World Battleships List: French Dreadnoughts

Revised 7 October 2001
Version 1.21
Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan (actoppan@hazegray.org)
URL: http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/battleships/


This list includes all French post-Dreadnought Battleships and 
Battlecruisers.

General Notes:
French WWI ships were rather slow, wet ships; all survivors were
extensively reconstructed between the wars.  1930's/WWII ships were fast
ships, armed with two quad turrets, both forward.  They were intended to
counter German raiders and the Italian fleet.  Most of the French fleet
was bombarded by the British 3 July 1940 at Mers-el-Kebir, to prevent its
capture by the Germans. Most of the ships were later scuttled and fell
into German hands, but 4 ships ultimately came under Free French control,
and one was scuttled by the British as a breakwater.  The last two French
battleships were refitted postwar and survived into the 1960's. 



Courbet class battleships
Displ: 22,189 tons normal; 25,000-26,000 tons full load
Dim: 544.5 x 88.5 x 29 feet
Prop: Steam turbines, 24 boilers, 4 shafts, 28,000 hp, 20 knots
Crew: 1085-1108
Arm: 6 dual 12/45, 22 single 5.5/55, 4 47 mm, 4 17.7 inch TT (sub)
Armor: 7.1-10.6 inch belt, 1.2-2.8 inch deck, 10.6 inch barbettes,
       12.6 inch turrets, 11.8 inch CT
	Were very wet forward.  Survivors refitted 1926-1929: funnels trunked
	into one, tripod mast fitted, superstructure enlarged, new fire
	control, main armament improvements, 7 3 inch, 2 45 mm AA added.
	
Courbet
	Built by Arsenal de Brest.  Laid down 1 Sept 1910, launched
	23 Sept 1911, completed 19 Nov 1913.  Reboilered 1929.  Became 
	training ship 1939, to Royal Navy control 3 July 1940, then transferred
	to the Free French and used as AA guardship.  Scuttled as breakwater at 
	Normandy 9 June 1944.
	
France
	Built by A C de la Loire, St, Nazaire.  Laid down 30 Nov 1911, launched 
	7 Nov 1912, completed 7-8/1914.   Wrecked on an uncharted rock 
	26 Aug 1922.

Jean Bart
	Built by Arsenal de Brest.  Laid down 15 Nov 1910, launched
	22 Sept 1911, completed 5 June 1913.  Renamed Ocean in 1936,
	disarmed as training ship 1938.  Captured by Germans, bombed 
	by Allies 7 March 1944, sunk by Germans as experimental ship
	15 March 1944.  Salvaged, scrapped at Toulon 1946-1947.

Paris
	Built by FC de la Mediterranee, La Seyne.  Laid down 10 Nov 1911,
	launched 28 Sept 1912, completed 1 Aug 1914.  Became training
	ship 1939, to the Royal Navy 3 July 1940, used as accommodations
	ship.  Returned to France 8/1945, used as pontoon from 1950 until
	sold for scrapping 21 Dec 1955.



Bretagne class battleships
Displ: 23,230 tons design; 26,180 tons full load
Dim: 544.5 x 88.5 x 29 feet
Prop: Steam turbines, 24 boilers, 4 shafts, 29,000 hp, 20 knots
Crew: 1124-1133
Arm: 5 dual 13.4/45, 22 single 5.5/55, 4 47 mm, 4 17.7 inch TT (sub)
Armor: 6.3-10.6 inch belt, 1.2-2.8 inch deck, 9.8 inch barbettes,
       15.7 inch turrets, 12.4 inch CT
	Same hull and machinery as previous class with 5 dual 13.4 inch turrets 
	in place of 6 dual 12 inch.  All converted to partial oil firing 
	1927-1930, reconstructed 1932-1935.  New boilers gave 43,000 hp, 21 
	knots, 8 75 mm AA added, TT and 8 5.5 inch guns removed.  Boilers 
	and 13.4 inch guns from the cancelled Normandie class battleships 
	installed.

Bretagne
	Built by Arsenal de Brest.  Laid down 1 July 1912, launched
	21 April 1913, completed 9/1915.  Blew up and sank at Mers-el-Kebir 
	3 July 1940 under fire of British ships.  Salvaged 1952, scrapped.  

Lorraine
	Built by AC de St Nazaire-Penhoe.  Laid down 1 Aug 1912, launched 
	30 Sept 1913, completed 7/1916.  1930's reconstruction included 
	removal of the center 13.4 inch turret, addition of 4 dual 3.9/60 AA.  
	Disarmed 7/1940 at Alexandria, interned by the British.  Transferred
	to the Free French and rearmed by 30 May 1943.  Used as training ship 
	1945-1953, stricken 17 Feb 1953, scrapped 1/1954.

Provence
	Built by Arsenal de Lorient.  Laid down 1 May 1912, launched
	20 April 1913, completed 6/1915.  Damaged and beached at
	Mers-el-Kebir 3 July 1940 under fire of British ships.  Scuttled at 
	Toulon 27 Nov 1942, raised by the Germans 11 July 1943.  Scuttled 
	as a blockship 1944, raised 4/1949, scrapped.  Main guns had
	been used by the Germans as shore batteries.



Normandie class battleships
Displ: 25,230 tons full load
Dim: 579.5 x 88.5 x 28.5 feet
Prop: VTE engines, 2 shafts plus turbines, 2 shafts, 21 boilers
      (28 boilers in Flandre and Languedoc), 32,000 hp, 21 knots (Bearn: 
      turbines only)
Crew: 1200
Arm: 3 quad 13.4/45, 24 5.5/55, 6 47 mm, 6 17.7 inch TT (sub)
Armor: 4.7-11.8 inch belt, 2 inch deck, 11.2 inch barbettes, 13.4 inch
       turrets, 11.8 inch CT
	Construction stopped because of WWI, postwar completion plans
	halted by the Washington Treaty.

Normandie
	Built by AC de la Loire.  Laid down 18 April 1913, launched
	19 Oct 1914.  Scrapped 1924-1925.

Languedoc
	Built by FC de la Gironde, Bordeaux.  Laid down 18 April 1913,
	launched 1 May 1916.  Scrapped 6/1929.

Gascogne
	Built by Arsenal de Lorient.  Laid down 1 Oct 1913, launched
	20 Sept 1914.  Scrapped 1923-1924.

Flandre
	Built by Arsenal de Brest.  Laid down 1 Oct 1913, launched
	20 Oct 1914.  Scrapped 10/1924.

Bearn
	Built by FC de la Mediterranee, La Seyne. Laid down 10 Jan 1914, 
	launched 4/1920.  Plans for completion to a modified design (as a 
	battleship) cancelled.  Converted to an aircraft carrier 1923-1927, 
	commissioned 5/1927.   Displacement as completed was 22,100 tons, 8 
	6.1 inch, 6 75 mm, 8 37 mm, 4 21.7 inch TT, crew of 865, 40 aircraft.
	Refitted 1935.   Interned 6/1940, demilitarized 5/1942.  Refitted 
	as aircraft transport 1943-1944 at New Orleans,  guns replaced by 
	4 5/38, 5 quad 40 mm, 26 20 mm.  Hulked 1948 as a training ship, then 
	a depot ship.  Stricken 11/1966, sold 31 March 1967, scrapped in Italy.



Lyon class battleships
Displ: 29,000 tons full load
Dim: 638 x 95 x 30 feet
Prop: VTE engines and turbines, 43,000 hp, 23 knots
Crew: ???
Arm: 4 quad 13.4/45, 24 single 5.5/55, 40 or 47 mm AA, 6 TT (sub)
Armor: similar to Normandie class
	None ordered due to WWI.

Lyon     Would have been built by Arsenal de Brest.
Duquesne Would have been built by F C de la Mediterranee, La Seyne.
Lille    Would have been built by A C de la Loire et Penhoey, St. Nazaire. 
Tourville        Would have been built by Arsenal de Lorient.



Cancelled battlecruisers

Three alternate designs were considered, none ever authorized.
These designs might be considered fast battleships on the basis
of their protection.

Displ: 28,100-28,374 tons 
Dim: 672.5 x 88.5 x 29.5 feet
Prop: Steam turbines, 52 boilers, 4 shafts, 80,000 hp, 28 knots
Crew: 1299
Arm: 3 quad 13.4 inch, 24 5.5 inch, 6 TT (sub)
Armor: 10.6 inch max belt

Displ: 27,065 tons
Dim: 689 x 88/5 x 28.5 feet
Prop: Steam turbines, 21 boilers, 4 shafts, 74,000 hp, 27 knots 
Crew: ???
Arm: 2 quad 13.4 inch, 24 5.5 inch, 4 17.7 inch TT (sub)
Armor: similar to Normandie class but with 11 inch belt

Displ: 27,065 tons
Dim: 682.5 x 88.5 x 29.5 feet
Prop: Steam turbines, 18 boilers, 4 shafts, 63,000-80,000 hp, 26-28  knots
Crew: ???
Arm: 2 quad 14.6 inch, 24 5.5 inch, 4 17.7 inch TT (sub)
Armor: similar to Normandie class but with 11 inch belt
	


Dunkerque class light battleships
Displ: 26,500 tons standard; 30,750 tons normal; 35,500 tons full load
Dim: 704 x 102 x 28.6 feet
Prop: Steam turbines, 6 boilers, 4 shafts, 112,500 hp, 29.5 knots
Crew: 1431
Arm: 2 quad 13/50, 3 quad, 2 dual 5.1/45, 4 dual 37 mm AA, 8 quad 13.2 mm AA
Armor: 5.5-9.5 inch belt, 1.6-5.5 inch decks, 13.2 inch turrets,
       10.6 inch CT
	First European fast battleships, sometimes classified as 
	battlecruisers.  In reality they were a smaller, less heavily armed
	battleship, not a battlecruiser or a full battleship.  Intended as a 
	reply to the German pocket battleships.  Replaced battleships 
	France and Ocean.

Dunkerque
	Built by Arsenal de Brest.  Laid down 24 Dec 1932, launched
	2 Oct 1935, completed 4/1937.  Damaged by British gunfire
	3 July 1940 at Mers-el-Kebir, damaged by a ship alongside 
	exploding 6 July 1940.  Scuttled in drydock at Toulon 27 Nov 1942.
	Salvaged 1945, sold for scrapping 1958.

Strasbourg
	Built by AC de St. Nazaire-Penhoet.  Laid down 25 Nov 1934,
	launched 12 Dec 1936, completed 12/1938.  Scuttled at Toulon
	27 Nov 1942.  Salvaged by the Italians 1943, returned 1944,
	sunk by Allied bombers 18 Aug 1944.  Salvaged 1945, used
	as experimental hulk.  Sold for scrapping 5/1955.



Richelieu class battleships
Displ: 35,000 tons standard; 43,293 tons normal; 47,548 tons full load 
     (Jean Bart: 46,500 tons normal; 49,850 tons full load)
Dim: 813 x 108 x 31.5 feet (Jean Bart: 813 x 116 x 30 feet)
Prop: Steam turbines, 6 boilers, 4 shafts, 150,000 hp, 30 knots  
      (Jean Bart: 165,000 hp, 32 knots)
Crew: 1670 (wartime; Jean Bart: 2134 as flagship)
Arm: 2 quad 15/45, 3 triple 6/55, 6 dual 3.9/45, 4 dual 37 mm AA, 4 quad
     13.2 mm AA
Armor: 13.6 inch belt, 5.9-6.7 inch deck, 16.9 inch (max) turrets,
       13.8 inch CT
	Very heavily armored, very powerful fast battleships. 

Richelieu
	Built by Arsenal de Brest.  Laid down 22 Oct 1935, launched 
	17 Jan 1939, 95% completed 7/1940.  Temporarily immobilized by 
	British attack 8 July 1940, joined the Allies 1942.  Overhauled at 
	New York Navy, AA guns changed to 14 quad 40 mm and 48 single 20 mm, 
	overhaul completed 10/1943.  Served with British fleet in the Pacific, 
	later off Indo-China.  To reserve 1956, stricken 1959, hulked as 
	accommodation ship at Brest, scrapped 1964.

Jean Bart
	Built by A C de St. Nazaire-Penhoet.  Laid down 1/1939, launched
	6 March 1940, escaped to Casablanca under her own power 6/1940
	at 77% completion, with only one 15" turret installed.  Damaged by US 
	gunfire during the invasion of North Africa. Completion work began in 
	1946 at Brest, completed for trials 1/1949. but AA armament was not
	installed until 1951-52.  Armament in 1955 was 8 15 inch, 9 6 inch, 
	12 dual 3.9 inch, 14 dual 57 mm, 20 single 20 mm.   Used as gunfire 
	support ship at Suez in 1956, training ship until stricken 1/1961.  
	Hulked as accommodation ship at Toulon, scrapped 1970.

Clemenceau
	Built by Arsenal de Brest.  Laid down 17 Jan 1939.  Captured by
	the Germans as an incomplete hulk, floated out 1943.  Bombed
	and sunk 27 Aug 1944.

Gascogne
	Would have been built by A C de St. Nazaire-Penhoet.  Not
	laid down.  Would have built to modified design, with one
	turret forward and one aft.

(unnamed)
(unnamed)
	Two more ships were authorized 4/1940; they would have been
	built to the Gascogne design or a totally new design.