NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Charles Martel as built

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Charles Martel			Arsenal de Brest	4.1891	29.8.1893	6.1897	stricken 10.1919

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	11693
Displacement full, t
Length, m	115.5 pp 119.0 oa
Breadth, m	21.6
Draught, m	8.38
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 24 Lagrafel d`Allest boilers
Power, h. p.	14900
Max speed, kts	18
Fuel, t	coal 980
Endurance, nm(kts)	4400(10)
Armour, mm	Nickel steel; belt: 450 - 250, upper belt: 100, main turrets: up to 380, turret bases: up to 150, secondary turrets: 100, CT: 230, deck: 70
Armament	2 x 1 - 305/45 M1887, 2 x 1 - 274/45 M1887, 8 x 1 - 139/45 M1887, 4 x 1 - 65/50 M1891, 12 x 1 - 47/40 M1885, 8 x 5 - 37/20 M1885, 4 - 450 TT (beam, 2 aw, 2 sub)
Complement	644

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

The first to be laid down of five similar ships but with sufficient differences to prevent them being considered as one class. The Charles Martel had a forecastle deck giving a high freeboard forward but was cut down to the main deck at the stern and could be distinguished by a flying deck between the two military masts. The 305mm centre pivot turrets were fore and aft at forecastle and upper deck level, with the 274mm on either beam rising from the tumblehome to upper deck level. The 139mm were in single turrets, two by the foremast at upper deck level, and the rest at main deck level, four being by the 274mm and two by the after 305mm. Metacentric height is given as 1.0m but British reports state that stability was inadequate.

Ship protection

Complete main belt was 2.3m high (underwater part was 1.8m). Its thickness was 450mm amidships at the upper edge tapering to 250mm at the lower edge. These digits were 300 and 250mm at ship ends. Complete 100mm upper belt had 3.0m height fwd, 1.2m amidships and 2.0m aft. Arched armour deck was connected with upper edge of main belt and sloped down at the bows. Its maximal strength was 70mm on 10mm plating. Second deck (with up to 25mm thickness) laid 0.8m under main deck, space between these decks was divided into many small compartments, filled with coal or stores, formed the tranche cellulaire or cellular layer much favoured by advocates of French designs.

Modernizations

early 1900s: - 2 - 450 TT (aw); + 4 x 1 - 47/40 M1885.

Naval service

No significant events.