Condorcet 1912
Danton 1915
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Condorcet | A C de la Loire, St-Nazaire | 23/8/1907 | 20/8/1909 | 25/7/1911 | TS 1/1927, depot ship 1931 | |
| Danton | Arsenal de Brest | 2/1906 | 4/7/1909 | 1/6/1911 | sunk 19/3/1917 | |
| Diderot | A C de la Loire, St-Nazaire | 20/10/1907 | 19/4/1909 | 1/8/1911 | TS 1/1927, condemned 1936 | |
| Mirabeau | Arsenal de Lorient | 4/5/1908 | 28/10/1909 | 1/8/1911 | condemned 10/1921 | |
| Vergniaud | C de la Gironde, Bordeaux | 7/1908 | 12/4/1910 | 22/9/1911 | deleted 10/1921, target | |
| Voltaire | F C de la Méditerranée, La Seyne | 20/7/1907 | 16/1/1909 | 1/8/1911 | TS 1/1927, condemned 1935 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
18318 |
|
Displacement full, t |
19763 |
|
Length, m |
144.9 wl 146.6 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
25.8 |
|
Draught, m |
9.19 full load |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
Condorcet, Diderot, Vergniaud: 4 Parsons steam turbines, 26 Niclausse boilers Danton, Mirabeau, Voltaire: 4 Parsons steam turbines, 26 Belleville boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
22500 |
|
Max speed, kts |
19.2 - 19.4 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 2027 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
3370(10) |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 270 - 150, upper belt: 48, main turrets: 300, barbettes: 280, secondary turrets: 220, deck: 48 + 45, CT: 300 |
|
Armament |
2 x 2 - 305/45 M1906, 6 x 2 - 240/50 M1902, 16 x 1 - 75/65 M1908, 10 x 1 - 47/50 M1902, 2 - 450 TT (beam, sub) |
|
Complement |
681, later 921 - 923 |
Ship project history: The world`s last pre-dreadnoughts and first French turbine-engined capital ships. They become outdated already during a building. Also they had insufficient endurance and unreliable boilers with coal burning. At the same time 240mm guns possessed excellent ballistic characteristics and high firing rate, thanks to what by weight of side salvo Dantons were possible to be compared with first British and German dreadnoughts. After modernization in 1918 these guns became one of the most long-range (18km) in the French Navy. During the First World War all ships received triple 3.66m "Triplex" rangefinders.
Ship protection: Main belt covered area from the bows to near the stern, its thickness was 270mm amidships tapering to 240mm at upper and 80mm at lower edges. These figures at ship ends were 150, 140 and 80mm respectively. Flat 48mm main deck was connected with upper edge of main belt and 45mm lower deck connected with lower edge of the belt by 70mm slopes. A space between these decks was divided into many small compartments, filled with coal or stores. Main turrets were protected by 300mm armour and had 280mm barbettes, secondary turrets had 120mm protection. There was underwater protection including 45mm torpedo bulkhead.
Modernizations: 1917 - 1918, all: + 12 x 1 - 75/65 M1908 AA
1922 - 1925, Condorcet, Diderot, Voltaire: underwater protection was improved.
Naval service: Danton was sunk at Sardinia by a torpedo from German submarine U64. Voltaire on the night 11/10/1918 received at once two torpedo hits from submarine UB48, but has got off rather easy damages. Vergniaud and Mirabeau in 1919 arrived to Sevastopol, and latter 13/2/1919 during storm wrecked at Crimean coast and has been salvaged only in two months after dismantle of armour and fwd 305mm turret. After arrival to Toulon Mirabeau was not repaired and in 1921 converted to target. Also Vergniaud became a target; both ships have been broken up in 1928-1929. Remained three battleships since January, 1927 served on Mediterranean as TSs. Condorset later was used as a hulk and barrack ship at Toulon till August, 1944.
Danton 1911
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-11