FAN Alsace (BB-1944)

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The Alsace class was the next logical step if France was to keep with the 15" quadruple turret for its battleships. The Dunkerque type had 2, 1 fore 1 aft, the Alsace would have 3, 2 fore and 1 aft. The other design type to emerge was a change to 16" with 3 triple turrets, 2 fore and 1 aft. The length of time that it would take to prove and build a new 16" weapon and turret worked against the change and it was decided to stick with the 15".

The class of two ships only started being laid down on completion of the last two 15" Dunkerque class ships - late 1939, middle 1940. Neither ship could really expect to be completed before 1944. The material amassed for working into the two ships was diverted to other production requirements. They ended up being no more than paper dreams. No thought was given to proceeding with the two ships when France was freed in 1944.

With the 5.1" semi-auto dual purpose system having worked out its teething troubles, 3 quad turrets and four twins were fitted to the Alsace class to give a respectable 20 guns, 16 of which could fire to one side at a time. By the planning stages of the Alsace class the twin 37mm was the weapon of choice for the light AA armament, twenty two mountings being fitted. With a compressed superstructure area compared to Dunkerque, the Alsace type kept the extra length to a minimum. The specified speed was kept to 30 knots as being more than adequate to give operational performance.
 

Original drawing for my French Alsace.

This is the original plans for the Alsace type before I got at it.

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