The Bretagne Class: WWI Super-Dreadnoughts

[RainbowDash54]

Above is the Provence, of the Bretagne class -- the last and most successful class of French WWI dreadnoughts. The Bretagnes borrowed the hull design of the Courbets but upsized the guns to the new 340 mm (13.4"), competitive with Britain's "fearful 13.5" used in the Iron Dukes (though Britain was already building the 15"-gunned Queen Elizabeths). The gun layout was five all-centerline turrets, not unlike the British HMS Erin or the USS Texas, though built on a more compact and symmetrical mass than the latter. As originally built these ships had standard pole masts as in the Courbets, with the foremast placed between the conning tower and No. 1 funnel. They were designed as coal burners with some oil-burning capability. The last of the class, the Lorraine was completed in 1916, when the agony of Verdun and the Somme commanded the nation's attention, and her completion was grealy delayed by wartime materials shortages. Although a further class of dreadnoughts -- the Normandie class, also mounting 13.4" artillery -- was awaiting completion in 1915, development was slowed and eventually crunched by dire needs elsewhere in the war industries. There was decreased will to continue funding naval construction at a time of acute military crisis.

Specifications for the Bretagne class:

Dimensions: 551' x 88' x 29'   Displacement: 22,169 tons standard, 23,230 tons deep-laden. Armament: (10) 13.4", (14) 5.5" (340 mm), (8) 4" (100 mm), and (12) 13.2 mm machine-guns. Armor: KC type. 10.75" belt, 13.4" turrets, 6.7" casemates, 12.4" conn; (3) decks with 1.57" each. Fuel capacity: 2,680 tons coal and 300 tons oil. Propulsion: (4) Parsons turbines developing 29,000 hp, shafted to quad screw. Speed: 20 kts. Crew: 1,138.

Ships in class: Bretagne, Provence, Lorraine, Vasilefs Konstantinos(Construction halted)

Metric specifications:

Dimensions: 186m x 26.9m x 9.8m   Displacement: 22,169 tons standard, 23,230 tons deep-laden. Armament: (10) 340 mm, (14) 148 mm, (8) 100 mm, and (12) 13.2 mm machine-guns. Armor: KC type. 273 mm belt, 340 mm turrets, 170 mm casemates, 314 mmm conn; (3) decks with 40 mm each. Fuel capacity: 2,680 tons coal and 300 tons oil. Propulsion: (4) Parsons type turbines developing 21,625 kW, shafted to quad screw. Speed: 37 km/hr. Crew: 1,138.

1921-1923 main armament on all ships of the class had their elevation increased from a maximum of 18 deg to 23 deg to increase their range from 18000m to 21000m.

1927-1930 they all had part of their boilers changed out to use oil burning boilers but not much else was done to them.

1932-1935 they were all extensively modernized. The ships had their barrels replaced with the ones made for the never completed Normandie class also with the newer improved M1924 shell (replacing the M1912 shell still carried in some supply) the newer barrels increased the maximum range at 18 deg to  21000m and at 23 deg to 26600m. They also replaced all boilers with oil fired small water tube boilers, removed the underwater torpedo tubes, reinforced the internal protection systems with better designed anti-splinter protection from spalling, reinforcing bulkheads, and removed case mate guns. The Lorraine herself had her center turret landed and had a catapult and hanger installed there to hold 4 aircraft. During this period they also upgraded her FCS with newer range finders and secondary range finders for the super firing turrets along with improved AA armament.

The new battleship(forth) was to be named Vasilefs Konstantinos and was to be built to the same design as the French Bretagne class from AC de St Nazaire Penhoet. Work began in June 1914 but ceased on the outbreak of war in August and never resumed. The Greek Navy refused the incomplete ship after the end of the war, leading to a contract dispute, which was settled in 1925. The unfinished ship was subsequently broken up for scrap.

All three ships of the class entered service with the French Navy in 1916. Bretagne and Lorraine were assigned to the 1st Division of the 1st Battle Squadron, while Provence served as the fleet flagship for the entirety of the First World War. They were deployed to guard the southern end of the Adriatic Sea, based in Argostoli and Corfu, to block a possible sortie by the Austro-Hungarian fleet. The three ships largely remained in port, though Provence was repeatedly used to intimidate the government of Greece, which favored Germany during the war. In January 1919, after the end of the war, Lorraine was sent to Cattaro to guard the Austro-Hungarian fleet. She joined her sisters in Toulon in June 1919; later that year the ships formed the Eastern Mediterranean Fleet until 1921.

Financial problems forced the French Navy to reduce its battleship force to four active vessels. Lorraine and Provence were reduced to reserve status in 1922, and the latter went into drydock for a major overhaul. Lorraine returned to service with the Mediterranean Squadron in 1923.[21] Bretagne remained in service and conducted training cruises in the Mediterranean and along the coast of North Africa during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1934, Bretagne and Provence were assigned to the 2nd Squadron, based on France's Atlantic coast. In 1936, they joined the non-intervention patrols off Spain during the Spanish Civil War. At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Bretagne and Provence were based in Toulon with the 2nd Squadron, while Lorraine was assigned to the Atlantic Squadron.

After the end of the war, Lorraine served as a gunnery training ship in Toulon. She was then used as a barracks ship until February 1953, when she was stricken from the naval register and sold for scrapping at the end of the year. She was broken up for scrap outside Toulon the following year. Bretagne remained at the bottom of Mers-el-Kébir until she was raised for scrapping in 1952 and broken up. Provence was raised in April 1949 and scrapped.

NO COMPLAINS NEEDED. THANK YOU.

FOUND FROM DIFFERENT WEBSITE.(NOT COMPLETELY FROM WIKIPEDIA)

COMING UP NEXT... THE ARKHANGELSK BATTLESHIP, STAY TUNED TO MY NEXT THREAD. :glasses:

[pappina]

Good find! +1

[RainbowDash54]

pappina, on 06 August 2013 - 06:47 AM, said:

Good find! +1

Thanks. +1 for you.

[NathanFlightLeader]

Great post!! Its kinda dissapointing that they scrap beautiful ships like this.

[madmanthan21]

Good stuff

[Azumazi]

To add in some additional information for you there Rainbow.

 

1921-1923 main armament on all ships of the class had their elevation increased from a maximum of 18 deg to 23 deg to increase their range from 18000m to 21000m.

1927-1930 they all had part of their boilers changed out to use oil burning boilers but not much else was done to them.

1932-1935 they were all extensively modernized. The ships had their barrels replaced with the ones made for the never completed Normandie class also with the newer improved M1924 shell (replacing the M1912 shell still carried in some supply) the newer barrels increased the maximum range at 18 deg to  21000m and at 23 deg to 26600m. They also replaced all boilers with oil fired small water tube boilers, removed the underwater torpedo tubes, reinforced the internal protection systems with better designed anti-splinter protection from spalling, reinforcing bulkheads, and removed case mate guns. The Lorraine herself had her center turret landed and had a catapult and hanger installed there to hold 4 aircraft. During this period they also upgraded her FCS with newer range finders and secondary range finders for the super firing turrets along with improved AA armament.

[RainbowDash54]

Azumazi, on 06 August 2013 - 11:33 AM, said:

To add in some additional information for you there Rainbow.

1921-1923 main armament on all ships of the class had their elevation increased from a maximum of 18 deg to 23 deg to increase their range from 18000m to 21000m.
1927-1930 they all had part of their boilers changed out to use oil burning boilers but not much else was done to them.
1932-1935 they were all extensively modernized. The ships had their barrels replaced with the ones made for the never completed Normandie class also with the newer improved M1924 shell (replacing the M1912 shell still carried in some supply) the newer barrels increased the maximum range at 18 deg to  21000m and at 23 deg to 26600m. They also replaced all boilers with oil fired small water tube boilers, removed the underwater torpedo tubes, reinforced the internal protection systems with better designed anti-splinter protection from spalling, reinforcing bulkheads, and removed case mate guns. The Lorraine herself had her center turret landed and had a catapult and hanger installed there to hold 4 aircraft. During this period they also upgraded her FCS with newer range finders and secondary range finders for the super firing turrets along with improved AA armament.

Thanks! :eyesup: +1

[Ariecho]

It's actually the 4th post on that class ...

 

Daltron, Jumarka, and Icoleman had already covered it ...

 

List of contributions from forum players on ships and ship classes here ...

 

Who would have thought the Bretagne-class would be the most covered ship class!   :glasses:

[RainbowDash54]

Ariecho, on 06 August 2013 - 01:43 PM, said:

It's actually the 4th post on that class ...

Daltron, Jumarka, and Icoleman had already covered it ...

List of contributions from forum players on ships and ship classes here ...

Who would have thought the Bretagne-class would be the most covered ship class!   :glasses:

How about Arkhangelsk battleship?

[Ariecho]

RainbowDash54, on 06 August 2013 - 01:56 PM, said:

How about Arkhangelsk battleship?

Check list ...

[Azumazi]

To be honest Ari, I think it has a lot to do with the fact it was one of the better looking Dreadnought classes that France produced, she had a very eye appealing design.

[Ariecho]

Azumazi, on 06 August 2013 - 06:16 PM, said:

To be honest Ari, I think it has a lot to do with the fact it was one of the better looking Dreadnought classes that France produced, she had a very eye appealing design.

Not complaining, just stating that I found it quite peculiar that out of all the ships, the Bretagne is the most covered one.  I would have bet on the Bismarck, Yamato, Iowa, etc...

[Azumazi]

Ariecho, on 20 August 2013 - 12:27 PM, said:

Not complaining, just stating that I found it quite peculiar that out of all the ships, the Bretagne is the most covered one.  I would have bet on the Bismarck, Yamato, Iowa, etc...

Hey, France has to get some love right  :teethhappy:

[sharlin648]

Azumazi, on 06 August 2013 - 06:16 PM, said:

To be honest Ari, I think it has a lot to do with the fact it was one of the better looking Dreadnought classes that France produced, she had a very eye appealing design.

The French produced some absolutely hidious pigs of ships until the Corbettes and Bretagne classes.  A few of which are below.

Hoche

http://www.cityofart...che_backlit.jpg

Massena
http://www.cityofart...fr_massena3.jpg

Danton Class.

http://www.cityofart...rabeau_text.jpg

[Ariecho]

sharlin648, on 22 August 2013 - 08:52 AM, said:

The French produced some absolutely hidious pigs of ships until the Corbettes and Bretagne classes.  A few of which are below.

Hoche

http://www.cityofart...che_backlit.jpg

Massena
http://www.cityofart...fr_massena3.jpg

Danton Class.

http://www.cityofart...rabeau_text.jpg

What's a "Corbette"?

[Azumazi]

Ariecho, on 22 August 2013 - 12:26 PM, said:

What's a "Corbette"?

*Cough* Courbet *Cough*

[mr3awsome]

*cough*

 

 

*cough*

[Ariecho]

oh really! ...  :trollface: