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La Capricieuse
Class overview
Name	Élan class
Builders	Arsenal de Lorient Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk Ateliers et Chantiers Dubigeon, Nantes Ateliers et Chantiers de Provence, Port-de-Bouc
Operators	French Navy  Free French Naval Forces  Regia Marina  Kriegsmarine  Royal Navy
Built	1936–1940
In commission	1939–1965
Completed	13
Lost	4
Scrapped	7
General characteristics
Type	Minesweeping sloop
Displacement	630 t (620 long tons) standard 890 tonnes (876 long tons) full
Length	78.30 m (256 ft 11 in) o/a 73.81 m (242 ft 2 in) p/p
Beam	8.70 m (28 ft 7 in)
Draught	3.28 m (10 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	2 × Sulzer diesel engines, 3,430 kW (4,600 bhp), 2 shafts
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range	10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) 5,200 nmi (9,600 km; 6,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) Fuel capacity: 95 t (93 long tons)
Complement	88 (peacetime) 106 max (war)
Armament	As designed 1 × twin 100 mm (3.9 in)/45 cal. guns 1 × quad 13.2 mm (0.52 in) AA guns 2 × twin 13.2 mm AA guns

The Élan class was a class of French minesweeping sloops (Avisos dragueur de mines). Originally designed as minesweepers, they were never used in that role, instead being used mostly as escort vessels. Built between 1936 and 1940, the first came into service just before the outbreak of World War II.

Description

The Élan class had a standard displacement of 630 tonnes (620 long tons) and full load displacement of 890 tonnes (876 long tons). The vessels were 78.30 m (256 ft 11 in) long overall and 73.81 m (242 ft 2 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 8.70 m (28 ft 7 in) and a draught of 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in). The class was powered by two Sulzer diesel engines rated at 4,600 brake horsepower (3,430 kW) driving two shafts. The vessels had storage for 95 tonnes (93 long tons) of fuel oil. Ships of the class had a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) and maximum range of 10,000 nmi (18,520 km; 11,508 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph), 5,200 nmi (9,600 km; 6,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) and 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).

As designed the Élan class were intended to be armed with twin-mounted 100-millimetre (3.9 in)/45 calibre guns, one quad 13.2 mm (0.52 in) anti-aircraft (AA) gun mount and two twin-mounted 13.2 mm/76 AA mounts. However, no twin 100 mm mounts were available when the sloops were completed and the Élan class were armed with either a single 100 mm Mle 1892 gun or a twin 90-millimetre (3.54 in) mount. The vessels were designed for minesweeping, though never saw service in that capacity. The class later received two depth charge throwers and one depth charge rack. The vessels had a complement of 88 in peacetime and maximum 106 during war.

Modifications

Between 1941 and 1942 three of the ships — La Moquese, Commandant Duboc and Commandant Dominé — were rearmed by the British. Their main armament was replaced by twin quick-firing gun (QF) 4-inch (102 mm) guns, while La Moqueuse was also fitted with a single QF 3-inch (76 mm)/40 Mk I high-angle gun. All three also received a single QF 2-pounder pom-pom gun. They retained their original twin 13.2 mm/76 AA guns, while two ships received additional guns of various calibres. Commandant Duboc gained a single 25 mm (0.98 in)/60 M1938 and two 20 mm (0.79 in)/70 Oerlikon cannon, while Commandant Dominé had an additional four twin and two single 12.7 mm (0.50 in)/62 machine guns. In 1947 Commandant Dominé was rearmed again with a single German 105 mm (4 in)/45 calibre SK C/32 gun as main armament, a single Bofors 40 mm (1.57 in)/60 Mk.3 and four single 20 mm/70 Mk.2 Oerlikons guns.

Ships in class

Service history

After the fall of France in June 1940, four of the class were in British ports after taking part in the Dunkirk evacuation, and were seized by the British. Three — Commandant Duboc, Commandant Dominé, and La Moqueuse — subsequently served in the Free French Naval Forces (FNFL), while La Capricieuse remained in British service until the end of the war.

The remaining ships remained under the control of Vichy France. Four — Élan, Commandant Delage, La Boudeuse and La Gracieuse — were based in French Morocco. Élan was interned in Turkey from June 1941 until released in December 1944 to serve with the FNFL. The others were captured by the Allies after the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, and were turned over to the FNFL.

Five of the class were based at Toulon. After the German occupation of southern France in November 1942, one ship — Commandant Bory — joined the FNFL. Commandant Rivière and La Batailleuse were captured by the Germans at Bizerte and transferred to Italy, while two — L'Impétueuse and La Curieuse — were scuttled by their crews, along with the rest of the French Fleet, but later salvaged and also transferred to Italy. One was sunk in Italian service, and after the Italian armistice, the remaining three were taken over by the Germans, and later scuttled.

The nine ships of the class that survived the war remained in French Navy service until scrapped between 1953 and 1963.

Ships

• Elan (A19/F748)

Built at the Arsenal de Lorient, the ship was laid down in August 1936, launched on 27 July 1938 and commissioned in 1939. From mid-1940 she was under the control of Vichy France and based in French Morocco. She was sent to reinforce the Naval Division of the Levant at Beirut, going to internment in Turkey from June 1941 until she was released in December 1944 to serve with Free French Naval Forces (FNFL). She remained in service with the French Navy until decommissioned on 26 March 1958, and was then sold and scrapped.

• La Batailleuse

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers de Provence, Port-de-Bouc, the ship was laid down in December 1937, launched on 22 August 1939 and commissioned in March 1940. From June 1940 she was under the control of Vichy France. On 8 December 1942 she was captured by the Germans, transferred to Italy, reclassified as a corvette and renamed FR51. After the Italian armistice she was scuttled by the Germans on 9 September 1943 at La Spezia. She was raised by the Germans and returned to service as SG23, and then renamed Uj2231. On 15 April 1945 she was scuttled at Genoa.

• La Boudeuse (A18/F744)

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk, the ship was laid down in March 1938, launched on 10 February 1940 and commissioned in May 1940. In May 1940 she took part in the Dunkirk evacuation. From 25 June 1940 she was under the control of Vichy France, based in French Morocco. Captured by the Allies during invasion of North Africa in November 1942, she joined the FNFL on 1 December 1942. She remained in service with the French Navy until decommissioned on 15 April 1958, sold and scrapped.

• La Capricieuse (A16/F745)

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers Dubigeon, Nantes, the ship was laid down in January 1938, launched on 19 April 1939 and commissioned in February 1940. She was seized by the British on 3 July 1940 and returned to France on 6 June 1945. She was scrapped in September 1964.

• Commandant Bory (A11/F740)

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk, the ship was laid down in November 1936, launched on 26 January 1939 and commissioned in September 1939. From 25 June 1940 she was under the control of Vichy France. In November 1942 she joined the FNFL. She remained in service with the French Navy until decommissioned on 17 February 1953, and then sold and scrapped.

• Commandant Delage (A12/F741)

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk, the ship was laid down in November 1936, launched on 25 February 1939 and commissioned in December 1939. In May 1940 she took part in the Dunkirk evacuation. From 25 June 1940 she was under the control of Vichy France, based in French Morocco. Captured by the Allies during the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, she joined the FNFL. She remained in service with the French Navy until decommissioned on 18 October 1960, sold and scrapped.

• Commandant Dominé (U70/A15/F742)

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers Dubigeon, Nantes, the ship was laid down in February 1938, launched on 2 May 1939 and commissioned in April 1940. She was seized by the British on 3 July 1940 and transferred to the FNFL. She remained in service with the French Navy until decommissioned on 18 August 1960. She was scrapped in October 1960.

• Commandant Duboc (U41/A17/F743)

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers Dubigeon, Nantes, the ship was laid down in December 1936, launched on 16 January 1939 and commissioned in August 1939. In May 1940 she took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, and in July was seized by the British and transferred to the FNFL. In March 1941 she took part in operations in the Red Sea. She remained in service with the French Navy until July 1963, when she was sold and scrapped.

• Commandant Rivière

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers de Provence, Port-de-Bouc, the ship was laid down in November 1936, launched on 16 February 1939 and commissioned in September 1939. In May 1940 she took part in the Dunkirk evacuation. From June 1940 she was under the control of Vichy France. On 8 December 1942 she was captured by the Germans, transferred to Italy, reclassified as a corvette and renamed FR52. On 28 May 1943 Allied aircraft bombed and sank her at Livorno. She was scrapped starting on 9 September 1946.

• La Curieuse

Built at the Arsenal de Lorient, the ship was laid down in August 1938, launched on 11 November 1939 and commissioned in 1940. On 16 June 1940, during the Italian invasion of France, she sank the Italian Marcello-class submarine Provana off Oran. Under the control of Vichy France and based at Toulon, she was scuttled on 27 November 1942. She was refloated on 6 April 1943, transferred to Italy, reclassified as a corvette, and renamed FR55. After the Italian armistice she came under German control, was renamed SG25 and returned to Toulon, where she was scuttled again in August 1944 during the Allied invasion of southern France.

• La Gracieuse (A14/F746)

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers de Provence, Port-de-Bouc, the ship was laid down in February 1938, launched on 30 November 1939 and commissioned in May 1940. From 30 June 1940 she was under the control of Vichy France, based in French Morocco. Captured by the Allies during the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, she joined the FNFL on 1 December 1942. She remained in service with the French Navy until decommissioned on 11 September 1958, sold and scrapped.

• L'Impétueuse

Built at the Ateliers et Chantiers de France, Dunkirk, the ship was laid down in April 1938, launched on 15 January 1940 and commissioned in May 1940. In May 1940 she took part in the Dunkirk evacuation. From June 1940 she was under the control of Vichy France, based at Toulon, where she was scuttled on 27 November 1942. She was refloated in 1943, transferred to Italy, reclassified as a corvette, and renamed FR54. After the Italian armistice was declared on 8 September 1943 she came under German control, returned to Toulon, and was scuttled at Marseilles on 7 August 1944 just before the Allied invasion of southern France.

• La Moqueuse (U17/A13/F747)

Built at the Arsenal de Lorient, the ship was laid down in September 1938, launched on 25 January 1940 and commissioned in April 1940. She was seized by the British on 3 July 1940, and transferred to the FNFL. She was scrapped in October 1965.

Notes

1. The 45 calibre denotes the length of the gun. This means that the length of the gun barrel is 45 times the bore diameter.

Citations

1. ^ Le Masson 1969, pp. 16–17.
2. ^ Roberts 1980, p. 277.
3. ^ Le Masson 1969, p. 16.
4. ^ Le Masson 1969, p. 17.
5. Le Masson 1969, pp. 17–21.
6. ^ Le Masson 1969, p. 18.
7. ^ "Classe: Élan". users.swing.be (in French). Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
8. Le Masson 1969, p. 7.
9. "R.Smg Provana (+1940) Wreck". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
10. ^ Le Masson 1969, p. 20.

Bibliography

• Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
• Garier, Gérard (2015). Les avisos-dragueurs de 630 tW du type "Élan" [The 630-tonne Minesweepers of the Elan Class] (in French). Vol. I: "Élan", "Commandant Bory", "Commandant Delage", "Commandant Rivière", "Commandant Duboc", "Commandant Dominé. Le Vigen, France: Lela Presse. ISBN 978-2-914017-86-2.
• Garier, Gérard (2016). Les avisos-dragueurs de 630 tW du type "Élan" [The 630-tonne Minesweepers of the Elan Class] (in French). Vol. II: "La Batailleuse", "la Capricieuse", "la Gracieuse", "la Boudeuse", "l'Impétueuse", "la Curieuse", "la Moqueuse. Le Vigen, France: Lela presse. ISBN 978-2-914017-94-7.
• Le Masson, Henri (1969). The French Navy. Navies of the Second World War. Vol. 2. London: MacDonald & Co. ISBN 0-356-02385-0.
• Roberts, John (1980). "France". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 255–279. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.

v t e Élan-class sloops
French Navy	Élan La Batailleuse La Boudeuse La Capricieuse Commandant Bory Commandant Delage Commandant Dominé Commandant Duboc Commandant Rivière La Curieuse La Gracieuse L'Impétueuse La Moqueuse
Royal Navy	La Capricieuse
Regia Marina	FR 51 (ex-La Batailleuse) FR 52 (ex-Commandant Rivière) FR 54 (ex-L'Impétueuse) FR 55 (ex-La Curieuse)
Kriegsmarine	SG23 / UJ2331 (ex-La Batailleuse, ex-FR 51) SG25 (ex-La Curieuse, ex-FR 55)
Preceded by: Chamois class Followed by: Cannon class
List of French modern frigates

• Mine warfare vessel classes
• Elan-class minesweeping sloops
• Ship classes of the French Navy