FAN Bretagne (BB-1915)
The Bretagne class was the first chance for the French to increase the guns size away from the 12" guns that had been the mainstay of French shipbuilding for so many years. The next question was what size to go to next? The Royal Navy was building 13.5" battleships and battlecruisers and the French felt that a 13.4" (340mm) weapon would do the job. The French were not keen on the 'Q' turret system. They felt the only way to get away from it was to go from twin mountings to triple mountings for the new guns. This is also about the same time that the US started producing their triple 14", and other countries had also gone to triple mountings to give their ships the best armament possible (Italy was producing the 13x12" Cavour type etc). Thought was then given to turret arrangements, 9 -10 -12 gun armaments all had pros and cons. 12 guns would require the biggest ship but give the best broadside. 10 guns was not liked because of the difference in loading times between twin and triple gun turrets. 9 guns was the smallest and cheapest version and a favourite of the Government due to cost. When it was found the Germans had gone to battleships with 13.8" (350mm) guns, the twelve gun version was chosen to give the French ships an edge.
Arming the Bretagne class with 12x13.4" means there is no need for the
Normandie class armed with 3x4x13.4". It could then go to a 15x13.4" in five
triple turrets in a similar layout to the Courbet Class. Otherwise the Normandie
type can go to an 8x15" or 8x16" armament using the Bretagne layout as its
yardstick. (See Bearn
for my take on the Normandie class)
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The Bretagne class being bigger than the earlier battleships and battlecruisers
had greater dimensions and displacement to use in upgrading the ship systems to
turn the three ships into modern battleships. At the armistice the three ships
were divided, one being with the Bearn in the West Indies, one as Squadron
flagship at Alexandria, the last at Mers-el-Kebir with the other main fleet
units. The battles these three ships may face are still written in the stars, or
until I can get a round to it going.
| Displacement | 28,500 tons std, 31,800 full load | |
| Length | 591 ft | |
| Breadth | 92 ft | |
| Draught | 25 ft | |
| Machinery | 4 shaft steam turbines, 40,000shp | |
| Speed | 23 knots | |
| Range | 6000 miles at 12 knots | |
| Armour | 12" side, 3" deck, 11" turrets | |
| Armament | As completed 12 x 13.4" (4x3) 18 x 5.5" (18x1) 6 x 90mm (6x1) |
As rebuilt to 1939 12 x 13.4" 16 x 5.1" DP (8x2) 18 x 37mm (9x2) 14 x20mm H-S (14x1) |
| Torpedoes | 5 x 17.7" (submerged) | nil |
| Complement | 850-910 | |
| Notes | ||
Just as a comparison I wanted to put my 12x13.4" French battleship against a USN
12x14" battleship.
I don't think the French ship loses anything to the US ship. Much of a size and
gunpower.