French frigate Somali

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]

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Somali.

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:
  • Somali (F03) 1948
  • Somali (F703) 1951
  • Somali (A607) 1956
Fate: 31 August 1972 Returned to the United States of America
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: Cannon-class destroyer escort
Displacement:
  • 1,240 long tons (1,260 t) standard
  • 1,620 long tons (1,646 t) full
Length:
  • 306 ft (93 m) o/a
  • 300 ft (91 m) w/l
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

World War II

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

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

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
  • List of escorteurs of the French Navy

References
  1. "ex-Somali (DE 111)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  2. "Destroyer Escorts built for the Free French". Desausa.org. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  3. "SOMALI - destroyer d'escorte - Classe "CANNON"". Alamer.fr. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  • Photo gallery of 'Arago (A-607)/Somali (F-703)/Somali' (DE-111) at NavSource Naval History



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