Descartes-class cruiser

Class overview
Name: Descartes class
Builders:
  • Arsenal de Toulon,
  • Arsenal De Loire
Operators:  French Navy
Preceded by: Friant-class cruiser
Succeeded by: D'Assas-class cruiser
Built: 1892–1897
In commission: 1896–1920
Completed: 2
Retired: 2
General characteristics
Type: Protected cruiser
Displacement: 3,960 tons
Length: 96.32 m (316 ft 0 in)
Beam: 12.98 m (42 ft 7 in)
Draught: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Propulsion: 8,500 hp (6,300 kW), two shafts
Speed: 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h)
Complement: 383
Armament:
  • 4 × 16 cm (6.3 in) (4 × 1)
  • 10 × 10 cm (3.9 in) (10 × 1)
  • 8 × 4.7 cm (1.9 in) (8 × 1)
  • 4 × 1-pounder (4 × 1)
  • 2 × 45 cm (18 in) torpedo tubes
Armour: 1.8 in (4.6 cm) deck

The Descartes class was a class of protected cruisers of the French Navy. The class comprised Descartes and Pascal.

Design

The ships of the class were 96.32 metres (316 ft 0 in) long, had a beam of 12.98 metres (42 ft 7 in), a draught of 6.5 metres (21 ft 4 in), and had a displacement of 3,960 ton. The ships were equipped with 2 shaft reciprocating engines, which were rated at 8,500 ihp (6,300 kW) and produced a top speed of 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h).

The ships had deck armour of 1.8 in (4.6 cm) and a complement 383 men. The main armament of the ships were four 16 cm (6.3 in) single turret guns. Secondary armament included ten single 10 cm (3.9 in) guns and eight 4.7 cm (1.9 in) single guns.

Construction

Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Shipyard
Descartes August 1892 September 1894 July 1896 1920 Arsenal De Loire
Pascal December 1893 September 1895 January 1897 1911 Arsenal de Toulon


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