Georges Leygues (cruiser)

The Georges Leygues is a Croiseur light French of the class Galissonnière . It was named in the honor of Georges Leygues, several times Minister for the Marine at the beginning of the 20th century.

Launched in 1936, it took part in the Second world war, initially under the mode of Vichy then in the free French Naval forces. It will intervene at the time of the unloadings of Normandy and of Provence. Then it took part in the Guerre of Indo-China then to the Crise of Suez Canal. It will be disarmed in 1959.

History

Built in the Workshops and Chantiers of Penhoët in Saint-Nazaire, its construction starts in 1933. It is put at flood on March 24th, 1936 to be completed on December 4th, 1937. It had was called initially Chateaurenault during the launching of the project but was famous Georges Leygues right before his construction after the death of the former minister.

At the beginning of the Second world war, it is used in the “Force as raid” which patrols in the Atlantic to counter the raids of the German ships forcing the blockade then to prevent the Italian threat, the Georges Leygues and other warships French are sent to Mers el Kébir in Algeria on April 24th, 1940. It avoids the destruction at the time of attacks Seas el Kébir by the British and joined Toulon. September 9th, it leaves the of the department of Var port with its Sister-ship Gloire and the cruiser Montcalm and passes Gibraltar without being worried (what will be worth with the admiral Norh ordering the British naval place to be raised of its functions). The flotilla stops with Casablanca to make full and continuous one to Dakar where it arrives on September 14th. It leaves Dakar on September 18th in direction of Libreville in Gabon but is blocked by British ships of which HMS Australia . The Georges Leygues accompanied by the Montcalm turns over then on Dakar. They will help with the defense of the port against the attack of the British and the Free French Army to take the city on September 23rd, 1940. The Georges Leygues touches 2 times HMS Australia and avoids the attacks by torpedes of the British Naval Aviation.

Separately the transport of ingots in Casablanca in August 1941, the ship will remain inactive the 2 following years until the unloading combined in North Africa and the German occupation of the free zone. The ship then joined the allies with other ships. At the beginning of 1943, it begins patrols in the Atlantic from Dakar and on April 13rd it intercepts the German ship Portland which was run by its crew. The Georges Leygues is modified with Philadelphia February in August 1943 with the withdrawal of sound Hydravion and the installation of anti-aircraft batteries.

The Georges Leygues goes back to Dakar for patrols against the German ships trying to force the blockade. It took part then in the unloading of Normandy, in support fire of the American troops of Omaha Beach in June 1944 then with the unloading in Provence in August. According to a French naval tradition, the flag of war of the ships was lengthened of one meter per month spent apart from France, that of the Georges Leygues measured 60 meters at the time of its entry in the wearing of Toulon on September 13rd, 1944. It was besides as a flagship, the first French boat to enter the military port.

The ship bombarded then the coast of the Italian Riviera around Genoa until March 1945. It was its last engagement at the time of this war.

It until the end of January 1946 undergoes an important recasting in Casablanca of May 1945. In 1954, with Montcalm, it was used as support fire at the time of the Guerre of Indo-China and in 1956, it took part in the Franco-British intervention at the time of the Crise of Suez Canal.

It is disarmed in November 1959 and will be then used for various tests. It will be used as drifting target on July 19th, 1960 in the south of the island of Raising off Toulon for the shooting of 8 drawn missiles AS20 with active loads of which 7 will touch the ship. The cruiser will be sent then to the breakers in 1961.

External sources and bonds

Netmarine.net
Cruiser Georges Leygues

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