French armoured cruiser Jeanne d’Arc (1896-1934)

Alexander van Maanen

The drawing is just an impression and doesn’t give a accurate view of this ship!

Laid down at Toulon, France October 1896, launched June 1899 and finally completed 1902. Fitted out with a ram and six funnels. According to one source a poorly armed cruiser, while another source indicated her in 1903 being the largest and mightiest French cruiser. Since 1912/1913 the school ship of the École Navale. In actice service in the First World War, mainly in the operations against Turkey. Decommissioned 1928 or February 1933 (sources differs) and broken up in 1934. Dimensions: 475’8"”x 63’8” x 26’7”with a displacement of 11.300 tons. Her main armament consisted of 2 single mounted 7.6” guns and 14 single mounted 5.4” and also 5-18” torpedo tubes. Her 3 steam engines and 48 boilers provided 28.500 hp making a speed of 23 knots in theory possible, in reality 21.8 knots. Her crew numbered 714 men.

In 1922 she visited Amsterdam, Netherlands and the Dutch magazine De Prins published 24 June page 297 a photo of the French consul Mr. Charles Benoit while leaving the ship.

The newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant evening edition dated 2 June reported that this protected cruiser commanded by captain Klotz was all ready expected to arrive at Rotterdam. The harbour master Willenje was to welcome on behalf of the town council of Rotterdam.

The morning edition dated 6 June reported that the commanding officer laid a wreath at the graves of French soldiers.

The morning edition dated 9 June reported that the reception presented by her commanding officer on board the day before in the afternoon was well visited. The French ambassador Benoist and the French consul at Rotterdam Petipied and part of their French staff were present just like some representatives of other countries as the British military attaché coming from The Hague. Further more visited the burgomaster of Rotterdam Zimmerman and his spouse, several harbour authorities and male and female members of the French-Dutch associations the ships. There were also some young girls and there people were dancing.

The evening edition dated 14 June reported that she left the same day at 12.45 o’clock IJmuiden towards Bergen.(1)

Note
1. Another newspaper Het Centrum dated 3 June reported that she arrived at 19.00 o’clock on 2 June and that her commanding officer visited the town hall a day later while in the afternoon there was an official diner in the Park Hotel the presence of the burgomaster of Rotterdam and the French ambassador Benoist.

sources
http://www.cityofart.net/bship/french_armor.html
Conway’s Al the World Fightings Ships 1860-1946
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/jeane_d'arc.htm
Jacques Vichot. Répertoire des navires de guerre français. Paris, 1967.