Victor Hugo 1907
Victor Hugo 1908
| 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 |
|
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, mm | belt: 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) |
| Complement | 728 |
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 At the moment of building they were considered as one of the most powerful in the world, but quickly became outdated and to the First World War beginning lost battle value.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.
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-14