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French Navy - 1902

The French navy, including vessels not yet ready for service, consisted in the beginning of 1902 of 5 first-class, 7 second-class, and 13 third-class battle-ships, 17 armored cruisers, 18 coast-defense ironclads, 1 old battle-ship, 40 protected cruisers. 15 protected cruisers, 15 destroyers, 40 first-class and 122 smaller torpedo-boats, and 14 submarine boats. There were in process of construction 2 first-class battle-ships, 4 armored cruisers, 15 destroyers, 8 first-class and 10 smaller torpedo-boats, and 20 submarine boats. Nearly every vessel on the list is efficient, as it is the- practise to destroy all that become obsolete and are not worth rebuilding and fitting out with modern equipment. In 1900 the Chambers voted for the construction of 6 battle-ships of an aggregate displacement of 148,650 tons, 5 armored cruisers of 12,600 tons each, 28 destroyers of 350 tons each, and a number, not determined, of submarine torpedo-boats. Submarine boats have been made the special feature of the French navy, both the type which navigates freely below water and the submersible boat which steams on the surface except when it dives for an attack.

In 1902 the Chambers voted to begin the building of 1 battle-ship and 2 ironclad cruisers, and 3 battleships in 1903. The Patrie, begun in 1901, was ready in 1905. The République was laid down in 1900. Of the cruisers of the new program the Leon Gambetta and Jules Ferry were begun in 1900 and the Victor Hugo in 1901. The navy estimates for 1902 also provided for the construction of 13 submarine vessels. In the newest development of the French battleship, exemplified in the République and Patrie, the gun emplacements and all parts below them are fully protected. This type was adopted in the Suffren, of 12,052 tons, launched in 1890, which had 13-inch annealed armor over the vital parts, a speed of 18 knots with engines of 15,500 horsepower, and an armament of 4 12-inch guns coupled in barbette turrets fore and aft and a quick-firing battery, placed high, of 8 6.4-inch, 8 3.9-inch, and 24 small guns. The Jena, launched in 1898, is identical in design and armmament, but the quick-firing battery is unprotected underneath, as is the case with the Charlemagne. Saint Louis, and Gaulois, of 11,097 tons, launched in 1895 and 1896.

In the Charles Martel, Jaureguiberry, Carnot, Massena, and Bouvet, built between 1893 and 1896, there are 2 12-inch and 2 10.8-inch guns placed singly in lozenge disposition, while 8 5.5-inch quick-firing guns are mounted in small turrets and they have from 20 to 34 smaller quick-firers. The Brennus, launched in 1891, of 11,215 tons, has 3 13.1-inch guns in fore and aft turrets, and a heavy quick-firing battery of 10 0.5-inch and 31 smaller guns well protected amidships.

The Bouvines, Valmy, Jeinmapes, and Trehouart, third-class battle-ships of about 6,500 tons, carry 12-inch guns singly in barbette turrets and have 4-inch and smaller quick-firers amidships without protective armor. The earlier type of French battle-ship, of which the Marceau and Magenta, of 10,680 tons, were the latest examples, had a high freeboard, a complete belt of armor at the waterline, and 4 large guns disposed in a lozenge arrangement, with a very strong quick-firing armament. These two vessels, launched in 1887 and 1890, carried 4 13.4-inch guns in their barbettes, and the quick-firing battery consisted of 17 5.5-inch and 25 smaller guns in the Marceau and 16 5.5-inch and 34 others in the Magenta.

The République and Patrie, having a displacement of 15,000 tons, were designed to steam 18 knots, and their armament consist of 4 12-inch breechloaders and 18 0.4-inch and numerous smaller quick-tiring guns.

The French armored cruisers were long and narrow, with 7.0-inch guns mounted singly in turrets so as to obtain a free command and quick adjustment, with less regard to protection. The Montcalm, launched in 1899, and Dupetit-Thouars and Gueydon, launched in 1900, of 9,517 tons, and the Gloire and Conde, launched in 1901, of 10,000 tone, and the newer Sully carried besides the 7.6-inch guns 8 0.4-inch, 4 4-inch, and 24 smaller quick-firers. The Marseillaise, of 10,014 tons, had 6 4-inch quick-firers. The Desaix, Kleber, and Dupleix, of 7,700 tons, were armed with quick-firers only, 10 6.4-inch and 16 small ones. The Jurien de fa Graviere, launched in 1900, had deck protection only, a displacement of 5,500 tons, and an armament of 8 ti. 4-inch and 12 1.8-inch quick-firers. The latest type of armored cruiser, represented by the Leon Gambetta, Jules Ferry, and Victor Hugo, of 12,416 tons, had 4 7.6-inch quick-firers coupled in turrets, with better protection for their bases, and a secondary armament of 16 6.4-inch quick-firers. These vessels, with engines of 24,000 horse-power, were intended to make 21 knots - the speed of the 10,000-ton and 9,517-ton cruisers, with engines of 20,000 horse-power.

The Jurien de la Graviere, with engines of 17,000 horse-power, had a nominal speed of 23 knots, and so did the Guichen, of 8,277 tons, and the Chateaurenault, of 8,018 tons, launched in 1897 and 1898, with engines of 24.000 horse-power and 23,000 horse-power, carrying 2 6.4-inch, 6 5.5-inch, and 10 small quick-firing guns: and also the armored cruiser Jeanne d'Arc, launched in 1899, which had engines of 28,000 horse-power, with 2 7.6-inch guns in turrets and a quick-firing armament of 12 5.5-inch and 26 small guns.