Duquesne-class cruiser | |
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![]() Duquesne in her 1939 configuration | |
Class overview | |
Name: | Duquesne |
Preceded by: | Duguay-Trouin class |
Succeeded by: | Suffren class |
Completed: | 2 |
General characteristics | |
Type: | heavy cruiser |
Displacement: |
10,000 tonnes (standard) 12,200 tons (full load) |
Length: | 191 metres (627 feet) overall |
Beam: | 19 metres (62 feet) |
Draught: | 6.32 metres (20.75 feet) |
Propulsion: | 4-shaft Rateau-Bretagne single-reduction geared turbines, 9 Guyot boilers, 120,000 shp |
Speed: | 33¾ knots |
Range: | 4,500 @ 15 knots (8,300 km @ 28 km/h) |
Armament: |
8 203mm/50 Modèle 1924 guns (4 × 2) 8 75 mm anti-aircraft guns (8 × 1) 8 37 mm anti-aircraft guns (4 × 2) 12 13.2 mm AA (4 × 3) 12 550 mm (21.7 inch) torpedo tubes (4 × 3); |
Armour: |
magazine boxes 30 millimetres; deck 30 millimetres; turrets and tower, 30 millimetres. |
Aircraft carried: | 2 GL-812 (superseded by GL-832 then Loire-Nieuport 130, 1 catapult |
Notes: | Ships in class include: Duquesne, Tourville |
The Duquesne Class were the first class of post Washington Treaty heavy cruisers built for the French Navy. They have been criticised by naval architects for having very little armour and being lightly built. However, they were considered to be good steamers and seaworthy vessels which could maintain a full speed for protracted time periods. Both ships survived World War II having seen little combat since they were part of the French squadron "demilitarized" in Alexandria harbor from 1940 through mid-1943. After rejoining the Allies, both were refitted in the U.S., landing their catapults and aircraft, having the mainmast suppressed and being given an augmented anti-aircraft armamment of 8 x 40mm.
Ships[]
- Duquesne - named after French Admiral Abraham Duquesne - built by Arsenal de Brest, laid down 30 October 1924, launched 17 December 1925, completed 25 January 1925. Paid off 1950. Scrapped 1955.
- Tourville - named after French admiral Anne Hilarion de Tourville - built by Arsenal de Lorient, laid down 4 April 1925, launched 24 August 1926, completed 12 March 1929. Paid off 1950. Scrapped 1963.
Tourville after refit: reinforced anti-air armament, removal of sea plane, torpedo launchers and aft mast
See also[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Duquesne class cruisers. |
References[]
- Anthony Preston - The World's Worst Warships. Conway Maritime Press (2002) ISBN 0-85177-754-6
- John Jordan, Duquesne and Tourville: The first French treaty cruisers in Warship 2005. Conway Maritime Press 2005. ISBN 1-84486-003-5
- M J Whitley (1995). Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Arms & Armour. pp. 29–31. ISBN 1-85409-225-1.
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