The French destroyer Brestois was one of 14 L'Adroit-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1920s.
The L'Adroit class was a slightly enlarged and improved version of the preceding Bourrasque class. The ships had an overall length of 107.2m (351.7feet), a beam of 9.9m (32.5feet), and a draft of 3.5m (11.5feet). The ships displaced 1380t at standard load and 2000t 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 31000PS, which would propel the ships at 33kn. The ships carried 3860NaN0 of fuel oil which gave them a range of 3000nmi at .[1]
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 550mm torpedo tubes. A pair of depth charge chutes were built into their stern; these housed a total of sixteen 200kg (400lb) depth charges. In addition two depth charge throwers were fitted for which six 100kg (200lb) depth charges were carried.[2]
Brestois was laid down on 17 May 1926, launched on 18 May 1927 and completed on 15 June 1928. She capsized after being hit by gunfire from the American cruiser USS Brooklyn[3] off Casablanca, French Morocco, on 8 November 1942 during the Naval Battle of Casablanca.[4]
. Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. Annapolis, Maryland. 2005. Third Revised. 1-59114-119-2. Jürgen Rohwer.
. Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Naval Institute Press. 1988. 0-87021-326-1. Annapolis, Maryland. Michael J. Whitley.