Belonged to the Charlemagne-class with as sister ships the Gaulois and the St. Louis. This class was preceded by the Jauréguiberry-class and succeeded by the République-class. The Charlemagne was laid down at the navy shipyard at Brest on 14 July 1894, launched on 12 October 1895, commissioned in December 1899, stricken in 1920 and finally broken up. Building costs 1,096,432£.
With a displacement of 11,300 tonnes (Conways 11.100 long tons, Nava Annual 11,108 tons) were her dimensions 374 (between perpendiculars)-385 (Naval Annual 385½) x 67 (Naval Annual 66½) x 27‘6“ (Naval Annual 27½). The two steam engines and 20 Belleville boilers supplied 14,500 hp allowing a speed of 18-18.1 knots. The coal bunker capacity was 680/1,100 tons. Her crew numbered 725 men (Naval Annual 631 men). The armament consisted of 2x2-305mm (12”) guns, 10x1-138mm (5.5”) guns, 8x1-100mm (3.9”) guns and 4-450mm (18”) torpedo tubes. According to Conways also armed with 20-3pdrs (later was this number decreased) and 4-1pdrs. In 1913 consisted the armament of 4-12” guns, 10-5’5” guns, 8-3.9” guns, 16-1.8” guns, 10-1.4” guns, 8 machineguns and 2 submerged torpedo tubes. The armour consisted of a 250-400mm belt while the decks were protected by 40 and 90 mm, the barbettes by 400mm and finally the bunker by 75mm.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_battleship_Charlemagne_(1895)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne_class_battleship
http://www.onwar.com/weapons/warships/boats/France_Charlemagne.html
Conways Alle the world’s fighting ships 1860-1905
The Naval Annual 1913
