Sistership Fanfare of Branlebas-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
Part of Branlebas- or Sabetrache-class destroyers preceded by Claymore-class succeeded by Spahi-class. Laid down by Dyle et Bacalan, Bordeaux, France in December 1905, launched 20 March 1908 and sunk by the German torpedoboat SMS A 29 in the North Sea on 25 April 1917.
In an attachment of a letter dated Berlin, Germany 5 November No. 2308/42 was the estimated Italian consumption of crude oil in October 1942 described for the Italian traffic between Italy-Tripoly, Libya for 6 steamships and torpedo boats as escort 3,000 tons.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/223
An item reported that the US Navy captain W.S. Sims handed a proposal for a large semi submersible torpedo battleship to a Naval Affair Committee. She was to be built in the near future with a length of 600 feet, an armament of 16 torpedo tubes and some small guns, a possible displcaement of 20,000 tons and an estimated speed of 30 knots. It was however not a replacement of the common battleships but a supplementary ship. Naval constructors asked to comment his proposal were very cautious. Instead of 20,000 tons and 30 knots they reduced the battleship into a vessel of maximum 3,000 tons and 25 knots. More alike a semi submersible scout/light cruiser.(1)
Note
1. William Sowden Sims (15 October 1858 Port Hope, Canada-28 September 1936 Boston, USA) served in the US Navy between 1880-1922 ending in the rank of admiral.
Source
An item reported that the Italian engineer general Vittorio Emilio Cuniberti (7 June 1854 Turin, Italy-19 December 1913, Rome, Italy) published just voor his death an article in the Italian magazine Rivista Marittima proposing to built a torpedo battleship. With a displacement of 10,900 tons and as dimensions 446.1 x 68.10 feet. The internal combustion propulsion supplied 30,000 hp allowing a speed of 25 knots. She was to be armed with 16-12.8” torpedo tubes and 12-2.9” guns. Fore and aft was an armoured turret (15.76” thick) planned for discharging gas and fitted out with instrumentary for communication with the interior of the ship. The hull almost submerged was on the waterline protected by 15.76” thick armour decreasing the lower she got into the water. There was a singularly flat floor almost similar to that of a Thames barge. Cuniberti made two designs, the one mentioned in this text was armed with 16 tubes with a broadside fire of 8 tubes.
Source
An item reported that an anonymous (1) Italian designer was prepariring his idea for a destroyer of battleship size or as it was called a torpedo battleship. Length nearly 500 feet, displacement 15,250 tons and estimated speed of 24 knots. Her armament consisted of 20-4.7” quick firing anti torpedo boat guns and 30 submerged torpedo tubes (15 in a broadside) for the improved 18” Whitehead torpedo. Using the gun torpedo would increae her power even mor. A Krupp 12” thick armour belt reached from well below the waterline to ten feet straight up and protective decks were to protect the hull above water allowing her to near the enemy within hitting distance. Sufficient protection against torpedo attacks was still to be investigated.
Note
1. The name of the designer was not given but the famous Italian naval engineer V.E. Cuniberti published in 1913 an article about such a ship. Lorenzo d’Adda is also a possibility.
Source
©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
An item reported that Austrian naval exports designed a large heavily armoured torpedo battleship armed with 30 torpedo tubes (12 in front of the fore tunnel, 8 between the fore and midship funnels, 8 between the after midship funnel and the aft smokestack and finally a couple of tubes right af. Furthermore shehad 22-4.7” gunst against torpedo boats and for merchant ship destruction. The sides were bulging and like the rounding deck heavily armoured. With four funnels (3 together forward, 1 right aft), turbine-boiler propulsion delivering 36,000 hp was she 3 knots faster as any existing battleship at the time. Fairly low in the water showing funnels, masts and light superstructure. Estimate building costs 1,500,000 pound sterling.
Source
Displacement 15,250 tons and as dimensions 492 x 75.5 x 25/5 feet. Propulsion consisted of Parsons turbines allowing with 36,000 hp a speed of 24 knots. The armament consists of 20-45.72m/18” torpedo tubes below the waterline for which 60 torpedoes were carried and 20-11.9cm/4.7” guns in small turrets and 2 in casemates forward in the bow. Along the waterline amidships was a 30.48cm/12” thick belt tapering forward and aft to 5.08cm/2” and further more a by 5.08cm/2” protected conning-tower forward. Estimated building costs 1,500,000 pond sterling.
