight saved and space gained allowed them to mount twenty- four 40mm and sixteen 20mm AA guns.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Light cruiser
Machinery: 2-shaft, Rateau-Bretagne geared turbines producing 84,000shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 179.5m (589ft); beam, 17.5m (57.3ft)
Displacement: 7600T standard; 9100t full load
Draught: 5.35m (17.51t) full load
Complement: 764
Speed: 31 knots (57.5km/h)
