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{{short description|Destroyer of the French Navy}}
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{{other ships|French ship Fougueux}}
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|Ship image= French L'Adroit-class destroyer underway off Toulon in the late 1930s.jpg
|Ship caption=An unknown ''L'Adroit''-class destroyer off Toulon, {{c.}} late 1930s
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship in service=
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|Ship fate=Sunk, 8 November 1942, during the [[Naval Battle of Casablanca]]
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The '''French destroyer ''Fougueux''''' was one of 14 {{sclass|L'Adroit|destroyer}}s built for the [[French Navy]] during the 1920s. Completed in 1930, the ship was initially assigned to the 1st Squadron ({{lang|fr|1<sup>e</sup> Escadre}}) in the [[Mediterranean]]. Five years later she was transferred to the 2nd Squadron ({{lang|fr|2<sup>e</sup> Escadre}}) in the Atlantic. During the [[Spanish Civil War]] of 1936–1939, ''Fougueux'' was one of the ships that helped to enforce the [[Non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War|non-intervention agreement]].
When France declared war on Germany in September 1939, the ship spent most of the next year escorting [[convoy]]s. She bombarded German troops [[German invasion of the Netherlands|in the Netherlands]] and provided [[naval gunfire support]] to French troops during the [[Battle of France]] in May 1940. ''Fougueux'' helped to escort an incomplete battleship away from [[Metropolitan France]] to prevent its capture by the Germans the following month. The ship took refuge in [[Casablanca]], [[French Morocco]] before the [[Armistice of 22 June 1940|Armistice with Germany]] later in June. She spent most of the next two years on escort duties between [[French North Africa]] and Metropolitan France. ''Fougueux'' was sunk during the [[Naval Battle of Casablanca]] in November 1942 as the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] invaded French North Africa during [[Operation Torch]].
==Design and description==
The ''L'Adroit'' class was a slightly enlarged and improved version of the preceding [[Bourrasque-class destroyer|''Bourrasque'' class]]. The ships had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|107.2|m|ftin|sp=us}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|9.9|m|ftin|sp=us}}, and a [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|3.5|m|ftin|sp=us}}. The ships displaced {{convert|1380|t|LT|sp=us|lk=on}} at standard load and {{convert|2000|t|LT|sp=us}} at [[deep load]]. ''
The main armament of the ''L'Adroit''-class ships consisted of four [[Canon de 130 mm Modèle 1924|Canon de {{cvt|130|mm}} mm Modèle 1924]] guns in single mounts, one [[superfiring]] pair each fore and aft of the [[superstructure]]. Their [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] armament consisted of a pair of [[Canon de 37 mm Modèle 1925|Canon de {{cvt|37|mm}} mm Modèle 1925]] guns, one mount on each [[broadside (naval)|broadside]] abreast the rear superstructure. For defense against [[strafing]] aircraft the ships were equipped with a pair of mounts for two or four {{convert|8|mm|in|adj=on|sp=us|3}} [[Hotchkiss Mle 1914 machine gun]]s abreast the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]]. The ships carried two above-water triple sets of {{convert|550|mm|in|adj=on|sp=us|1}} [[torpedo tube]]s. A pair of [[depth charge]] chutes were built into their stern; these housed a total of sixteen {{convert|200|kg|sp=us|adj=on}} depth charges. In addition two [[Thornycroft]] depth-charge throwers were fitted at the end of the [[forecastle]] for which six {{convert|100|kg|sp=us|adj=on}} depth charges were carried.<ref>Jordan & Moulin, pp. 62–66</ref>
===Modifications===
The French Navy decided to convert some of the ''L'Adroit''-class ships to fast [[fleet minesweeper]]s to clear the path of the main battlefleet in 1933 and two [[paravane (weapon)|paravanes]] were installed aboard ''Fougueux'' in 1934. A high-angle {{convert|1|m|in|adj=on|sp=us}} [[stereoscopic rangefinder]] for the [[anti-aircraft gun|anti-aircraft (AA) guns]] was added on the rear superstructure sometime after October 1933. The original {{convert|3|m|ftin|adj=on|sp=us}} [[coincidence rangefinder]] for the [[main battery]] was replaced by a {{convert|5|m|ftin|adj=on|sp=us}} model in April 1937. It was enclosed in a lightweight turret before September 1939.<ref>Jordan & Moulin, pp. 67–68</ref>
The Navy belatedly began to realize the value of underwater detection systems for [[anti-submarine warfare]] in the late 1930s. The Multispot [[hydrophone]] system was installed in all the ships of the class by the end of February 1939. A French-built [[sonar]] system designated SS1 was installed in three of the ''L'Adroit''s that year and the Navy ordered 16 Type 123 ASDIC systems on 10 May 1939 from the British with a follow-on order for 25 more Type 123s and 25 of the more advanced Type 128s in October. Deliveries did not begin until August and only two systems per month were received; ''Fougueux'' received her Type 123 installation in [[Lorient]] in March 1940.<ref>Jordan & Moulin, pp. 71–72</ref>
Beginning in March 1939 twin-gun mounts for the {{convert|13.2|mm|in|adj=on|sp=us|2}} [[Hotchkiss 13.2 mm machine gun|Hotchkiss Modèle 1929 machine gun]] began to replace the mounts for the 8 mm weapons. To compensate for the weight high in the ship of all these changes, initially one torpedo, but later two were removed from the ''L'Adroit''s. While under repair in June 1940, ''Fougueux'' had a single {{convert|25|mm|in|adj=on|sp=us|0}} [[25 mm Hotchkiss anti-aircraft gun|Hotchkiss Modèle 1939]] AA gun installed on the rear superstructure and the [[mainmast]] was removed to clear the weapon's firing arc and reduce top weight. After the French armistice with Germany, the paravanes were removed and the two depth charge throwers were repositioned to the stern and another pair was added. The number of depth charges was increased to fifteen 200 kg weapons and thirty-two 100 kg weapons. The ship also received two single mounts for 13.2 mm [[Browning M2|Browning machine guns]] on the stern and the Hotchkiss 13.2 mm guns were provided with [[gun shield]]s.<ref>Jordan & Moulin, pp. 73–74</ref>
==Construction and career==
''Fougueux'' was ordered on 3 May 1927 as part of the 1926 Naval Program<ref>Jordan & Moulin, p. 61</ref> and [[laid down]] on 21 September by [[Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne]] at its [[shipyard]] in [[Nantes]]. The ship was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 4 August 1928 and completed on 15 June 1930.<ref>Whitley, p. 48</ref> She was based at [[Military port of Toulon|Toulon]] and assigned to the 11th Torpedo Division ({{lang|fr|11<sup>e</sup> Division de torpilleurs}}) of the Torpedo Flotilla ({{lang|fr|Flotille de torpilleurs}}) of the 1st Squadron as of 1 October. ''Fougueux'' was transferred to the 2nd Squadron based at [[Brest, France|Brest]] on 27 July 1935 and assigned to the newly formed 2nd Torpedo Division on 1 October. The ship was detached to French Morocco in late 1935. [[Albert Lebrun]], [[President of France]], inaugurated the new building of the Naval Academy ({{lang|fr|[[École Navale]]}}) in Brest and reviewed the 2nd Squadron on 30 May 1936, including ''Fougueux'' and five of her [[sister ship]]s. The 2nd Squadron was renamed as the Atlantic Squadron on 15 August and the ship remained assigned to the 2nd Torpedo Division. ''Fougueux'' and her sister {{ship|French destroyer|Frondeur||2}} were enforcing the non-intervention agreement during the Spanish Civil War on 9 August 1938 when they were attacked by four [[bomber]]s of the [[Spanish Republican Air Force]], but the bombs fell wide of the ships.<ref>Jordan & Moulin, pp. 206, 213, 215–218, 220</ref>
===World War II===
''Fougueux'' and most of the other destroyers were assigned convoy escort missions when the war began in September 1939. Most of them were uneventful, but the ship dropped depth charges on a periscope sighting without result on 14 January 1940. She made an unsuccessful attack on the {{GS|U-44|1939|6}} after the submarine had sunk the [[Cargo ship|freighter]] {{SS|Alsacien}} on 24 January. On 29 March 1940, the ship's ASDIC set detected a submarine and ''Fougueux'' attacked the contact with depth charges, but it was almost certainly a sunken wreck.<ref>Jordan & Moulin, pp. 24–25</ref> ''Fougueux'' and three other destroyers bombarded German troops around [[Walcheren]] and [[Zuid-Beveland]] in the [[Netherlands]] on 16–17 May. The ship supported French troops defending [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]] against German troops as they approached the port on 23–24 May.<ref>Jordan & Moulin, p. 228; Rohwer, pp. 23–24</ref> She was hit by a bomb on the morning of 24 May and had to withdraw to [[Cherbourg Naval Base|Cherbourg]] for repairs. ''Fougueux'' and ''Frondeur'' escorted the incomplete [[battleship]] {{ship|French battleship|Richelieu||2}} from Brest to Casablanca, French Morocco, from 18 to 20 June.<ref>Jordan & Dumas, p. 125; Rohwer, p. 29</ref>
The ship was still in Casablanca when [[Armistice of 22 June 1940|Armistice with Germany]] went into effect on 25 June. Convoys between Casablanca and [[Metropolitan France]] began in August and ''Fougueux'' was one of the ships tasked with escorting them. After the British attack on Dakar in September, ''Fougueux'' and ''Frondeur'', together with the destroyers {{ship|French destroyer|Épée|1938|2}} and {{ship|French destroyer|Fleuret|1938|2}} were ordered to attack British shipping in the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] in retaliation as the [[Vichy France|Vichy French]] government began a policy of limited cooperation with the [[Axis Powers]]. They encountered only an unidentified British destroyer and all of ''Épée''{{'}}s guns malfunctioned after firing a total of only 14 [[Cartridge (firearms)|rounds]] while ''Fleuret''{{'}}s [[Director (military)|fire-control director]] brokedown entirely. The ships continued onward to [[Oran]], [[French Algeria]]. ''Fougueux'' was refitted in [[Algiers]], French Algeria, from 23 November to 18 March 1941. On 8 April ''Fougueux'' responded to a distress call broadcast by the [[banana boat (ship)|banana boat]] {{SS|Fort de France}} as she was being boarded by sailors from the British [[armed merchant cruiser]] {{HMS|Bulolo}}. ''Fort de France'' was retaken four days later.<ref>Holtam, p. S287</ref><ref>Jordan & Moulin, pp. 188, 231, 239–240</ref> On 6 February 1942, ''Fougueux'' was transferred to Oran, and then helped to escort the damaged battleship {{ship|French battleship|Dunkerque||2}} from [[Mers el-Kebir]], French Algeria, to Toulon on 19–20 February.<ref>Jordan & Dumas, p. 88</ref> The destroyer returned to Oran afterward and began a major refit there. Still assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Division, the destroyers at Casablanca were placed under the newly formed 2nd Light Squadron ({{lang|fr|2<sup>e</sup> escadre légère}}) on 18 April. ''Fougueux'' arrived back at Casablanca on 21 August.<ref>Jordan & Moulin, pp. 239–240</ref>
====Naval battle of Casablanca====
As Operation Torch began before dawn on 8 November, the Americans launched an [[amphibious landing]] east of [[Fedala]], French Morocco. The 2nd Light Squadron was ordered to raise steam and attack the enemy off Fedala at 0630. Visibility was poor as the early morning haze blanketed the area and it decreased over the course of the day as smoke from burning oil storage tanks and [[smoke screen]]s laid by French ships worsened. The squadron had exited the harbor by 0815 and was steaming for Fedala at {{convert|18|kn}}. ''Fougueux'' and ''Frondeur'' were in the rear of the formation. [[Rear Admiral]] [[Gervais de Lafond]] was commanding the squadron and he ordered it to reverse course around 0840, upon spotting the [[heavy cruiser]] {{USS|Augusta|CA-31|2}}, and hoping to lure it within range of the immobile battleship {{ship|French battleship|Jean Bart|1940|2}} and [[coast-defense gun]]s. ''Fougueux'' missed the signal and continued to lead ''Frondeur'' towards Fedala. ''Augusta'' opened fire at ''Fougueux'' at a range of {{convert|19000|yd}} at 0843. Around 0848 the destroyer was strafed by [[Grumman F4F Wildcat]] [[fighter aircraft|fighters]], killing one of the [[navigator]]s, the [[helmsman]] and several [[signalmen]]. One shell from ''Augusta'' near missed the ship at 0850, its splinters causing minor flooding damage. [[Commander (naval)|Commander]] Louis Sticca, ''Fougueux''{{'}}s [[captain (nautical)|captain]], realized that his division was alone and he reversed course at 0852, not realizing that his ships were the furthest west and closest to the American ships.<ref>O'Hara, pp. 186, 192–197</ref>
Task Group 34.1, consisting of the battleship {{USS|Massachusetts|BB-59|2}} and her consorts, the heavy cruisers {{USS|Tuscaloosa|CA-37|2}} and {{USS|Wichita|CA-45|2}}, had finally been alerted to the French [[sortie]] and were rapidly approaching the 2nd Destroyer Division by 0900. The battleship spotted the French destroyers at 0916 and opened fire at a range of {{convert|19400|yd}}. The French replied two minutes later, but neither side scored any hits before the American ships reversed course at 0935. Five minutes later a shell struck ''Fougueux''{{'}}s [[bow (nautical)|bow]], crushing it up to the [[quarterdeck]] and setting the ship on fire. The ship had fired only 120 main-gun rounds thus far. Heavy flooding prompted Sticca to quickly order his crew to abandon ship. ''Frondeur'' attempted to go to her sister's aid, but she was hit by an {{convert|8|in|adj=on|0}} shell from ''Tuscaloosa'' at 0946. Informed that ''Fougueux'' did not need assistance, ''Frondeur'' sheered off and steamed to rendezvous with the ships of the 5th Destroyer Division.<ref>O'Hara, pp. 198–200, 210</ref>
''Fougueux'' blew up and sank at 1000;<ref>O'Hara, p. 202</ref> a total of 14 men had been killed.<ref>Jordan & Moulin, p. 242</ref> The [[aviso]] {{ship|French aviso|La Grandière||2}} exited the harbor at 1006 and attempted to rescue ''Fougueux''{{'}}s survivors, but she was engaged by ''Tuscaloosa'' as soon as she was spotted by the American heavy cruiser. The [[Sloop-of-war|sloop]] {{ship|French sloop|La Gracieuse||2}} managed to do so around 1200. ''La Grandière'' made another attempt around 1330, but exchanged shots with ''Augusta'' around that time.<ref>O'Hara, pp. 210–212</ref>
==Notes==
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==References==
*{{cite journal |last1=Holtham |first1=Tony |title=HMS ''Bulolo'' |journal=Marine News Supplement: Warships |date=May 2022 |volume=76 |issue=5 |pages=S283–S299 |issn=0966-6958}}
*{{cite book |last1=Jordan|first1=John|last2=Dumas|first2=Robert|title=French Battleships: 1922–1956|year=2009|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=978-1-59114-416-8|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=0-85177-146-7}}▼
*{{cite book|last1=Jordan|first1=John|last2=Moulin|first2=Jean|title=French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d'Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs 1922–1956|year=2015|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-198-4 |name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book |last1=O'Hara |first1=Vincent P. |title=Torch: North Africa and the Allied Path to Victory |date=2015 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-1-61251-922-7}}
▲*{{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger |publisher=
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2|authorlink=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1988|isbn=0-87021-326-1|location=Annapolis, Maryland|authorlink=Michael J. Whitley}}
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{{L'Adroit class destroyer}}
{{November 1942 shipwrecks}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fougueux (1928)}}
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[[Category:1928 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in November 1942]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
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