Lion was one of six Guépard-class destroyers (contre-torpilleurs) built for the French Navy during the 1920s.

Sister ship Guépard at anchor
History
France
NameLion
NamesakeLion
BuilderAteliers et Chantiers de France
Launched5 August 1929
FateScuttled, 27 November 1942
General characteristics (as built)
Displacement
Length130.2 m (427 ft 2 in)
Beam11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
Draft4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed35.5 knots (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph)
Range3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph)
Crew12 officers, 224 crewmen (wartime)
Armament

After France surrendered to Germany in June 1940 during World War II, Lion served with the navy of Vichy France. She was among the ships of the French fleet scuttled at Toulon, France, on 27 November 1942. She later was salvaged and repaired by the Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy).

Notes

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References

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  • Cernuschi, Enrico & O'Hara, Vincent P. (2013). "Toulon: The Self-Destruction and Salvage of the French Fleet". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2013. London: Conway. pp. 134–148. ISBN 978-1-84486-205-4.
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Jordan, John & Moulin, Jean (2015). French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d'Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs 1922–1956. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-198-4.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.