Under the terms of the Washington Treaty,
France was allowed to start construction
on new ships in 1927, 1929, and 1931. Studies
began in 1926 for a vessel capable of destroying
any cruiser, operating as a fast scouting
force, or operating as a commerce raider.
Dubbed a "Croiseur de Combat",
or battlecruiser, the resulting design was
for a 17,500-ton vessel armed with 8 x 12"
guns and capable of 34-36 knots. Protection
was very poor, as it was expected only to
fight cruisers of up to 10,000 tons and 8"
guns.
No money was appropriated however.
By 1930 the development of the German Deutschland
Class had prompted a redesign, calling for
more protection and firepower. The ship grew
to 25,000 tons, speed fell to 29-30 knots,
but armor protection capable of resisting
the German 11.1" gun was included. The
French Naval Staff was unhappy with this
design and its 12" guns, so 13"
guns were specified with a resulting increase
in size. Protection against torpedoes and
aircraft was stressed in a 1931 redesign,
and the designation was changed to "Batiments
de ligne", or battleship. The forward
grouping of the main battery in quad turrets,
and the extensive use of welding in the construction,
combined to save weight. Strasbourg was authorized
three years later, and carried greater armor
protection.
The resulting ships were vulnerable to fire
from battleships, but were more than capable
of defeating any other type of vessel. They
combined long range, high speed, good underwater
protection, a dual-purpose secondary, and
relatively heavy firepower.
Both ships served well in the beginning of
the war, then became inactive with the fall
of France. Both were scuttled at Toulon to
avoid capture by the Germans.
| Dunkerque: Laid down 24 Dec 1931 Launched 2 Oct 1935 Commissioned1 Feb 1936 |
Strasbourg: Laid down 25 Nov 1934 Launched 12 Dec 1936 Commissioned 6 Apr 1939 |
Builders: Dunkerque - Brest navy Yard Strasbourg - Chantier de St. Nazaire-Penhoet |
||
| Displacement Dunkerque: 30,907 tons std 34,253 tons max Strasbourg: approx 780 tons more |
Dimensions Dunkerque: 705'10" x 102' Strasbourg: 707' x 102' |
Draught 31'7"at full load |
Complement 1,381 Design |
|
| Main guns 6 x 13/52" (2 x 4) |
Secondary guns 12 x 5.1/45" (3 x 4) |
AA Guns 10 x 37mm 32 x 13.2mm |
Torpedo tubes none |
|
| Armour Belt Dunkerque: 8.86" + .63" inclined 11.3 degrees Strasbourg: 11.14" + .63"inclined at 11.3 degrees |
Turret Armor Dunkerque: 12.99" Strasbourg: 14.17" |
Deck Armor 4.42" + .59" + 1.57" over machinery 4.92' + .59" + 1.5" over main magazines |
Conning Tower Armor 10.63" |
|
| Boilers 6 x Indret "flamme directe" type 384 psi @ 662 degrees |
Turbines 4 sets x Parsons-type geared |
Power output 110,960 shp |
Shafts 4 |
|
| Speed Dunkerque: 31.06 kts Strasbourg: 30.36 kts |
Range 16,400 @ 17.31 knots |
Fuel 5,664 tons oil |
Aircraft 3 floatplanes one catapult enclosed hanger |
|
Fates:
Dunkerque: Active in first part of war, escort duties
and hunting for German raiders. Used to
transport gold to Canada for safekeeping,
transfered to Med to counter Italians.
Chased off Italian cruisers attempting to
engage a convoy, laid up at Mers el Kebir
upon Armistice.
Her accurate fire allowed the escape of Strasbourg
from British attack on Mers el Kebir,
July 3, 1940, but was herself struck by 4
15" shells and was beached.
Next morning British torpedo planes attacked,
striking two smaller vessels
along side, igniting depth charges on one
of them, causing hull damage to Dunkerque.
Temporary repairs made, ship sailed for Toulon
Feb 19, 1942 and drydocked.
Repairs still in progress when the Germans
occupied Vichy France, Dunkerque scuttled
to
prevent capture Nov 27, 1942.
Hulk stripped, and bow cut off and floated
by Italian 1943.
Main part of hull remained in dock, wrecked
by Allied bombers and retreating Italians.
Hulk raised 1945 to clear drydock, sold for
scrap 1958.
Broken up Toulon.
Strasbourg: Active as sister in first part of war.
Escaped harbor Mers el Kebir, twice attacked
by aircraft, shot down one.
Boiler accident that night, killing 5.
Ship inactive at Toulon as flagship of French
Fleet with greatly reduced company,
making only a few short cruises off Toulon
in 1942.
Scuttled to prevent capture Nov 27, 1942.
Stripped and refloated by Italians July 1943.
Taken over by Germans, returned to French
March 1944.
Struck by 8 bombs and grounded during American
air attack August 1944.
Refloated 1946.
Proposal to rebuild or convert to aircraft
carrier rejected due to lack of funds.
Used for underwater explosives testing, sold
for scrap may 1955.
Broken up Toulon.
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