Part of the Dupleix-class armoured cruisers consisting of the Dupliex, Kléber and Desaix, preceded by the Gueydon-class and succeeded by the Gloire-classs. Ordered on 28 December 1897. Laid down by Forges&Chantiers de la Gironde, Bordeaux, France in April 1898, launched on 20 September 1902, commissioned in 1904 and sunk after striking a mine laid by the German submarine UC 61 off Brest on 27 June 1917.
Displacement 7.700 tons and as dimensions 130 x 17,87 x 7,4 metres or 426.6 x 58.5 x 24.3” feet. Machinery consisted of 3 triple expansion steam engines and 24 Belleville boilers supplying via 3 shafts 17.800 ihp allowing a speed of 20 knots. With a coal bunker capacity of 1.180 tons and a speed of 10 knots was the range 7.600 nautical miles, Crew numbered 531 men. The armament consisted of 4x2-16,4cm/6.5” quick firing guns, 4x1-10cm/3.9” guns, 10x1-4,7cm/1.9” guns and 2-45cm/17.7” surfaced torpedo tubes. Armour consisted of a 4cm/1.6”-10cm/3.9” thick deck, a 5cm/2.0”-7cm/2.8” thick deck, 9cm/3.5” thick bulkheads with the gun turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by restively 12cm/4.7”-16cm/6.3”, 4cm/1,6”-12cm/4.7” and 8cm/3.1” thick armour.
