FAN Gloire (BC-1911 (1934-mod))

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With the Danton semi-Dreadnoughts being cancelled and replaced with full battleships, what do you do with the twelve twin 9.4" turrets that remain? The British tell the world that the Invincible's are going to be armed with 9.2". The Germans buy into that. So why not the French. Three armoured/battle cruisers could be built with the guns available. Following the Courbet class layout with superfiring turrets, the broadside turrets were not fitted as to give more space for propulsion to increase the ships speed over existing armoured cruisers.

With the new 5.5" secondary guns, that would arm French capital ships for the next 20 years, and 100mm anti-torpedo boat guns these sleek looking ships would have been first class if not for the lesser main armament. They would certainly have been a match for the Blucher.



With twenty years service in, the ships were due for retirement when the Japanese refused to ratify the 1930 Arms treaty and all of the ships that would have gone into the scrapyard were reprieved and rebuilt. The Gloire class were no different and the ships were taken in hand from 1931 for major refits. The main aim was to replace the old propulsion systems and deck armour to modern standards. The old coal fired boilers were replaced with new oil fired boilers and the turbines were also replaced with new units. The casemate and 100mm guns being removed and replaced with modern dual-purpose AA and light AA weapons.

I have the drawing dated 1934, but in reality the light AA is more 1939-40.

Original drawings.



 

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