List of Classes of French ships of World War II explained

This is a list of French ship Classes of World War II. This includes ship Classes used by the French Third Republic, Vichy France and Free France.The sections of the last are in chronological order with the first ships into service being first and the last ships into service being last.

Due to there being three French factions in World War II I will note beside each class its French users. The abbreviation FTR by a class shows it was in service with the Third French Republic, VF by a class shows it was in service with Vichy France and FF by a class shows it was in service with Free French forces.

Aircraft Carrier

• French aircraft carrier Béarn- FTR and VF

Seaplane tender

• French seaplane carrier Commandant Teste- FTR and VF

Battleships

• Courbet-class battleship- FTR, VF and FF
• Bretagne-class battleship- FTR, VF and FF
• Dunkerque-class battleship- FTR and VF
• Richelieu-class battleship- VF and FF

Cruisers

Heavy cruisers

• Duquesne-class cruiser- FTR and FF
• Suffren-class cruiser- FTR, VF and FF
• French cruiser Algérie- FTR and VF

Light cruisers

• Duguay-Trouin-class cruiser- FTR, VF and FF
• French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc (1930)- FTR, VF and FF
• French cruiser Émile Bertin- FTR, VF and FF
• La Galissonnière-class cruiser- FTR, VF and FF

Minelaying cruiser

• French cruiser Pluton- FTR and VF

Destroyers

Large destroyers

• Chacal-class destroyer- FTR, VF and FF
• Guépard-class destroyer- FTR and VF
• Aigle-class destroyer-FTR and VF
• Vauquelin-class destroyer- FTR and VF
• Le Fantasque-class destroyer- FTR, VF and FF
• Mogador-class destroyer- FTR and VF

Small destroyers

• Bourrasque-class destroyer- FTR, VF and FF
• L'Adroit-class destroyer- FTR, VF and FF
• Le Hardi-class destroyer- FTR and VF
• La Melpomène-class torpedo boat- FTR, VF and FF
• French destroyer La Combattante (British Hunt Class destroyer)-FF

Submarines

• Sirène-class submarine (1925)- FTR and VF
• Ariane-class submarine- FTR and VF
• Circé-class submarine (1925)- FTR and VF
• Argonaute-class submarine- FTR, VF and FF
• Orion-class submarine- FTR and FF
• Diane-class submarine (1930)- FTR and VF
• Saphir-class submarine (1928)- FTR, VF and FF
• Requin-class submarine- FTR, VF and FF
• Redoutable-class submarine (1928)- FTR, VF and FF
• French submarine Surcouf^[1] - FTR and FF
• Minerve-class submarine- FTR, VF and FF
• Aurore-class submarine- FTR and VF
• French submarine Curie (P67)(British U-class submarine)- FF
• French submarine Narval (T4)(Captured Italian Acciaio-class submarine)^[2] - FF

Avisos/sloops

• Arabis-class sloop- FTR
  • French ship Ville d'Ys- FTR and VF
• Arras-class aviso-FTR,VFandFF
• Bougainville-class aviso- FTR, VF and FF
• Élan-class sloop- FTR, VF and FF
• Chamois-class minesweeping sloop- FTR, VF and FF

Escorteurs/Escorts

• Flower-class corvette- FF
• River-class frigate- FF
• PC-461-class submarine chaser^[3] - FF
• Cannon-class destroyer escort- FF

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hughes. Russell. 2017-12-08. The Mysterious Disappearance Of The French WW2 Submarine Surcouf. 2021-05-29. WAR HISTORY ONLINE. en.
2. Web site: French submarine Narval. The French Navy has operated four submarines named Narval French submarine Narval Q4, a pioneering submarine of the late 19th century F. 2021-05-30. ww.en.freejournal.org. en.
3. Web site: Wrecksite.eu.