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French ironclad Redoutable

Le Redoutable (1889).jpg
Redoutable in 1889
History
France
Name: Redoubtable
Builder: Arsenal de Lorient
Laid down:
  • December 1872
  • 18 July 1873
Launched: 18 September 1876.
Commissioned:
  • 22 November 1878 for trials.
  • 31 December 1878 for service.
  • 8 February 1879
Struck: 9 March 1910
Fate:
  • Sold 17 August 1911 for 100,000 francs. 1912 broken up at Saigon.
  • Sold for demolition at Saigon 1913
General characteristics
Type: Central-battery ironclad
Displacement:
Length:
  • 95 m (311 ft 8 in) between perpendiculars
  • 100.7 m (330 ft 5 in) total
Beam: 19.76 m (64 ft 10 in)
Draft: 7.8 m (26 ft)
Installed power:
  • 6,700 ihp (5,000 kW)
  • 8 oval boilers
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 horizontal return connecting rod compound steam engines
Sail plan:
  • Square rig, sail area 2,033 square metres (21,880 sq ft)
  • 2,700 square metres (29,000 sq ft).
Speed: 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) max speed on trials
Range: 2,840 nautical miles at 10 knots (5,260 km at 19 km/h)
Complement: 709
Armament:
  • 7 × 27cm Model 1875
  • 6 × 14cm Model 1870
  • 1 × 47mm
  • 12 × 37mm Hotchkiss revolving cannons
  • 4 × torpedo launchers
Armour:
  • Belt: 350 mm (13.8 in)
  • Battery: 240–300 mm (9.4–11.8 in)
  • Deck: 45–60 mm (1.8–2.4 in)

Redoutable was a central battery and barbette ship of the French Navy. She was the first warship in the world to use steel as the principal building material. She was preceded by the Colbert-class ironclads.

Compared to iron, steel allowed for greater structural strength for a lower weight. France was the first country to manufacture steel in large quantities, using the Siemens process. At that time, steel plates still had some defects, and the outer bottom plating of the ship was made of wrought iron.

All-steel warships were later built by the Royal Navy, with the dispatch vessels Iris and Mercury, laid down in 1875-1876.

The engines are two in number, horizontal, and of the compound two cylinder type, developing a horsepower of 6,071 [4.527 MW], which on the trial trip gave a speed of 14.66 knots. Five hundred and ten tons of coal are carried in the bunkers, which at a speed of 10 knots should enable the ship to make a voyage of 2,800 nautical miles [5,200 km]. Torpedo defense netting is fitted, and there are three masts with military tops carrying Hotchkiss revolver machine guns.

The offensive power of the ship consists of seven breechloading rifled guns of 27 centimeters (10.63 in.), and weighing 24 tons each, six breechloading rifled guns of 14 centimeters (5.51 in.), and quick-firing and machine guns of the Hotchkiss systems. There are in addition four torpedo discharge tubes, two on each side of the ship.

There are three electric light projectors, one forward on the upper deck, one on the bridge just forward of the funnel, and one in the mizzen top.

Full complement: 30 officers + 679 ratings.

Trials or 1st category reserve: 8 officers + 371 ratings.

2nd category reserve: 5 officers + 139 ratings.

3rd category reserve: 0 officers + 27 ratings.

Redoutable formed part of the French Mediterranean squadron.


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