The French destroyer La Railleuse was one of 14 s built for the French Navy during the 1920s. During World War II, she was destroyed when one of her torpedoes exploded on 23 March 1940.
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 1380lk=onNaNlk=on 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 enough fuel oil to give 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 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]
La Railleuse was laid down on 1 August 1925, launched on 9 September 1926 and completed on 15 March 1928. She was cut in half by an accidental explosion of one of her torpedoes on 23 March 1940 at Casablanca, French Morocco, killing 28 and wounding 24 crewmen. Her main guns were removed from the wreck and installed as coast-defense guns at Safi, French Morocco. Her remains were sold for scrap in April 1942.[3]
. 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.