Le Fantasque-Class

Some of the best destroyers ever made didn’t come from maritime juggernauts like Great Britain or Japan, but from a nation whose navy was stuck playing second fiddle to its army.

In 1930 the French were put in an anxiety inducing situation in the Mediterranean. Their chief rival in the region, Italy had started construction on the Condottiteri-class of cruisers and had 12 planned in total. The French now had to counter this move by introducing a new class of ship of their own.

The French then designed and built what is regarded as some of the best destroyers ever made.

Le Fantasque-class ship Le Terrible set a new record for speed after hitting 45 knots, the ships were designed to be fast and hard hitting. Attack fast do as much damage as possible then flee at speed once the job is done.

Unfortunately for France the second world war didn’t really go their way after the summer of 1940, but thankfully for France the Free French Navy got to make use of the Le Fantasque destroyers where they served in multiple campaigns during the war.