Surcouf D621

Surcouf in 1970, a few months before her accident. The forward 57mm turret and the aft torpedo launchers had made way for an enlarged bridge and staff housing quarters when she was transformed into a flotilla leader ship.
History
France
Name:	Surcouf
Namesake:	Robert Surcouf
Laid down:	February 1951
Launched:	October 1953
Commissioned:	1955
Decommissioned:	5 May 1972
Homeport:	Brest and later Toulon
Fate:	Sunk as target
General characteristics
Class and type:	T 47-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,750 tons standard 3,740 tons full load
Length:	128.62 m (422.0 ft)
Beam:	12.7 m (42 ft)
Draught:	5.4 m (18 ft)
Installed power:	63,000 shp (47,000 kW)
Propulsion:	Geared steam turbines Parsons 2 shafts 4 Fuel boilers
Speed:	34 kn (63 km/h)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h)
Complement:	347
Armament:	6 × 127-mm (5-inch) guns (3 twin turrets) 6 × 57mm/60 modèle 1951 guns (3 twin turrets) 4 × 20-mm (0.79-inch) guns (4 × 1) 6 × 550-mm (22-inch) short-tubes for anti-submarine torpedo (2 × 3) 6 × 550-mm (22-inch) long-tubes for dual purpose : anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedo (2 × 3)

Surcouf was a T 47-class destroyer of the French Navy. She was the fourth French ship named in honour of Robert Surcouf.

Laid down in February 1951 at Lorient and launched in October 1953, Surcouf was commissioned into the French Navy in 1955. She was the first of 12 T 47-class destroyers. With a standard displacement of 2,750 tons and a length of 128.6 metres, the ship had a beam of 12.7 metres and a draught of 5.4 metres. Her armament consisted of six 127-mm guns which were mounted in three twin turrets, six 57-mm guns in twin mounts and four single-mounted 20-mm guns. There were four banks of three 550-mm torpedo tubes, capable of launching both anti-submarine homing and anti-ship torpedoes. Surcouf had two shafts, geared turbines, and four boilers, which were capable of producing 63,000 horsepower and a top speed of 34 knots (71,725 shp (53,485 kW) and 38 knots during trials). At 18 knots, Surcouf had a range of 5,000 nautical miles. The ship had a complement of 347 personnel.

In the early 1960s, Surcouf was converted to a command ship to become a Flotilla Leader. In order to install an Operations centre and housings for an admiral and his staff, the forward 57mm mount was removed (extending forward the bridge) and the two aft torpedo platforms were removed so that housing quarters could be constructed.

The overhaul was conducted the arsenal of Brest between 11 June 1960 (commencement of work) and 4 October 1961 (end of the tests).

Following her commissioning in November 1955, Surcouf's homeport was Toulon, being assigned to the First destroyers flotilla (1st FEE), at the head of the Fourth destroyers Division (DEE4).

In 1956 she alternates naval exercises (including Nato's) and the Algerian coast surveillance. From October to December Surcouf took part in Operation Musketeer during the Suez Crisis.

Early 1959 (on 10 April) her assignment and home Port are changed : Surcouf is attached to the Tenth destroyers Division (DEE10) into the light Fleet (the Escadre légère) based in Brest.

On 26 March 1960, Surcouf was accidentally rammed by the cargo ship Léognan off Groix, with big material damage but without making victim.