FRENCH SUPER-DREADNOUGHT LAUNCHED.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15269, 4 May 1915, Page 7

FRENCH SUPER-DREADNOUGHT LAUNCHED.

CReceived May 3rd, 11.30 p.m.) PARIS, May 3. The 25,000 ton super-Dreadnought, Languedoc, has been launched at Bordeaux. v

Tho Languedoc is one of the four battleships of the 1913 programme, tlio others being the Normandie, Flandre, and Gascogne, which have been launched for moro than seven months and are well on the way to completion. A fifth shin of the same class— the Beam —is also tinder construction. These vessels have a designed displacement of 20,000 tons, their dimensions being:—Length, 574 ft 3in; beam, 88ft Gin; draught, 28ft 4in. The armament will consist of twelve 13.42 45----calibro guns in three quadruple turrets, twenty-four 5.5 in guns in redoubts, and four 3 pounder guns, and six submerged torpedo tubes. Tho maximum thickness of armour at the water-line is 12.in, reducing to 7in nt tho ends. Tho belt will reach 5 feet below water and rail Bft above it. and another range will riso to a height of lo feet abovo tho water-line and will be of Tin armour for a length of 300 feet. The shins havo three armoured decks and numerous bulkheads. Each ship will bo driven by Parsons turbines, giving her a speed of 21 knots, and will carry a crew of 1100 officers and men. France has alrcadv four Dreadnought battleships. — France, Paris, Conbert. and Jcau Bart —in commission. Three others, similar to tho British Iron Duke, mounting ten 13.4 in guns, were duo for completion lagt month.