Construction and design
The Branlebas-class was a development of the previous Claymore-class destroyer, and was the final evolution of the 300-tonne type which the French had built since 1899 with their first destroyer class, the Durandal class. Like all the 300-tonne destroyers, the Branlebas-class ships had a turtledeck forecastle with a flying deck, raised above the hull, aft. [2]
They were 58 metres (190 ft 3 in) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 6.28 metres (20 ft 7 in) and a maximum draught of 2.96 metres (9 ft 9 in). [3] Displacement was 350 tonnes (344 long tons ). [4] Two coal-fired Normand or Du Temple boilers fed steam at 1,830 kilopascals (265 psi) to two 3-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, rated at 6,800 indicated horsepower (5,100 kW), and driving two propeller shafts, giving a design speed of 27.5 knots (50.9 km/h; 31.6 mph). [3] [4] Speeds reached during sea trials ranged from 27.09 knots (50.17 km/h; 31.17 mph) for Glaive to 29.82 knots (55.23 km/h; 34.32 mph) for Sape. The ships had a range of 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). [5]
A 20-millimetre (0.8 in) belt of armour was fitted to protect the ship's boilers and machinery. [6] The class was built with the standard gun armament for the 300-tonne destroyers, with a single 65 mm (2.6 in) forward, backed up by six 47 mm (1.9 in) guns, while two 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes were carried, with one amidships and one right aft. [2] [3] The ships had a complement of 4 officers and 56 men. [4]
The Branlebas class were considered good sea-boats, with reliable machinery. [7] [8] By the time the class was built, however, they were outclassed by contemporary British and German destroyers, such as the River-class and the German S138-class torpedo boat being larger (and more heavily armed. [1] [7] (French destroyer size had been kept small owing to the influence of the Jeune École, which favoured the construction of large numbers of small ships.) [7]
The Framée class consisted of four destroyers built for the French Navy at the beginning of the 20th century. One ship was sunk in a collision shortly after completion, but the others served during the First World War. One ship was sunk in a collision with a British cargo ship in 1916, but the others survived the war to be discarded in 1920–1921.
The Spahi class consisted of seven destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. One ship was lost during the First World War, but the others survived to be scrapped afterwards.
The Voltigeur class was a pair of destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Both ships survived the First World War and were scrapped afterwards.
The Bisson class consisted of six destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1910s. One ship was lost during the First World War, but the others survived to be scrapped afterwards.
The Enseigne Roux class was the thirteenth class of destroyers to be built for the French Navy during World War I. The first two units of this class, the Enseigne Roux and the Mécanicien Principal Lestin saw use during the war. However, the construction of the third ship of the class — Enseigne Gabolde — was suspended in 1914. It was then resumed in 1921, and completed in 1923 to a modified design.
Durandal was the name ship of her class of four destroyers built for the French Navy in the late 1890s.
Hallebarde was one of four Durandal-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the late 1890s.
Yatagan was one of four Framée-class destroyers built for the French Navy around the beginning of the 20th century. During the First World War, she was sunk after a collision with a British cargo ship in 1916.
Épée was one of four Framée-class destroyers built for the French Navy around the beginning of the 20th century. During the First World War, the ship saw service in the Mediterranean Sea and survived the war to be stricken from the naval register on 1 October 1920.
Épieu was a Arquebuse-class destroyer contre-torpilleur d'escadre built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Completed in 1903, the ship was initially assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron.
Dard was a Arquebuse-class destroyer contre-torpilleur d'escadre built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Completed in 1904, the ship was assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron.
Catapulte was a Arquebuse-class destroyer contre-torpilleur d'escadre built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Completed in 1903, the ship was assigned to the Northern Squadron.
Bombarde was a Arquebuse-class destroyer contre-torpilleur d'escadre built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Completed in 1903, the ship was assigned to the Northern Squadron.
Glaive was one of 10 Branlebas-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Oriflamme was one of 10 Branlebas-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Gabion was one of 10 Branlebas-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Branlebas was the name ship of her class of destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Hussard was one of seven Spahi-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Capitaine Mehl was one of a dozen Bouclier-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Commandant Lucas was one of six Bisson-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1910s.
This page is based on this
Wikipedia article Text is available under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
French Navy 
