History
of the Ship
Unlike "Galissonnière"
class cruisers, for example, Suffren class cruisers are not really
sister ships. In fact, the Suffren, Colbert, Foch and Dupleix, of
the same class, have all four of the peculiarities. They are distinguished
in particular by armament or protection.
- The Suffren was launched on May 3, 1927.
- The Colbert was launched on April 20, 1928.
- The Foch is launched on April 24, 1929
- and finally Le Dupleix was launched on October 9, 1930
The Cruiser was originally
to bear the name "Louvois". But on March 20, 1929, Marshal
FOCH, died, and the new ship received the name of the hero of the
First World War. The Cruiser "Foch" entered service in
September 1931, He was assigned to the 3rd Light Cruiser Division
(DLC) based in Toulon.
In order to prepare for the
conflict which now seems inevitable, the French fleet is reorganizing:
The Mediterranean fleet becomes the "FHM" (Forces de Haute
Mer), based in Toulon.
In November 1939, the Cruiser "Foch" joined the force
"X" responsible for pursuing, in the Atlantic, German
pocket battleships such as the "Graf Spee". On June 14,
1940, after the declaration of late war by the Italians, he participated
in the bombing of the Italian coast, in the Vado region. After the
Armistice, due to the fuel shortage, sea trips will be rare.
On November 8, 1942, the
Allies landed in North Africa (operation "Torch"), which
led to the invasion of the free zone by the Germans on November
11, 1942. In order to prevent the French Fleet from falling into
their hands of the Germans, the Vichy authorities ordered the scuttling
of the Toulon Fleet on November 27, 1942. The cruiser "Foch"
was sunk without being burned, but the ship was declared irreparable.
However, it was bailed out in April 1943, and its carcass was towed
to La Seyne to be dismantled there to recover what could still be
used by the occupant.
