Vierville-sur-Mer in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
Les canons du Chacal
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Guns of the French destroyer Le Chacal
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
1. Les canons du Chacal / Guns of the French destroyer Le Chacal Marker
Vous voyez ici deux canons du contre-torpilleur Le Chacal. Il s'agit d'un bâtiment de la marine française construit en 1923 avec, à son bord, un équipage de 195 hommes.
Jusqu'en 1940, le Chacal effectuera différentes campagnes en compagnie des autres contre-torpilleurs de classe Jaguar car, depuis le 28 mars 1922, la Chambre des Députés adopte le programme naval qui contient entre autres la construction de 5 contre-torpilleurs en plus du Chacal : le Jaguar, le Panthère, le Léopard, le Lynx et le Tigre.
Dès le 21 mai 1940, la deuxième division de contre-torpilleurs composée de trois bâtiments dont le Chacal - arrive à Cherbourg dans la nuit. Chaque navire reçoit l'ordre d'acheminer du matériel et des équipes de démolition vers des sites spécifiques : le Jaguar à Dunkerque, le Chacal à Calais et le Léopard à Boulogne. L'objectif de leur mission est la démolition des installations portuaires avant l'arrivée des Allemands dont l'offensive est imminente.
Le 22 mai 1940 : le Jaguar est coulé à Dunkerque par des vedettes rapides allemandes.
Le 23 mai 1940 : après avoir déchargé son matériel à Calais,
this page online
Le 24 mai 1940 : le Chacal et le Léopard sont attaqués par des bombardiers allemands au sud de Boulogne. Le Chacal est touché et l'équipage abandonne le navire. Le Léopard est obligé de s'éloigner et ralliera Cherbourg plus tard.
L'épave du Chacal s'échoue devant les dunes de Slack, petit village de la Côte d'Opale où, durant plus de trente ans, on pourra apercevoir sa superstructure à marée basse. L'épave sera démantelée dans les années 70.
Ces deux canons étaient condamnés à être fondus. Ils ont été sauvés de leur triste déstinée par la famille Brissard et ouvrent aujourd'hui majestueusement l'entrée du musée D-Day Omaha.
Caractéristiques du Chacal :
Type : contre-torpilleur
Classe : Jaguar
Nationalité : français
Opérationnel : septembre 1923
Statut: coulé le 24 mai 1940
Équipage : 195 hommes
Longueur : 126,80 mètres
Tirant d’eau : 4,2 mètres
Déplacement : 2150 tonnes
Puissance
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
2. Les canons du Chacal / Guns of the French destroyer Le Chacal Marker
The view of the south gun on the grounds to the museum.
Vitesse : 35 nœuds (env. 65 kms/h)
Armement : 5 pièces simples de 130mm; 2 pièces simples de 75mm; 2 x 3 tubes lance-torpilles de 550mm; 2 grenadeurs
Both these magnificent 130mm naval guns have been removed from the French ship Le Chacal. She was laid down on the 18th September 1923 and went into service on the 23rd December 1926.
Initially assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron where she spent most of the following decade as a training ship, she was then assigned to convoy escort duties in the Atlantic after the start of World War II in September 1939. She was then ordered to the English Channel after the Battle of France began in May 1940. Unfortunately on active duty defending the French coast near Boulogne-sur-Mer, she came under attack from a German aircraft on the 23rd of May 1940. She was heavily bombed and the following day she was struck by German artillery fire and the captain gave the order to abandon ship. For more than 30 years she laid abandoned off the coastline and her superstructure could be seen at low tide. It wasn't until the 1970s that the order was given by the French authorities
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
3. Les canons du Chacal / Guns of the French destroyer Le Chacal Marker
The view of the first gun by the marker which is on the south side of the museum grounds.
The Brissard Family then stepped in and saved two of the five 130mm guns from the melting pot now proudly guarding the entrante to the D-Day Omaha Museum.
Characteristics of Le Chacal:
Type: destroyer
Class: Jaguar
Nationality: French
Commissioned: September 1923
Status: sunk on May 24, 1940
Crew: 195 men
Length: 126.80 meters
Draft: 4.2 meters
Displacement: 2,150 tons
Power: 50,000 horsepower
Speed: 35 knots (approx. 65 km/h)
Armament: 5 single 130 mm guns, 2 single 75 mm guns, 2 × triple 550 mm torpedo tubes, 2 depth charge throwers
Erected by DDay Omaha Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1940.
Location. 49° 22.509′ N, 0° 54.509′ W. Marker is in Vierville-sur-Mer, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is at the intersection of Rue de la Hérode and Rte de Grandcamp, on the right when traveling north on Rue de la Hérode. The marker is located on the grounds of the D-Day Omaha Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Rue de la Hérode, Vierville-sur-Mer, Normandie 14710, France.
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
4. Les canons du Chacal / Guns of the French destroyer Le Chacal Marker
The view of the 2nd gun which is closer to the museum building and on the north side of the grounds.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La Cloche / The Bell (here, next to this marker); Le Char M4 A4 Sherman / The M4 A4 Sherman Tank (a few steps from this marker); Le char Austerlitz / The Austerlitz tank (a few steps from this marker); Bulldozer Caterpillar (a few steps from this marker); 6th Engineer Special Brigade Memorial (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); 29th Infantry Division Memorial (approx. half a kilometer away); Jean Roger Sainteny (approx. half a kilometer away); 29th Infantry Division at Vierville-sur-Mer (approx. 0.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vierville-sur-Mer.
Also see . . . French destroyer Chacal. Wikipedia
The French destroyer Chacal was the name ship of her class of destroyers (contre-torpilleur) built for the French Navy during the 1920s. Initially assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron, she spent most of the following decade as a training ship. The ship was assigned convoy escort duties in the Atlantic after the start of World War II in September 1939 until she was committed to the English Channel after the Battle of France began in May 1940. Chacal was crippled by German bombers and artillery on 23/24 May and had to beach herself near Boulogne-sur-Mer.(Submitted on December 28, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 28, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 28, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
