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.

The World Battleship Lists
Compiled and Maintained by Andrew Toppan (actoppan@hazegray.org)
Copyright © 1995-2003 by Andrew Toppan
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