Richelieu (armoured)

See also: Richelieu (homonymy)

The Richelieu was a armoured French built in 1935 and thus baptized in the honor of the Cardinal of Richelieu. It is one of the last four giant warships which France had: Richelieu, the Jean Bart, the last two battleships, as well as Strasbourg and his/her brother Dunkirk, cruisers of battle.

In the long term a series of 6 identical ships was to be built, auquels would come to be added the two ships the Dunkirk class and both of the Alsace class, thus forming a fleet of 10 modern units authorized by the treaty of Washington.

Finally these were three ships which were planned, two on the model of Richelieu (Richelieu, Jean Bart), then another slightly modified meeting the new standards (Clémenceau). The three other units envisaged at the beginning would be in fact of a new model: Gascogne

The initial plan of Richelieu and thus of the Jean Bart envisaged a ship similar to the preceding ships, Dunkerques, but widened, better armor-plated and armed better. One remained on the diagrams of the two quadruple turrets on before (one passed from the 330mm to the 380mm model 1935), the 5 mixed turrets (double use AA and YEAR) passed, they, of 138mm to triple turrets of 152mm, distributed three on the back and one on each side in the medium. The chimney, massive, was preserved.

Richelieu was put in building site on this model there. But quickly during the construction of the modifications were brought, like the fusion of the back tower and the chimney, thus inventing a new concept taken again by several navy later.

Career

Put on hold on October 22nd, 1935 at the arsenal of Brest, with the basin of Salou, where Dunkirk had been assembled, and launched on January 17th, 1939, its first commander was the captain Marzin.

The sudden ship of new modifications, result combined of the delays of delivery of the new anti-aircraft gun of 37mm model 1935 and of the disappointing results of the turrets doubles use in their anti-aircraft mode (too much slow of speed of pointing and gives rhythm shooting). Thus the two side turrets were removed and the turrets of 37 mm envisaged were replaced by older material.

The ship carries out successfully its first tests machines in April 1940.

It left for Dakar on June 18th, 1940 whereas German apparatuses bombarded the roads, where it was in completion (to a total value of 90%).

In Dakar, the ship was torpedoed by the British at the time of the operation Catapult. A torpedo bored a tunnel of the tree carries propeller (it was failed on a shallow water, by the back). The ship will be summarily repaired. It pushed back the intervention of free France in September (it was the operation Menace), then, French Africa of North being rejoined with De Gaulle and the Americans having unloaded, it left to the the United States where its armament was modernized with the arsenal of Brooklyn, the passage under the Pont from Brooklyn in New York having required the disassembling of the front telepointor. After the notable addition of anti-aircraft guns of 20 and 40 mm Bofors, Richelieu was involved a little in the Baie of Chesapeake. Claimed by the British Home Fleet, it left for Europe and carried out harassings in Norway before being indicated to rejoin the Eastern Fleet in the Pacific, ordered by the Admiral Sommerville.

After having crossed the Suez Canal, the ship arrived on April 10th, 1944 at Trincomalee, in the island of Ceylon, where it was accommodated by the British fleet, then took part in the bombardments on Sabang on April 19th and Surabaya. It was present at the Japanese capitulation in roads of Singapore. Lastly, on October 1st, it was of return to Toulon after 52 months spent far from the Metropolis.

After the Second War, it took part in the Guerre of Indo-China. It was put in reserve in August 1959, disarmed in 1967 then demolished with Spezia in 1968.

Characteristics

  • principal Artillery

real diameter: 380 mm
ammunition: high-explosive shells of 884 kg
carried: 34.800 m with rise 30°
parts: 8 of 94,130 tons each one
turrets: 2 quadruple on the beach before
  • secondary Artillery
real diameter: 152 mm
ammunition: shell of 54 kg
carried: 26.474 m with rise 45°
turrets: 3 triple with the back
12 parts of 100 mm
56 parts of 40 mm
50 parts of 20 mm

Sistership

  • Jean Bart

Four other units were envisaged:
  • Clémenceau (put on hold in 1939, launched in 1943 and ever completed)
  • Gascogne (which was in order)
  • Two others not yet named.

External bond

  • Richelieu on Alabordache

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