(1896) Bretange Class - LB

-- Overview --

Class of three ships Bretagne, Alexandre, and Fontenoy. Lain down 1896, and completed October 1897. An iterative design on the Temeraires, with only slight improvements in crew/engine compartment layout.

-- Design --

Bretagne Class, Celtica BB laid down 1896

Displacement:

   10,373 t light; 11,075 t standard; 11,997 t normal; 12,735 t full load

Dimensions: Length (overall / waterline) x beam x draught (normal/deep)

   (360.00 ft / 360.00 ft) x 72.00 ft x (27.00 / 28.36 ft)

   (109.73 m / 109.73 m) x 21.95 m  x (8.23 / 8.64 m)

Armament:

     4 - 12.99" / 330 mm 35.0 cal guns - 1,100.00lbs / 498.95kg shells, 60 per gun

     Breech loading guns in turret on barbette mounts, 1887 Model

     2 x 2-gun mounts on centreline ends, evenly spread

     16 - 7.48" / 190 mm 40.0 cal guns - 200.00lbs / 90.72kg shells, 150 per gun

     Breech loading guns in casemate mounts, 1892 Model

     16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread

       16 hull mounts in casemates- Limited use in all but light seas

     16 - 3.54" / 90.0 mm 45.0 cal guns - 20.00lbs / 9.07kg shells, 250 per gun

     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1892 Model

     16 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread

     8 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm 50.0 cal guns - 2.01lbs / 0.91kg shells, 400 per gun

     Quick firing guns in deck mounts, 1892 Model

     8 x Single mounts on sides, evenly spread

       8 raised mounts

     Weight of broadside 7,936 lbs / 3,600 kg

     Main Torpedoes

     4 - 17.7" / 450 mm, 13.12 ft / 4.00 m torpedoes - 0.408 t each, 1.631 t total

   submerged side tubes

Armour:

  - Belts:        Width (max)    Length (avg)        Height (avg)

   Main:    14.0" / 356 mm    216.00 ft / 65.84 m    9.50 ft / 2.90 m

   Ends:    6.00" / 152 mm    144.00 ft / 43.89 m    9.50 ft / 2.90 m

   Upper:    6.00" / 152 mm    216.00 ft / 65.84 m    7.50 ft / 2.29 m

     Main Belt covers 92 % of normal length

  - Torpedo Bulkhead - Strengthened structural bulkheads:

       1.00" / 25 mm    216.00 ft / 65.84 m    25.00 ft / 7.62 m

   Beam between torpedo bulkheads 65.00 ft / 19.81 m

  - Gun armour:    Face (max)    Other gunhouse (avg)    Barbette/hoist (max)

   Main:    14.0" / 356 mm    8.00" / 203 mm        11.6" / 295 mm

   2nd:    6.00" / 152 mm    1.25" / 32 mm        1.25" / 32 mm

   3rd:    1.25" / 32 mm    0.50" / 13 mm              -

  - Protected deck - multiple decks:

   For and Aft decks: 3.05" / 77 mm

   Forecastle: 1.30" / 33 mm  Quarter deck: 1.30" / 33 mm

  - Conning towers: Forward 13.00" / 330 mm, Aft 0.00" / 0 mm

Machinery:

   Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,

   Direct drive, 2 shafts, 10,411 ihp / 7,766 Kw = 17.00 kts

   Range 5,652nm at 10.00 kts

   Bunker at max displacement = 1,661 tons (100% coal)

Complement:

   573 - 745

Cost:

   £1.050 million / $4.201 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

   Armament: 1,156 tons, 9.6 %

      - Guns: 1,153 tons, 9.6 %

      - Weapons: 3 tons, 0.0 %

   Armour: 4,495 tons, 37.5 %

      - Belts: 2,092 tons, 17.4 %

      - Torpedo bulkhead: 200 tons, 1.7 %

      - Armament: 1,121 tons, 9.3 %

      - Armour Deck: 936 tons, 7.8 %

      - Conning Tower: 147 tons, 1.2 %

   Machinery: 1,735 tons, 14.5 %

   Hull, fittings & equipment: 2,987 tons, 24.9 %

   Fuel, ammunition & stores: 1,624 tons, 13.5 %

   Miscellaneous weights: 0 tons, 0.0 %

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

   Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):

     14,357 lbs / 6,512 Kg = 13.1 x 13.0 " / 330 mm shells or 8.0 torpedoes

   Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.41

   Metacentric height 5.5 ft / 1.7 m

   Roll period: 12.8 seconds

   Steadiness    - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 72 %

           - Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.55

   Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 1.43

Hull form characteristics:

   Hull has low quarterdeck ,

     a normal bow and a cruiser stern

   Block coefficient (normal/deep): 0.600 / 0.606

   Length to Beam Ratio: 5.00 : 1

   'Natural speed' for length: 18.97 kts

   Power going to wave formation at top speed: 49 %

   Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50

   Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees

   Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m

   Freeboard (% = length of deck as a percentage of waterline length):

               Fore end,     Aft end

      - Forecastle:    20.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m

      - Forward deck:    30.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m

      - Aft deck:    30.00 %,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m,  15.00 ft / 4.57 m

      - Quarter deck:    20.00 %,  7.50 ft / 2.29 m,  7.50 ft / 2.29 m

      - Average freeboard:        13.50 ft / 4.11 m

   Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:

   Space    - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 91.7 %

       - Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 94.5 %

   Waterplane Area: 18,957 Square feet or 1,761 Square metres

   Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 98 %

   Structure weight / hull surface area: 141 lbs/sq ft or 686 Kg/sq metre

   Hull strength (Relative):

       - Cross-sectional: 0.89

       - Longitudinal: 2.73

       - Overall: 1.00

   Adequate machinery, storage, compartmentation space

   Adequate accommodation and workspace room

   Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform

   Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Armament:

33cm/35 model 1887

19cm/40 model 1892

9cm/45 model 1892

4cm/50 model 1892

45cm/4 model 1892

Armor:

Main belt extends 2' below waterline

1.25" protected deck & slopes plus 1.25" battery and 0.5" upper

Main barbette 14" above battery 8" below