Force de Raid Le Fantasque-class contre-torpilleurs

 When is a Destroyer not a Destroyer?  When its a Contre-Torpilleur? The French did not really use the term Destroyer dividing their smaller warships into Torpileurs (Torpedo Craft) and larger Contre-Torpilleurs (anti-Torpedo Craft) harkening back to the days of Torpedo Boats and Torpedo Boat Destroyers (Pre-World War One)

Still the French Contre-Torpilleur of  Le Fantasque class are something of a special case.  They are big over 400 feet long with a beam of 39 feet.  They have 5 5.5 inch guns, two triple torpedo launcher, depth charges and mines.   Their AA as built is  bit light with two 37mm AA guns and pair of AA Machineguns. 

Speed is a key factor with a top speed 37 knots. Tactically there role was to race ahead and intercept opponents armed with torpedoes and put them down fast and hard.  Thus the focus on speed and a relatively heavy guns.  

The United States Navy thought of these ships are Light cruisers you'll also see the term "super destroyer" thrown around.   Comparing Le Fantasque to the Atlanta class you can see the point. The Atlanta is 530 feet long compared to the 434 feet length of the Fantastique.  Also the Fantastique were built to counter a class of Italian light cruiser (the Condottieri) I would argue they are just on the Destroyer side of the line (though only just). 

If any Contre-Torpilleur crosses over to being a light cruiser I'd argue its the Mogador class with its three twin turrets (for a total of 6 5.5inch guns).  You can see how it on the right here next to a Fantastque. 

Tree House up date

 This project was started Labor day weekend and as of this past Thanksgiving weekend I am declaring the tree house open. (not finished but good for the kids to use. 

I added some support where two of the plywood floor pieces meet. 

We have have added another wall.   this will go higher when I have time to get out toe it. 

Finally there is way up.  it needs some additional work but Evie can clime up and down (and so can her old man) 

and today having survived its first snowstorm

Force de Raid La Galissonnière-class cruisers

 The La Galissonniere class of light cruisers are the next part of Force de Raid. 

Four of Six members of this class were assigned to Force de Raid providing the Battle ships with a cruiser escort.  These are solid light cruisers of the 1930s period.  They have good armor only slightly lighter than the Alegre one of the best Prewar Heavy Cruisers.  They have a design speed of 31 Knots though they could reach 35 to 36 knots! if you pulled out all the stops (and were willing to risk engine damage) 

They have nine 6-inch guns for a main armament capable of a rate of fire between 3 and 5  round per minutes.  That's a good if not impressive rate of fire (the US Brooklyn's could manage 10 rounds a minute in short bursts) . They also had a pair of twin torpedo launchers one on each side.  The Galissonnieres are fleet light cruisers focusing on taking out enemy destroyers and cruisers so the battle ships can focus on the other fellows big boys. 

There other function is providing arial scouts each vessel had two sea planes for spotting and scouting.  The rear of the sip included a hanger and seaplane launch catapult on the 3 turret.  The open area be hind the gun is for an ingenious recovery system a wood and canvas mat dragged behind the ship that the seaplane could drive up on to and then be pull up on a crane.  This allowed aircraft to be recovered at spreads up to 15 knots