French PreDreadnoughts
Entries in bold indicate photos.
Amiral Duperre
| Amiral Duperre |
Hoche Class
|
Hoche Magenta Marceau Neptune |
The Hoche class represented the worst in French shipbuilding. Several redesigns led to long building times. They were well armoured, but most of the plating was below the waterline. The ships were topheavy and unstable, and their luxurious accommodation led them to be know as 'Le Grand Hotels'. |
Amiral Baudin Class
| Amiral Baudin |
Brennus Class
| Brennus |
Charles Martel Class
|
Bouvet Charles Martel ??? |
Charlemagne Class
|
Charlemagne Gaulois St. Louis |
Although well armed, the Charlemagnes used the obsolete Harvey nickel-steel armour. |
Jena Class
|
Jena |
Suffren Class
| Suffren |
Republique Class
|
Patrie Republique |
The Republiques were the first French battleships that did not sacrifice armour for
firepower, or vice versa. They were well armed, and used modern armour type. The
fitting of the secondary guns in turrets rather than casemates was unusual at the
time.
Although well designed and built, the long construction times meant they were effectively obsolete on completion. |
Verite Class
|
Democratie Justice Verite |
Danton Class
|
Condorcet Danton Diderot Mirabeau Vergniaud Voltaire |
The Dantons were the first in a planned expansion programme that would never be
realised. They were similar to the British Lord Nelsons, but the arrival of the
Dreadnought meant that they were soon obsolete. Even so, the original 4 were
added to after Dreadnought had shown the way forward.
The Dantons were the first French battleships to be equipped with steam turbines. |
|
Back. |