Verité 1909
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Démocratie | Arsenal de Brest | 1/5/1903 | 30/4/1904 | 1/1908 | stricken 1/1921 | |
| Justice | F C de la Méditerranée, La Seyne | 4/1903 | 27/10/1904 | 2/1908 | stricken 1/1922 | |
| Liberté | A C de la Loire, St-Nazaire | 11/1902 | 19/4/1905 | 3/1908 | internal explosion 25/9/1911 | |
| Verité | C de la Gironde, Bordeaux | 4/1903 | 28/5/1907 | 6/1908 | stricken 1/1922 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
14489 - 14860 |
|
Displacement full, t |
|
|
Length, m |
133.8 pp |
|
Breadth, m |
24.3 |
|
Draught, m |
8.36 - 8.41 max |
|
No of shafts |
3 |
|
Machinery |
VTE, 22 Belleville boilers Justice: VTE, 24 Niclausse boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
18500 |
|
Max speed, kts |
19 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 1800 |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 280 - 80, upper belt: 240 - 80, main turrets: 360 - 280, turret bases: 250, secondary turrets: 150 - 85, casemates: 140, deck: 55, CT: 300 |
|
Armament |
2 x 2 - 305/40 M1893-96M, 10 x 1 - 194/50 M1902, 13 x 1 - 65/50 M1902, 10 x 1 - 47/50 Hotchkiss, 2 - 450 TT (beam, sub) |
|
Complement |
769 |
Ship project history: Liberté class were practically sister-ships of République class, but were armed by more powerful secondary guns in single turrets. As a whole at the moment of laying these ships were valued as rather successful, but to the First World War beginning they lost the battle value.
Ship protection: Main belt covered area from the bows to near the stern and had 3.8m height (2.3m above and 1.5m below water). Its thickness was 280mm amidships tapering to 240mm at upper and 80mm at lower edges. These figures at ship ends were 180, 140 and 80mm respectively. 2.7m high area over main belt between the bows and foremast was covered by 80mm armour. Flat 55mm main deck was connected with upper edge of main belt and 50mm 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 320-280mm armour and had 280mm bases, secondary turrets had 150mm faces, 280mm rears (for balancing) and 140-90mm bases. Casemates had 140mm protection.
Modernizations: 1916 - 1917, all survived: - 6 x 1 - 47/50; + 4 x 1 - 47/50 Hotchkiss AA
Naval service: Liberté 25/9/1911 blew up in Toulon due to spontaneous ignition of propellant in one of 194mm gun magazines. Most of the magazines in the fwd part of the ship exploded, demolishing the ship. In 1914-1918 all three survived ships served on Mediterranean.
Démocratie 1908
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-11