Le Hardi
Tier VII · Destroyer · France
Rating S+ (Top of the class within its tier and class · overall score 92) · Hybrid destroyer
Hybrid destroyer, suited to fire pressure, long-range fire support, torpedo ambush. It is especially strong against cruisers and battleships (HE deals a same-tier cruiser's HP in about 3 min on paper). Its HE main battery DPM of 32,160 is 24% above the same-tier destroyer average. Main battery range is 8.8 km (0.5 km longer than average), and dispersion at 6 km is about 106 m, 11% tighter than average. High HE fire potential (3.5 fires/min before hit rate and resistance). Detectability of 6.72 km is 0.47 km above average, so it gets spotted early; move behind islands.
Key stats
- HP: 15,870
- Top speed: 36.97 kn
- Surface detectability: 6.72 km
- Main battery: 130 mm 3X2 · reload 4.5 s · range 8.76 km
Le Hardi-class destroyers were designed for joint operations with the new Dunkerque-class battleships. In terms of armament, they were on par with their foreign counterparts. All the artillery—six 130 mm guns—was housed in turrets. Lead ship Le Hardi participated in World War II, escorted French battleships, and escorted troop transport ships. The crew scuttled her at Toulon on November 27, 1942, to prevent the ship from falling into German hands.