Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Marine Nationale — Cruiser

French cruiser Lamotte-Picquet

Duguay-Trouin-class cruiser

French cruiser Lamotte-Picquet
USN — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 81987 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate The French light cruiser Lamotte-Picquet moored off Shanghai, China, probably in late May or early June 1939. At left is the stern of the British light cruiser Birmingham (C19). The bow of the U.S. Navy troop transport USS Chaumont (AP-5) is at right, immediately astern of Lamotte-Picquet . Also present are the Danish steamer Promise (beyond Lamotte-Picquet 's bow), the British steamer Yingchow (r

Service

  1. Marine Nationale as Lamotte-Picquet5 March 1927 — November 1941819 days of the war
Duguay-Trouin-class cruiser Particulars
Name
Lamotte-Picquet
Namesake
Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte
Builder
Arsenal de Lorient
Laid down
17 January 1923
Launched
21 March 1924
Commissioned
5 March 1927
Fate
Sunk during the South China Sea raid, 12 January 1945 (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, standard
7,249 long tons (7,365 t)
Displacement, full load
9,350 long tons (9,500 t)
Length
181.3 m (594.8 ft) OA
Beam
17.5 m (57.4 ft)
Draught
6.14 m (20.1 ft)
Speed
33 knots (61.1 km/h, 38 mph)
Range
3,000 nmi (5,556 km)
Complement
578
Main gun
155 mm (6.1 in)

Lamotte-Picquet was a Duguay-Trouin-class cruiser, operated by the Marine Nationale. She was named for Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte. Arsenal de Lorient laid her keel on 17 January 1923. She entered service on 5 March 1927, having been launched on 21 March 1924.

Her class ran to three ships. The class followed the La Motte-Picquet-class cruiser and was succeeded by the French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc (1930).

She displaced 7,249 long tons standard and 9,350 long tons at full load. She measured 181.3 m (595 ft) long with a beam of 17.5 m (57 ft). Her designed speed was 33 knots, and she carried a complement of 578.

Her main battery was eight 155 mm (6.1 in) guns. She carried two aircraft.

She was in commission for 819 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 12 January 1945. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 4-shaft Parsons single-reduction geared turbines; 8 Guyot boilers; 102000 shp
Armament
  • 8 × 155 mm/50 guns (4 × 2)
  • 4 × 75 mm anti-aircraft guns (4 × 1)
  • 12 × 550 mm torpedo tubes (4 × 3)
Armour
  • Deck: 20 mm
  • Magazine box: 30 mm
  • Turrets and conning tower: 30 mm
Aircraft
  • 2 Gourdou-Leseurre GL-812, later GL-832
  • 1 catapult

Sister ships

Sources

  • Facts harvested from French cruiser Lamotte-Picquet on Wikipedia. Figures only — no wording is taken from it.
  • Photograph: USN — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 81987 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons