Durandal-class destroyer
 Hallebarde departing Toulon | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Durandal class |
| Operators: |
 French Navy |
| Preceded by: | None |
| Succeeded by: | Framée class |
| Built: | 1899–1900 |
| In commission: | 1899–1921 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Lost: | 1 |
| Scrapped: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Destroyer |
| Displacement: | 301–311 t (296–306 long tons) |
| Length: | 57.5 m (188 ft 8 in) o/a |
| Beam: | 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) |
| Draft: | 3.17 m (10 ft 5 in) |
| Installed power: |
|
| Propulsion: | 2 shafts; 2 Triple-expansion steam engines |
| Speed: | 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) |
| Range: | 2,300 nmi (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement: | 52 |
| Armament: |
|
The Durandal class was a group of four destroyers built for the French Navy between 1896 and 1900, used during the First World War. These vessels were France's first true destroyers rather than torpedo boats. Two units were launched in 1899 while another two followed in 1900.
These vessels, which were an enlarged derivative of the previous Filibustier-class torpedo boats,[1] resembled the Havock class of Great Britain.[2] Its hull had a turtleback bow to reduce water resistance,[3] with two masts and two funnels. The ships were powered by two triple expansion engines fed by water tube boilers, giving a speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph), and were armed by two torpedo tubes (with two reload torpedoes carried onboard[1]), a 65 mm and six 47 mm guns.[4]
The four destroyers were laid down between 1896 and 1897 and completed between 1899 and 1900.[4] Espingole struck a rock in the Bay of Cavalaire-sur-Mer off the South of France on 4 February 1903, which caused the ship to sink.[5] The three remaining destroyers served through the First World War, operating in both the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. They were sold for scrap in 1920–21.[6]
Ships
All four vessels were built by Normand at Le Havre. The first pair (Durandal and Hallebarde) were ordered on 25 August 1896. They had a turtledeck forecastle and a flying deck aft, with two masts and two funnels widely separated by their machinery. The second pair (Fauconneau and Espignole) differed by having a strengthened hull and a slightly raised bow.
- Durandal - launched 11 February 1899, stricken 7 April 1919.
- Hallebarde - launched 8 June 1899, stricken 4 March 1920.
- Fauconneau - launched 2 April 1900, stricken 15 January 1921.
- Espingole - launched 28 June 1900, ran aground and lost 4 February 1903.
References
- 1 2 Chesneau & Kolesnick, p. 323
- ↑ Osborne, p. 39
- ↑ Osborne, p. 186
- 1 2 Chesneau & Kolesnick, p. 326
- ↑ "A French Destroyer Sunk: The Crew Saved". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 February 1903. p. 9. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ↑ Gardiner & Gray, p. 194
Bibliography
- Caresse, Philippe (2013). "The Unlucky Destroyer Espignole". In Jordan, John. Warship 2013. London: Conway. ISBN 978-1-84486-205-4.
- Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M. (1979). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
- Couhat, Jean Labayle (1974). French Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allen. ISBN 0-7110-0445-5.
- Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- Osborne, Eric W. (2005). Destroyers - An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 1-85109-479-2.
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). "Classement par types". Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours 2, 1870 - 2006. Toulon: Roche. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
External links
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