Dunkerque-class
Richelieu-class
Roma of the Italian Vittorio Veneto-class
Richelieu-class consisting of the Richelieu, Gascogne, Jean Bart and Clemenceau, preceded by the Dunkerque-class and succeeded by the never realized Alsace-class. Designed as an answer on the Italian Vittorio Veneto-class battleships while Italy and not Germany was the main threat for France regarded the supremacy in the Mediterranean. As a result of building under different programs were the hip not entirely similar. Her building was still not ordered when the German forces invaded France. She was to be built in the same dock as where the Jean Bart was built at Chantiers de Penhoët, Saint-Nazaire, France. The Germans referred to her as battleship S.
General technical specification of the class. Displacement 35.000 (design standard)-48.950 tons and as dimensions 247,85 x 33 x 9,63 metres or 813.2 x 108 x 31.6 feet. Machinery consisted of 4 Parsons geared turbines and 6 Indret Sural fuel oil pressure-fired steam boilers supplying 150.000 hp and driving four 4-bladed screws allowing a speed of 30 knots. Range varied between 2.350-6,950 nautical miles with a speed of respectively 28 and 16 knots. Crew numbered 1.550 planned while used as flagship. Armour consisted of a 33cm/13.0” thick belt, an upper armoured deck of 15cm/5.9” and a lower armoured deck of 4cm/1.6” and with the main gun turrets and conning tower protected by respectively 14cm/5.5-43cm/17” and 26cm/10.2”. For the Gascogne would the armour have changed/improved compared with her sister ships. The armament consisted of4/5 sea planes for which a hangar, a crane en 2 catapults were available, 2x4-38cm/15.0” /45 Modèle 1935 guns aft en forward, 3x3-15,2cm/6.0” dual purpose Modèle 1936 guns, 2 in super firing positions fore and one aft and 8-10cm/3.9” anti aircraft guns.
