Somali, was a frigate in the Free French Naval Forces during World War II and the French Navy post-war. The ship was originally built as USS Somali (DE-111), an American Cannon-class destroyer escort.[2]
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Somali (DE-111) |
| Builder | Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware |
| Laid down | 23 October 1943 |
| Launched | 12 February 1944 |
| Fate | Transferred to Free France, 9 April 1944 |
| Stricken | 14 May 1952 |
| History | |
 Free France | |
| Name | FFL Somali (T-53) |
| Namesake | Somali |
| Acquired | 9 April 1944 |
| History | |
 France | |
| Name | Somali (T-23) |
| Acquired | 14 October 1946 |
| Renamed | Arago (A-607), for Jacques Arago, 1968 |
| Reclassified |
|
| Fate | 31 August 1972 Returned to the United States of America |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class and type | Cannon-class destroyer escort |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | |
| Beam | 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) |
| Draft | 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) |
| Propulsion | 4 × GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW), 2 screws |
| Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Range | 10,800 nmi (20,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 15 officers and 201 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
History edit
World War II edit
During World War II, Somali was transferred to the Free French Naval Forces under lend lease on 9 April 1944, and retained the name Somali. Ownership of the vessel was transferred to France on 21 April 1952 under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.
Somali would join TG 80.6 in Operation Anvil-Dragoon in August 1944.[3]
First Indochina War edit
In August 1945, Somali arrived in French Indochina to help in the area. Somali was stationed in Saigon and was sent to Nhabe, Soirap, Vaico and Bing Trung. On 25 January 1946, Somali participated in Operation Gaur.[3]
Post War edit
In 1956 Somali was disarmed and used as an experimental ship with the hull number changed to A607. On 1 January 1968 Somali was renamed Arago.[3]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Destroyer Escorts built for the Free French". Desausa.org. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "SOMALI - destroyer d'escorte - Classe "CANNON"". Alamer.fr. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
External links edit
- Photo gallery of 'Arago (A-607)/Somali (F-703)/Somali' (DE-111) at NavSource Naval History
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