TRUMPETER
705375 1:350 French Light Cruiser Georges Leygue
Georges Leygues was a French light cruiser of the La Galissonnière class. During World War II, she served with Vichy France and the Allies. The La Galissonnière class was designed as an enlarged and improved version of the Emile Bertin. The ships had an overall length of 179.5 meters (588 ft 11 in), a beam of 17.48 meters (57 ft 4 in), and a draft of 5.28 meters (17 ft 4 in). They displaced 7,722 metric tons (7,600 long tons) at standard load and 9,460 t (9,310 long tons) at deep load. Their crew consisted of 557 men in peacetime and 612 in wartime.
The Georges Leygues avoided the destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir. Montcalm and Georges Leygues outran the Allied ships and sailed to Dakar, where they helped to defend the port against the unsuccessful British and Free French attack on 23–25 September 1940.
After the Allied landings in North Africa and the German occupation of Vichy France, she joined the Allies. In April 1943, she intercepted the German blockade runner Portland, which was scuttled by her crew.
Georges Leygues was refitted at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, from July until October 1943, removing the aircraft installations and adding light anti-aircraft weapons.
Georges Leygues' returned to Dakar based anti-blockade-runner patrols. She supported Allied landings in Normandy at Omaha Beach in June 1944 and southern France in August.
She then bombarded the Italian Riviera coastline around Genoa until March 1945. This was her last action of WWII.
In 1956, she took part in the Suez Crisis, during which she led a group of French warships providing fire support for Israeli ground forces in the Gaza Strip.
Item Type Plastic Model Warship Kit
Model Brief Length: 513.1mm Beam: 54.4mm
Total Parts 400+
Metal Parts anchor chain
Photo Etched Parts 2 pcs
Total Sprues 12 sprues, hull and deck
More Features
- the hull made from two-directional slide molds
- Contains display stand
- photo etched parts & chain
