Colbert (cruiser)

History

The Colbert was put at flood the March 24th 1956 to begin its tests on December 5th of the following year. Officially, it was brought into active service on May 5th 1959, with Toulon as Home port. Its main missions consisted in protecting a Porte-avions from the air raids, to be used as support fire in terrestrial operations, of building of command within the framework of naval operation and capacity of evacuation of French nationals overseas.

To ensure a defense and a suitable attack, the Colbert was to leave in squadron 15 ships. In 1964 a reorganization of the Navy makes integrate the Colbert into the squadron of the Mediterranean of which it becomes the Flagship. This squadron is made up of several complementary units like Porte-avions, frigates, etc

Image of France and famous passenger

The role of representation of France of the Colbert was important. In 1961, it repatriates ashes of the marshal Lyautey. In 1964, it accompanied the Général de Gaulle in her round in South America. But the voyage remained most famous is that of July 1967 where, with C olbert , the De Gaulle General went in official visit to the Canada. It is at the time of this visit that the latter pronounced the famous sentence from now on: “Quebec Libre Lives! ” since the balcony of the town hall of Montreal. Following the diplomatic incident which followed, it could not continue its official visit. The Colbert represented France with the festivals of the bicentenary of the Australia in 1988.

An exceeded concept

Built too late, the cruisers having made their time, the Colbert is supplanted as of end of the year 60 by ships of new generation more adapted to the new threats. Its armament based on artillery became obsolete and ineffective vis-a-vis the supersonic fighter plans. Between 1970 and 1972, the ship thus is modernized and refitted in the cruiser missile launcher. Brest becomes its home port. It becomes again ship-admiral of the squadron of the Mediterranean starting from 1976.

“Peaceful” ship, the cruiser was also useful, in addition to for the representation of the country, humane missions (Agadir in 1960, evacuation with Bizerte in 1961). It had the reputation in the French navy never not to have drawn only one blow from gun to the combat. Its only mission of war proceeded during the first war of the Gulf in 1991, a few months before its disarmament, where it took part in the Opération Salamander.

The Colbert was definitively disarmed the May 24th 1991.

Armament

4 slopes lance-missile Exocet
2 slopes lance-missile average carried Masurca
6 turrets anti-aircraft of 57 mm
2 guns of 100 Misters
1 platform of reception of Hélicoptère S marinades any type.

Museum

The Colbert became a museum floating, based in the Port of Bordeaux in June 1993 where it could be visited. Classified historic building, it was the boat museum more visited France in 2004 and the “monument” more visited city. The Colbert was a private museum: if the ship belongs to the State, this last had conceded it with an association, “the Friends of Colbert”. Several arrow courses were then arranged, with a visit lasting between 2 a.m. at 3 a.m., to translate the life such as it was on board. A guided visit made it possible to have access to parts closed the public like some rooms engine, of the cabins, etc There existed several permanent exposures on board on the Navy or Météo France. An exposure original of models was also found there, where one could see model makers with work. The siren of the ship resounded midday, every Wednesday and Sundays.

A restaurant had been arranged outside under shelter, whose kitchens were in the old kitchens of the Colbert . The restaurant could also serve as the room of coffee-dance. It was expected that a station of tram is installed on the quay in front of the Colbert , allowing a faster access of or towards the downtown area of Bordeaux with the hope to increase the frequentation of the ship. The stopover of this cruiser had strongly contributed to the installation of the quays.

But this museum caused also criticisms in Bordeaux of which those of residents (strange: there existed even a named association “Run Colbert”). The Colbert knows also recurring financial problems. Although owner, the State, did not take responsibility for his the maintenance costs which one such ship needs. A complete painting of the building, for example, costs more 500 000 €, too high for the budget of the museum. Even with quay, for safety reasons and of image, this building required a constant maintenance.

Programmed end

Without the possibility of financing that Ci and under the pressure of certain local associations and of the town hall of Bordeaux, the Colbert is closed with the public the October 2nd 2006 and is withdrawn from the quay the May 31st 2007, scratch date of the concession and the under-concession. Its last voyage brings it to Brest, towed by the National marine, it is then anchored to the Cimetière of the ships of Landévennec.

Because of great technical similarities, the National marine still from time to time takes spare parts (primarily on the engines) on the Colbert to assemble them on the Jeanne d' Arc which will be disarmed in 2010, which prevents the demolition Colbert before 2011.

Random links: