The Toulon Naval Museum: Twentieth century warships

Provence (Battleship: 1913 – 1942)

One of the three Bretagne-class battleships built for the French Navy. She was damaged by the British at Mers el Kebir and scuttled in Toulon in November 1942 when the Germans attempted to seize the French fleet.

Dunkerque (Fast Battleship/Battle Cruiser: 1937 – 1942)

Dunkerque and her sister-ship Strasbourg were built in the 1930s to counter the German Deutschland-class pocket battleships/armoured ships. They were both damaged at Mers el Kebir and subsequently scuttled at Toulon.

Richelieu (Battleship: 1939 – 1968)

The leadship of what was going to be a class of four battleships (two were never completed).

Bearn (Aircraft carrier: 1923 – 1967)

Originally a Normandie-class battleship, she was completed as an aircraft carrier. She saw little active service as an aircraft carrier, and remained in the Caribbean after the fall of France. She was later handed over to the Free French and modernised so that she could be used as an aircraft transport.

Mogador (Destroyer: 1937 – 1942)

One of two Mogador-class large, fast destroyers designed to work as scouts with the Dunkerque-class fast battleships. She and her sister – Volta – were damaged at Mers el Kebir and scuttled in Toulon in November 1942.

Le Terrible (Destroyer: 1933 – 1962)

One of a class of eight large destroyers (the Fantasque-class) built for the French Navy during the 1930s. Most survived the Second World War and remained in service until the 1960s.

Casablanca (Submarine: 1936 – 1947)

One of thirty-one Redoutable-class submarines built between 1924 and 1937 for the French Navy. Only five (including Casablanca) survived the Second World War.

Bougainville-class (Despatch Boat/Colonial Gunboat: 1932 – 1959)

A class of eight ships designed to patrol and protect French overseas colonies.