Duquesne-class
The Duquesne-class consisting of the Duquesne and Tourville, preceded by the Duguay Trouin-class and succeeded by the Suffren-class. Lightly built, hardly protected by armour but seaworthy good steamers able to maintain a huge speed of 30 knots even with just half power. Laid down at the Lorient Navy Yard, France on 14 April 1925, launched on 24 August 1926, commissioned on 1 December 1968 and condemned on 8 March 1962.
General technical specifications. With a displacement of 10.000 (standard)-12.200 (full load) tons and as dimensions 191 x 19 x 6,32 metres or 626.8 x 62.4 x 20.9 feet. The machinery consisted of 4-shaft Rateau-Bretagne single reduction geared turbines and 9 Guyot boilers supplying 120.000 hp allowing a speed of 33,75 knots. With a speed of 15 knots was the range 4.500 nautical miles. Crew numbered 605 men. Armament consisted of 4x2-20,3cm/50 Modèle 1924 guns, 8x1-7,5cm/3” anti aircraft guns, 4x2-3,7cm/1’5” anti aircraft guns, 4x3-13,2mm/0.52” anti aircraft guns and 4x3-55cm/22” torpedo tubes. Carried 2 GL-812 (later replaced by GL-832 and Loire-Nieuport 130) planes with them for which one catapult was available. The armour consisted of a 3cm/1.2” thick deck, 3cm/1.2” thick protection of the magazine box, gun turrets and conning tower.
