Mogador / Volta class contre-torpilleurs

Mogador / Volta class contre-torpilleurs (x1).
Includes, resin hull, 3D printed parts, photoetch fret, decals and brass parts.

The Mogador and her sister ship Volta were large destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) of the Marine Nationale. Both were laid down in 1935 and commissioned in 1939. They  measured 451ft 1 in (137.5 m) long with a beam of 41 ft 3 in(12.57 m) and draft of 15ft 7 in (4.74 m). Their design evolved from the Le Fantasque class, but were much larger
and heavier and carried eight 138.6 mm (5.5in) guns in semi-enclosed twin turrets rather than five of the same guns in single open mounts. With that main armament, the Mogador class nearly had the firepower of a light cruiser. Due to their size, armament and speed at 39 knots, Mogador class were meant to be scouts for the two fast Dunkerque
class battleships.

Mogador and Volta comprised the 6th Large Destroyer Division (6e Division de contre-torpilleurs) and when WWII began, they were assigned to the Force de Raid at Brest. This group’s purpose was to hunt German blockade runners and raiders and to escort convoys that might be in danger from the same. On November 21, 1939, the Force de Raid left Brest to rendezvous with HMS Hood to search for the German battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst into the North Atlantic. The German ships were able to elude their hunters and return home safely. Both ships were refitted in early 1940 and a number of minor changes were made.

Both Mogador and Volta were present during the British attack on Mers-el-Kébir on July 3, 1940. Mogador was struck by a 15-inch (38 cm) shell in the stern. Though the shell itself didn’t detonate, it caused her depth charges to explode, destroying most of her stern. Mogador managed to remain afloat and was repaired enough to be sent to Toulon on November 1, 1940 for reconstruction. Volta managed to escape the attack and sail for Toulon. Both ships were scuttled in Toulon Harbor when the Germans tried to seize them on November 27, 1942.