FRANCE’S NEW BATTLESHIP

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 128, 23 February 1939, Page 3

FRANCE’S NEW BATTLESHIP

Armament Of More Than 30 Guns HIGH SPEED AIMED AT The first of France’s new 35,000-ton battleships—the Richelieu—which was launched at Brest last month, was laid down on November 22, 1935. The Richelieu is a ship 794 ft. long and 108 if(. in beam. She will have a single funnel and a large, tower-like superstructure forward. Her main armament will consist of eight loin, guns, and she will have a secondary armament of fifteen Gin. guns. She will also mount eight 37-millimetre anti-aircraft guns, and several smaller anti-aircraft weaixins. The arrangement of the armament is interesting in that it is very similar to that of the Dunkerque and Strassbourg. The main armament of 15in. guns is to be mounted in two four-gun turrets on the forecastle, and the secondary armament will be concentrated aft and on the broadside. The secondary armament is to be mounted in live three-gun turrets. One of these is on the after superstructure, facing aft, and there are two on each broadside. Four aircraft are to bo carried, aud two catapults will be mounted for launching them. One of the most interesting features of the new French battleship is her armour protection. This will amount to 15,000 tons out of the total displacement of the ship of 35.000 tons. The main armour belt running from the fore side of the foremost 15in. gun barbette to the after Gin. gun barbette varies in thickness between 9in. and IGin. ' Armoured decks are also built into the ship, and these have a total thickness of Bin. of armour. In addition to the great quantity of armour carried by the ship, further protection is afforded by the close subdivision of the bull. Under-water protection is given by internal bulges which do. not interfere with the streamlines of the bull. The ship is to be engined by the Loire Works. It is confidently expected that the Richelieu will have a full speed, tinder service conditions, of more than 30 knots.