French destroyer Bouclier

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For other ships with the same name, see French ship Bouclier.
Bouclier-Marius Bar.jpg
Bouclier underway
History
France
NameBouclier
NamesakeShield
BuilderChantiers et Ateliers Augustin Normand, Le Havre
Laid down1909
Launched29 June 1911
Completed1911
Stricken15 February 1933
General characteristics
Class and type Bouclier-class destroyer
Displacement692 t (681 long tons)
Length72.32 m (237 ft 3 in) (o/a)
Beam7.6–8 m (24 ft 11 in – 26 ft 3 in)
Draft2.9–3.3 m (9 ft 6 in – 10 ft 10 in)
Installed power
Propulsion3 shafts; 3 steam turbines
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range1,200–1,600 nmi (2,200–3,000 km; 1,400–1,800 mi) at 12–14 knots (22–26 km/h; 14–16 mph)
Complement80–83
Armament

Bouclier was the name ship of her class of a dozen destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

Design and description[]

The Bouclier class were designed to a general specification and varied significantly from each other in various ways.[1] Bouclier was the shortest ship in her class and had an overall length of 72.3 meters (237 ft 2 in), a beam of 7.6–8 meters (24 ft 11 in – 26 ft 3 in), and a draft of 2.9–3.1 meters (9 ft 6 in – 10 ft 2 in). Designed to displace 800 metric tons (787 long tons), Bouclier was also the lightest ship of her class and displaced 692 t (681 long tons) at normal load. Their crew numbered 80–83 men.[1]

Bouclier was powered by three Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four water-tube boilers. The engines were designed to produce 13,000 shaft horsepower (9,700 kW) which was intended to give the ships a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). Bouclier was the fastest ship of her class, reaching 35.5 knots (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph) during her sea trials. The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,200–1,600 nautical miles (2,200–3,000 km; 1,400–1,800 mi) at cruising speeds of 12–14 knots (22–26 km/h; 14–16 mph).[2]

The primary armament of the Bouclier-class ships consisted of two 100-millimeter (3.9 in) Modèle 1893 guns in single mounts, one each fore and aft of the superstructure, and four 65-millimeter (2.6 in) Modèle 1902 guns distributed amidships. They were also fitted with two twin mounts for 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes amidships.[1]

During World War I, a 45-millimeter (1.8 in) or 75-millimeter (3 in) anti-aircraft gun, two 8-millimeter (0.31 in) machine guns, and eight or ten Guiraud-type depth charges were added to the ships. The extra weight severely overloaded the ships and reduced their operational speed to around 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph).[1]

Construction and career[]

Bouclier was ordered from Chantiers et Ateliers Augustin Normand and was launched from its Le Havre shipyard on 29 June 1911. The ship was completed later that year.[3] On 27 June 1922, Bouclier collided with the battleship Paris at Toulon, France. Both ships suffered severe damage.[4]

Bouclier was stricken on 15 February 1933.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Gardiner & Gray, p. 203
  2. ^ Couhat, pp. 101, 104
  3. ^ Couhat, p. 104
  4. ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 43069. London. 28 June 1922. col E, p. 21.

Bibliography[]

  • Couhat, Jean Labayle (1974). French Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0445-5.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.

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