First class of the large French Contre-torpilleur classes. As happened with a lot of first classes, too much was tried on too little. The Chacal/Jaguar class fought overweight tendencies throughout their careers. (I know their pain!) Whenever something was added, something else had to be removed. They were initially armed with the 5.1" model 1919, and were to be upgraded to the 5.5" model 1923 when available. The upgrade never took place as the ships were already fighting their overweight problems. A sophisticated but heavier gun director was to be fitted but it had to be replaced with a simpler and lighter director.
Chacal class ships as originally completed, note simple director at back of bridge.
So what do I do. Change Frances first effort so that it can be more useful in the future? Get out my magic wand? The Chacal classes biggest problem was its length to breadth ratio - 416x36 feet. Just too narrow. Any time you added topweight to the ships they got renamed turtle. They were that unstable. The easiest way is to give the ships a better breadth ratio - 416 x 39/40 feet. that would take away 95% of the problems.
I would like to turn them into destroyer AA escorts for the aircraft carrier Guynemer. Replace the single 5.1" with twin 3.9" in A/B and X/Y positions and twin 37mm in Q position. Remove one of the sets of torpedoes and replace it with extra depth charge throwers. Depth charge racks aft, and a few extra single and twin 20mm AA guns. A new DP gun director with possibly Radar assistance. That would happen if the ships make it to a post 1940 refit centre. Any way lets see what they might look like
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