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fighting ships of the world

FRENCH NAVY (FRANCE)

TORPEDO SHIPS

NO126 torpedo boats (1889 - 1890)

Names

N°126 - 129

Builders

Normand, Le Havre: N°126-129

Completed

1889: N°126, 127

1890: N°128, 129

Losses

none

Transfers

none

Discarding

1908-1914: N°126-129

  

Displacement normal, t

71

Displacement full, t

78

Length, m

36.0 wl

Breadth, m

3.92

Draught, m

1.15

No of shafts

1

Machinery

1 VCR, 1 locomotive boiler

Power, h. p.

900

Max speed, kts

21

Fuel, t

coal

Endurance, nm(kts)

 

Armament

2 x 5 - 37/20 M1885, 2 x 1 - 380 TT

Complement

21

Project history: Ordered 12.9.1887 (126, 127)and 23.5.1888. Normand was highly critical of the 35-metre design, and their dismal history vindicated his decision not to become involved in the building programme. Instead he proposed his own design, which was in every way superior. With two trainable TT in single mountings and 2 QF guns, this class was still more stable and faster than the 35-metre type. They were originally given a light schooner rig and were used for extensive trials and manoeuvres. In many ways they were the forerunners of all the small TBs of the French 'défense mobile' down to 1908.

Modernizations: None.

Naval service: They were stricken between 1908 and 1914.

© Ivan Gogin, 2014