The Durandal class was the first class of destroyers built for the French Navy, and formed part of the 300-tonne type of destroyers, of which 55 ships of similar size and layout were built between 1897 and 1908.[1][2] They were designed by the French specialist builder of torpedo vessels, Chantiers et Ateliers A. Normand, based on their Filibustier-classtorpedo boat design, but enlarged and with a stronger hull.[1]
The Durandals were 57.64m (189.1ft)long overall and 56m (183.7ft)between perpendiculars, with a beam of 5.95m (19.5ft) and a draft of 3.20m (10.5ft).[2]Displacement was 301t (296 long tons).[3] Like all the 300 tonne destroyers, Durandal had a "turtleback"[lower-alpha 1]forecastle and a raised flying-deck aft.[5] Two coal-fired Normand water-tube boilers fed steam to two triple-expansion steam engines rated at 4,800ihp (3,600kW), giving a design speed of 26 knots (48km/h; 30mph).[3] Two widely separated funnels were fitted.[3] The ships had an operating radius of 2,300nmi (4,300km; 2,600mi) at 10kn (19km/h; 12mph) and 217nmi (402km; 250mi) at 26 knots (48km/h; 30mph).[2]
Durandal had a gun armament of a single Canon de 65 mm Modèle 1891 gun on a raised platform around the ship's conning tower, and six 47mm (1.9in)/40 M1885 guns on the ship's beams. Two 380mm (15in) torpedo tubes were fitted, with two spare torpedoes carried.[3][2] She had a crew of four officers and 48 other ranks.[2]
In July 1902, Durandal took part in the 1902 French naval manoeuvres in the Mediterranean.[7]
When the First World War began in August 1914, Durandal was one of the leaders (divisionnaire) in the 2nd Submarine Flotilla (2ère escadrille sous-marins) of the 2nd Light Squadron (2e escadre légère)[8] based at Cherbourg.[9] On 12 October, Durandal, the destroyer Escopette and the auxiliary cruiser Pas de Calais (a converted paddle packet ship), engaged the German submarine U-20 off Cap Gris-Nez.[10][11]
Notes
↑ A fore deck with exaggerated camber designed to throw off sea water at high speeds.[4]
Caresse, Philippe (2013). "The Unlucky Destroyer Espignole". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2013. London: Conway. ISBN978-1-84486-205-4.
Couhat, Jean Labayle (1974). French Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allan. ISBN0-7110-0445-5.
Fock, Harald (1989). Z-Vor! Internationale Entwicklung und Kriegseinsätze von Zerstörern und Torpedobooten 1914 bis 1939 (in German). Herford, Germany: Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft mBH. ISBN3-7822-0207-4.
Gardiner, Robert; Lambert, Andrew, eds. (1992). Steam, Steel & Shellfire: The Steam Warship 1815–1905. Conway's History of the Ship. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-564-0.
Prévoteaux, Gérard (2017). La marine française dans la Grande guerre: les combattants oubliés: Tome I 1914–1915[The French Navy during the Great War: The Forgotten Combatants, Book I 1914–1915]. Collection Navires & Histoire des Marines du Mond. Vol.23. Le Vigen, France: Éditions Lela presse. ISBN978-2-37468-000-2.
Prévoteaux, Gérard (2017). La marine française dans la Grande guerre: les combattants oubliés: Tome II 1916–1918[The French Navy during the Great War: The Forgotten Combatants, Book II 1916–1918]. Collection Navires & Histoire des Marines du Mond. Vol.27. Le Vigen, France: Éditions Lela presse. ISBN978-2-37468-001-9.
Roberts, Stephen S. (2021). French Warships in the Age of Steam 1859–1914: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-5267-4533-0.
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The Durandal class was a group of four destroyers built for the French Navy between 1896 and 1900, used during the First World War. These vessels were France's first true destroyers rather than torpedo boats. Two units were launched in 1899 while another two followed in 1900. Another four destroyers of the similar Samsun class were laid down in 1906 and completed in 1907 for the Ottoman Navy, they also served in the First World War.
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