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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
FRANCE
CRUISERS
LÉON GAMBETTA armoured cruisers (1905 - 1907)


Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Léon Gambetta     Arsenal de Brest 15.1.1901 26.10.1902 7.1905 sunk 27.4.1915
Jules Ferry     Arsenal de Cherbourg 10.1901 23.8.1903 9.1905 stricken 1927
Victor Hugo     Arsenal de Lorient 4.1903 30.3.1904 16.4.1907 stricken 1.1928


Technical data


Displacement normal, t

Léon Gambetta: 11959

Jules Ferry: 12379

Victor Hugo: 13108

Displacement full, t 
Length, m

146.5 wl

Breadth, m

21.4

Draught, m

8.05 - 8.41 max

No of shafts

3

Machinery

Léon Gambetta: 3 VTE, 28 Niclausse boilers

Jules Ferry: 3 VTE, 20 Guyot du Temple boilers

Victor Hugo: 3 VTE, 28 Belleville boilers

Power, h. p.

28500

Max speed, kts

22.5

Fuel, t

coal 2065

Endurance, nm(kts)6600(10)
Armour, mmbelt: 150 - 70, turrets: 200, turret bases: 180 - 100, secondary turrets: 165 - 130, bases of secondary turrets: 130 - 65, casemates: 140, lower deck: 65 - 45, main deck: 35, CT: 200
Armament

2 x 2 - 194/40 M1893-96, 6 x 2 - 164/45 M1893-96M, 4 x 1 - 165/45 M1893-96M, 24 x 1 - 47/40 M1885, 2 x 1 - 37/20 M1885, 2 - 450 TT (sub, beam)

Complement728


Standard scale images


<i>Victor Hugo</i> 1908
Victor Hugo 1908


Project history

Well protected sea-going ships, first representatives of last generation of French armoured cruisers. At the moment of building they were considered as one of the most powerful in the world, but quickly became outdated and to the First World War beginning lost battle value. Léon Gambetta was dlayed in completion by running aground in fog early in her trials in December 1903 and these were not resumed until August 1904.

Ship protection

Main belt extended from 1.0m below water to 2.5m above and to upper deck in fwd part between stem and foremast, ending by 100mm bulkhead just near the stern. Its thickness was 150mm reducing to 120mm at the upper edge. Thickness of main belt near ship ends was 100mm decreasing to 70mm at raising fore part. Lower deck had 45mm (max) flat part connecting with lower edge of main belt by 65mm slopes. 35mm flat medium deck connected with top of main belt. A space between these decks was divided into many small compartments, filled with coal or stores. Casemates had 64mm rears, closed by 120mm fwd transverse bulkhead. Main turrets had 50mm crowns, secondary had 30mm.

Modernizations

1916 - 1917, Jules Ferry, Victor Hugo: - 6 x 1 - 47/40; + 4 x 1 - 47/50 M1902 AA.

Naval service

Léon Gambetta was sunk 27.4.1915 by two torpedoes from Austrian submarine U5 in the Strait of Otranto; rear-admiral Sénès and 137 of the crew were lost. Victor Hugo since 1923 was in the reserve.