the torpedo firing angle. This was sent to the remotely controlled torpedo tubes, and the command to fire could be given by either the torpedo director or either of the secondary positions on the wings of the bridge. Construction This class only consisted of (X61) and (X62). Steel was cut on both contre-torpilleurs beginning in late 1934, Mogador at the Arsenal de Lorient and Volta at At. & Ch. de Bretagne, Nantes, although assembly did not begin until the autumn of the following year. Industrial unrest disrupted their construction and it was not until January 1938 that Mogador was handed over to the French Navy for sea trials. Volta followed three months later. However, neither ship was formally accepted by the French Navy for another year. Mogador was not commissioned (clotûre d'armament) until 8 April 1939 and Volta on 6 March 1939. Four improved Mogador-class ships were ordered in 1939 to be named Kléber, Desaix, Hoche and Marceau, but their construction was suspended due to the start of World War II. Their design was continually modified in light of wartime experience, but the original plan for dual-purpose guns had to shelved when it became apparent that they could not be developed in a timely manner, and they reverted to the main armament of the Mogadors. The anti-aircraft armament was reinforced with the substitution of four anti-aircraft guns for the single twin 37 mm mount. But these plans came to nought when France surrendered in June 1940. History Mogador and Volta comprised the 6th Large Destroyer Division (6e Division de contre-torpilleurs) and were assigned to the Force de Raid based at Brest when the war began. This group's purpose was to hunt German blockade runners and raiders and to escort convoys that might be in danger from the same. From 21 to 30 October 1939 the Force de Raid escorted the KJ.4 convoy to protect it against the which had sortied into the North Atlantic before the war began. A sortie by the German battleships and into the North Atlantic on 21 November prompted the Force de Raid to sail from Brest to rendezvous with the British battlecruiser and patrol the area south of Iceland, but the German ships were able to return safely under the cover of heavy weather without being engaged. Both ships were refitted in early 1940 and a number of minor changes were made. The necessary improvements