FS "Emile Bertin" - the French fast light cruiser

"Emile Bertin" is a light cruiser of the French fleet during the Second World War. It was designed as a fast minelaying cruiser, but was never actually used for such purposes. It was named after Emile Bertin, a naval engineer and shipbuilder. The "Emile Bertin" is designed as an improved version of the "Le Pluton" minesweeper. Compared to its predecessor, it was necessary to install a full-fledged cruise armament of nine 152 mm guns and to ensure a speed of at least 35 knots, which, according to the admirals, would allow the construction of mine barriers near the enemy's shores. At the same time, the management wanted to get a small and cheap ship with a displacement of no more, than 5,500 tons, which led to a sharp weakening of security requirements. "Emile Bertin" was built in the 1930s. program, 1930 January 12 approved by the French Parliament. The cruiser's order was officially confirmed on September 11, 1931, but even before this event, the "Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire et Penhoët" shipyard, located in Saint-Nazaire, laid the keel of the future ship. "Emile Bertin" originally served as part of the French Atlantic Fleet. He became the flagship of a group of counter-destroyers, and later the flagship of the 2nd Light Squadron, which consisted of 12 counter-destroyers. The cruiser was supposed to ensure the combat stability of the counter-destroyers, when the latter attacked enemy ships. At the end of 1935 - at the beginning of 1936, "Emile Bertin" went to the Antilles. In July 1936 the cruiser operated off the coast of Spain, ensuring the evacuation of French citizens during the civil war, that broke out there. In May 1937 the "Emile Bertin" returned to Spanish waters as part of a "neutrality patrol". In the summer of 1938 a decision was made to transfer the "Emile Bertin" to the Mediterranean Sea and in 1938 October 15 he arrived in Toulon. In Nowember of 1938 the cruiser visited Istanbul, where it represented France at Kemal Atatürk's funeral. On the way back, "Emile Bertin" visited Piraeus. In 1939 July 1 the cruiser was transferred to Bizerte, where she became part of the so-called "Mediterranean Light Attack Force" (French forces "Legeres d'attaque en Mediterranee"). In case of war, they were to act against Italian communications between Sicily and North Africa. The formation included the 3rd Cruiser Division, which consisted of "La Galissoniere"-type ships and three divisions of counter-destroyers, the flagship of which was to be the "Emile Bertin". At the beginning of World War II, "Emile Bertin" was based in Bizerte. On September 23-27, 1939, he performed a special task - he took 57 tons of gold out of Beirut. The gold belonged to the Bank of Poland. Then until 1940 January it was repaired in Toulon. In January-February 1940  the cruiser operated in the Central Atlantic and was based in Dakar. In 1940 February 17 "Emile Bertin" arrived in Brest. In April of 1940 the cruiser acted as the flagship of two destroyer leaders and destroyer squadron flotilla during the Norwegian campaign. He was Admiral Derien's flagship. Along with light ships, the "Emile Bertin" covered a convoy of French Alpine riflemen. In 1940 on April 19, while in Namos, it was attacked and damaged by German Ju-88 bombers. After that, the cruiser was repaired in Brest until 1940. May 21. Then in 1940 she made two transatlantic voyages in May and June, carrying French gold reserves to Halifax. The third voyage failed due to the surrender of France and the "Emile Bertin" moved to Fort de France with a cargo of 254 tons of gold. During the next three years, the cruiser was stationed in Martinique, where it was disarmed in accordance with the 1942 May 1st agreement between the United States and the Vichy administration. After the colonial administration of Martinique recognized the French Committee of National Liberation, "Emile Bertin" moved to the United States, where in 1943 August - December in the Philadelphia shipyard underwent extensive repairs and modernization. In 1943 December 21 the cruiser left Philadelphia for Dakar. Since 1944 February operated in the Mediterranean, taking part in support of the Allied landing operations in southern France. Since 1944 December 30 until 1945 October "Emile Bertin" was repaired in Toulon. He later operated off the coast of Indochina and took part in the reoccupation of the French colonies in the region. The cruiser returned to the homeland on September 2, 1946. "Emile Bertin" was decommissioned in 1951, but was used as a gunnery training ship. In 1959 October 27 was finally removed from the lists of the fleet, in 1961 sold for scrap.

A medium size well designed and richly detailed cruiser model in a rather monotonous light gray 1942 camouflage for intermediate to advanced modelers. Where necessary, full sheets are printed with double-sided printing, there is almost no color reserve. The print quality is excellent, there are no text instructions, the graphics are of the highest level.