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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
FRANCE
CRUISERS
SFAX protected cruiser (1887)


Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Sfax     Arsenal de Brest 3/1882 29.5.1884 6/1887 stricken 1906


Technical data


Displacement normal, t

4561

Displacement full, t 
Length, m

91.6 wl

Breadth, m

15.0

Draught, m

7.67 max

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 HC, 12 cylindrical boilers

Power, h. p.

6500

Max speed, kts

16.7

Fuel, t

coal 980

Endurance, nm(kts)5000(10)
Armour, mmsteel; deck: 60, CT: 25
Armament

6 x 1 - 165/28 M1881, 10 x 1 - 139/30 M1884, 2 x 1 - 47/40 M1885, 10 x 5 - 37/20 M1885, 5 - 350 TT (aw, 1 bow, 4 beam)

Complement486


Project history

The first French protected cruiser, the Sfax was a two-funnelled ship with a ram bow and an overhanging stern. There was a forecastle and poop and she was rigged as a barque with 1990m2 of sail. The 165mm guns were at upper deck level with two in embrasured ports forward and the others in sponsons amidships and aft, while the 139mm were on the main deck amidships between the sponsons. The hull plating was wrought iron with steel frames and the Sfax was sheathed and coppered.

Ship protection

The armour deck was 0.6-0.9m below water and was 60mm thick in four layers of steel. There was a cofferdam and early form of cellular layer between the armour and main decks, and there was 25mm on the CT located on the bridge abaft the forefunnel.

Modernizations

1890s: mainmast and all sails were removed; - 6 x 5 - 37/20, 3 - 350 TT (1 bow, 2 beam); + 4 x 1 - 47/40 M1885, 6 x 1 - 37/20 M1885

Naval service

No significant events.