Design and description
The Spahi-class was over 50 percent larger than the preceding Branlebas class to match the increase in size of foreign destroyers. They varied slightly in size due to building practices of each shipyard. [1] They had a length between perpendiculars of 64–65.8 meters (210 ft 0 in – 215 ft 11 in), a beam of 6.05–6.6 meters (19 ft 10 in – 21 ft 8 in), [2] and a draft of 2.3–2.4 meters (7 ft 7 in – 7 ft 10 in). The ships displaced 530–550 metric tons (522–541 long tons ) at deep load. [1]
The destroyers were powered by two triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by four water-tube boilers of three different types. Spahi and Lansquenet used Normand boilers, Hussard and Mameluk had du Temple boilers while the remaining three ships were fitted with Guyot boilers. The engines were designed to produce 7,500 indicated horsepower (5,600 kW ), except for Spahi with 9,000 ihp (6,700 kW), which was intended to give the sister ships a speed of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph). During their sea trials, they reached speeds of 27.1–29.8 knots (50.2–55.2 km/h; 31.2–34.3 mph). The ships carried 95 t (93 long tons) of coal which gave them a range of 1,000–1,200 nautical miles (1,900–2,200 km; 1,200–1,400 mi) at a cruising speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Lansquenet had a capacity of 115 t (113 long tons) which gave her a range of 2,880 nmi (5,330 km; 3,310 mi) at the same cruising speed. [3]
The primary armament of the Spahi-class ships consisted of six 65-millimeter (2.6 in) Modèle 1902 guns in single mounts, one each fore and aft of the superstructure and the others were distributed amidships. They were also fitted with three 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes. One of these was in a fixed mount in the bow and the other two were on single rotating mounts amidships. [1]
The Branlebas class was a class of ten destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Eight of the ships survived the First World War and were scrapped afterwards.
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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.
Mameluk was one of seven Spahi-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the twentieth century.
The French destroyer Enseigne Roux was the name ship of her class of three destroyers built for the French Navy during the First World War.
The French destroyer Mécanicien Principal Lestin was the second of two Enseigne Roux-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the First World War.
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.
Sarbacane 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.
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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.
Harpon 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 Northern Squadron.
Arc 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 Northern Squadron.
Bélier 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 Northern 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.
Lansquenet was one of seven Spahi-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Carabiner was one of seven Spahi-class 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.
Spahi was the name ship of her class of 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.
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