French Heavy Cruiser Tourville

Tourville was the second ship of the Duquesne class cruisers of the French Navy. Laid down on 4 March 1925, she was commissioned into the Marine nationale on 5 May 1928. At the time of the French Armistice, Tourville was in Alexander Habour and was prevented from leaving by the Royal Navy. On 3 July 1940 Admiral Cunningham present Admiral Godfrey the ultimatum – surrender the ships to British control, demilitarize the ships at their moorings or scuttle. The Admirals signed an agreement on 7 July 1940 to demilitarize the vessels.

Upon re-joining the Allies on 17 May 1943, Tourville sailed for Dakar and underwent an overhaul. She undertook several patrols to intercept blockade runners in late 1943 and early 1944. Post war she served in Indo-China where she undertook shore bombardment and transport duties. Returning to France on 11 December 1947 she was initially used as a barracks ship.. She later housed the School of Officers of the Reserve then became the Navigation School. On 28 April 1961 she was placed in Reserve B, then stricken on 8 March 1962. She was towed from Brest on 15 January 1963 arriving at La Seyne on 4 February for breaking.

Photographs

Tourville

Tourville in Gatun Lake, Panama Canal zone, on 1 May 1929

Tourville

Tourville’s torpedo tubes

Tourville launching a Gourdou-Leseurre GL-812 HY

Tourville 31 December 1928

Tourville in Gatun Lake, Panama Canal zone, on 1 May 1929

Tourville 5 April 1929

Tourville 31 December 1928

Tourville 5 April 1929

Tourville (left), Duquesne and the destroyer Basque (centre) and the bows of the cruiser Duguay Trouin (right). Alexandria 22 and 24 April 1942

Left to right: Duquesne; Destroyer Forbin (T32) alongside Cruiser Tourville; Destroyer Basque (T33) alongside Cruiser Suffren. Alexandria 22 and 24 April 1942