French destroyer Foudroyant (1929)

The French destroyer Foudroyant was one of 14 L'Adroit-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1920s.

Design and description
The L'Adroit class was a slightly enlarged and improved version of the preceding Bourrasque class. The ships had an overall length of 107.2 m, a beam of 9.9 m, and a draft of 3.5 m. The ships displaced 1380 t at standard load and 2000 t at deep load. They were powered by two geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by three du Temple boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 31000 PS, which would propel the ships at 33 kn. The ships carried 386 t of fuel oil which gave them a range of 3000 nmi at 15 kn.

The main armament of the L'Adroit-class ships consisted of four Canon de 130 mm Modèle 1924 guns in single mounts, one superfiring pair each fore and aft of the superstructure. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of a pair of Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925 guns. The ships carried two above-water triple sets of 550 mm torpedo tubes. A pair of depth charge chutes were built into their stern; these housed a total of sixteen 200 kg depth charges. In addition two depth charge throwers were fitted for which six 100 kg depth charges were carried.

Construction and career
Foudroyant was laid down on 28 July 1927, launched on 24 April 1929 and commissioned on 10 October 1930. She was sunk on 1 June 1940 off Dunkirk by German aircraft, whilst assisting in the Dunkirk evacuation.

Wreck located at: 51.08203°N, 2.25852°W.