Opening Kiel Canal, Kiel, Germany, June 1895
She was the only ship of her class and laid down at Brest in July 1887 (1888?), launched 27 October 1890 and completed 1895, building costs 415.000 British pound. Although sold to Peru in 1912 and renamed Commandant Elias Aquirre she wasn't delivered to this country but stayed apparently in France. In 1914 she got her original name back, but due to her worse condition saw no active service in the First World War. Finally she was sold again, now to Belgium where she was rebuilt as a cargo ship and renamed Peruvier. The Naval Annual for 1913 mentioned her as being in Peruvian service as the Elias Aguirre bought for 140.000 British pound and not in French service. Dimensions 364'2"x 52'6"x 24'7"and a displacement of 6.700 tons. Her engine with 13 boilers delivering 13.000 hp made as a speed of 19,7-23 knots possible. Her crew numbered 526 men. She was armed with 2-194mm guns and 6-164 mm guns and 2-450mm torpedo tubes. Other sources give her an armament of 2-7.6"guns, 6-6.4" guns, 4-9pdr, 8-3pdr, 1-1pdr revolvers and 2 torpedo tubes. Originally with two funnels but rebuilt in 1905, she was fitted out with 20 boilers and 3 funnels, while the military mainmast was removed. Her bow was plough shaped and the stern sloping. Her armour consisted of belt of 100mm, deck with 20mm, bridge with 125mm and finally the turret 100mm.
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_armoured_cruiser_Dupuy_de_Lome: "The hull design shows an extremely marked tumblehome which had the advantage of increasing arcs of fire for the ship's gun batteries. It also may have made the hull more hydrodynamic and assisted in the vessels relatively high speed for the time. Her top-hamper was also reduced in comparison with other vessels of the period - which enabled better sighting and ranging of targets and subsequent gun laying."
