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fighting ships of the world

FRENCH NAVY (FRANCE)

TORPEDO SHIPS

MISTRAL sea-going torpedo boats (1900-1903)

Mistral 1902

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Mistral, 1925- Borée     A C Augustin-Normand, Le Havre 8.1898 4.5.1901 8.1901 stricken 4.1928
Siroco     A C Augustin-Normand, Le Havre 8/1898 20.2.1901 1901 stricken 5.1925
Simoun     F C de la Méditerranée, Graville 11.1899 23.3.1901 9.1901 stricken 4.1925
Typhon     F C de la Méditerranée, Graville 12.1899 15.6.1901 1903 sold 1928
Trombe     A C de la Loire, Nantes 8.1898 30.7.1900 1902 sold 1928
Audacieux     A C de la Loire, Nantes 8.1898 29.8.1900 11.1900 stricken 2.1923

 

Displacement normal, t

113

Displacement full, t

183

Length, m

45.0 wl

Breadth, m

5.15

Draught, m

1.60

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 VTE, 2 Normand boilers

Power, h. p.

4200

Max speed, kts

26

Fuel, t

coal 25

Endurance, nm(kts) 1000(14)
Armour, mm belt: 24, deck: 9

Armament

2 x 1 - 47/40 M1885, 3 x 1 - 380 TT

Complement

30

Project history: Ordered 10.8.1898 to a Normand design Essentially a Cyclone modified with splinter-armour, these were the last 'torpilleurs de haute mer'. For 10 years Normand had advocated armoured TBs, but this was the only class so built. The boilers and engines were protected by a 24mm nickel-steel box (side and bulkheads) with a 9mm deck, which Normand considered invulnerable to the 57mm and 76mm of British TBDs. The extra 18t was expected to reduce the speed to 26kts, but the Normand boats reached 28.5kts on trials, and only the Loire boats made no more than their designed speed. One of the TTs was originally mounted on a pivot on the forecastle, but this was soon removed. Otherwise, they were successful and popular boats, retaining their good qualities for the whole of their service.

Ship protection: machinery spaces were protected by splinter protection consisted of 24mm belt and 9mm deck.

Modernizations: early 1900s, all: - 1 x 1 - 381 TT.

Naval service: No significant events.

Simoun

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-14