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Courbet

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Courbet (ex-Foudroyant)			Arsenal de Toulon	19.7.1875	27.4.1882	20.10.1886	stricken 2.1909
Dévastation			Arsenal de Lorient	20.12.1875	19.8.1879	15.7.1882	stricken 1909

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	10450
Displacement full, t
Length, m	95.0 wl 100.2 oa
Breadth, m	21.3
Draught, m	Courbet: 8.08 max Dévastation: 8.23 max
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VC, 12 cylindrical boilers
Power, h. p.	8300
Max speed, kts	Courbet: 15 Dévastation: 15.5
Fuel, t	coal 1100
Endurance, nm(kts)	3100(10)
Armour, mm	wrought iron; belt: 380 - 180, battery: 240, deck: 60
Armament	Courbet: 4 x 1 - 340/21 M1881, 4 x 1 - 274/20 M1875, 6 x 1 - 139/28 M1881, 12 x 5 - 37/20 M1885, 5 - 350 TT (1 bow, 4 beam) Dévastation: 4 x 1 - 340/18 M1875, 4 x 1 - 274/18 M1870, 6 x 1 - 139/21 M1870, 8 x 5 - 37/20 M1885, 5 - 350 TT (1 bow, 4 beam)
Complement	689

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Project history

Courbet was originally to be named Foudroyant. These ships resembled the Redoubtable in general layout and were the largest central battery ships ever built. Compartmentation was better than in Redoutable. The 340mm guns in the battery were worked by hydraulic power but were cramped and slow-firing. They were the largest mounted in a central battery ship. Metacentric height was a little over 0.9m and the ships were only lightly rigged. They could be distinguished from Redoubtable by having two funnels close abreast.

Ship protection

The belt was 2.8m wide, 0.7m being above water, and extended from the bows to 8.5m from the stern, ending in a 300mm bulkhead. It was 380mm amidships, 260mm forward and 300mm aft with the lower edge 250mm amidships and 180mm at the ends. The top of the battery armour was 5.9m above water, and according to reliable British reports, the backing round the gun-ports in Courbet was replaced by 300mm steel. The 60mm armour deck outside the battery was at the belt upper edge except abaft the stern bulkhead where it was at lower edge level.

Modernizations

1880s, Courbet: - 4 x 1 - 340/21; + 4 x 1 - 340/18 M1875

1890s, Courbet: - 4 x 1 - 274/20; + 3 x 1 - 274/45 M1893, 4 x 1 - 65/50 M1891, 14 x 1 - 47/40 M1885, 7 x 1 - 37/20 M1885, 7 x 5 - 37/20 M1885

1896, Dévastation: - 4 x 1 - 340/18; + 4 x 1 - 320/25 M1870-81, 2 x 1 - 65/50 M1891, 6 x 1 - 47/40 M1885, 12 x 1 - 37/20 M1885

1902, Dévastation: machinery was replaced by 12 Belleville boilers and 2 VTE; - 4 x 1 - 320/25, 4 x 1 - 274/18, 6 x 1 - 139/21, 2 x 1 - 65/50, 10 x 1 - 37/20, 8 x 5 - 37/20; + 4 x 1 - 274/20 M1875, 2 x 1 - 240/40 M1893-96, 10 x 1 - 100/45 M1891, 8 x 1 - 47/40 M1885

Naval service

No significant events.