Le Malin - A French Destroyer in War Thunder
The French destroyer Le Malin of the Le Fantasque class was built to hunt and pursue other destroyers. It is a Rank III ship in War Thunder and offers powerful main caliber guns, effective anti-aircraft guns, thin gun mounts, and a large profile. In this article, we take a closer look at this impressive destroyer.
Features of Le Malin
- Powerful main caliber guns: The Mle 1929 138.6mm guns are powerful and offer satisfactory ballistics and effective semi-AP rounds.
- Effective anti-aircraft guns: After an upgrade in Boston, the ship has improved anti-aircraft armament consisting of 40mm Bofors automatic guns and 20mm Oerlikons.
- Thin gun mounts: The semi-enclosed 10mm splinter shields offer little protection against enemy fire, especially against fragments and shrapnel.
- Large profile: Le Malin has a large profile, making it an easier target for enemy ships.
History of the Le Fantasque-class Destroyers
The Le Fantasque-class destroyers were originally designed as destroyer escorts meant to operate in groups and fight more like light cruisers. Hence, the main armament of Le Malin, besides torpedoes, is a very powerful artillery. The guns are arranged in a linear elevated fashion along the ship, which, however, gives them a rather low traverse speed.
Le Malin after the Upgrade in Boston
In our game, Le Malin is presented in the latest configuration after the upgrade in Boston in 1943. The originally weak anti-aircraft armament was strengthened with each of the five ship upgrades and eventually proved to be quite effective. During the same upgrade in Boston, the ship received two additional guns for 100-kg depth charges, increasing their total number to four. However, the torpedo armament had to be reduced by abandoning one of the three triple-tube launchers.
Le Malin in the Next Major War Thunder Update
The Le Malin - big, fast, and vicious - will appear in the next major War Thunder update. Get early access packages for the French Navy CBT and be the first to test the impressive ships of one of the most distinctive fleets in the world! You can also secure a Steam Key to discover even more exciting games.