The Dunkerque-class battleship was one of a series of two French fast battleships, which were commissioned right before World War II. They had originally been designed in 1928 as battlecruiser (Croiseur de Bataille de 35,000t). However, after the lead ship of the class (Le Dunkerque) was laid down in 1932, the original plan was redesigned during its construction, giving her better armor protection, especially at the belt, and more powerful main guns. The reason for this change was the emergence of the German Deutschland-class heavy cruisers. Thus, these French capital ships were the answer to Germany's 'pocket battleships' as the Royal Navy referred to them. Launched in 1936, Le Strasbourg was the second warship of the class.
The intended role of the Dunkerque class battleships was the protection of the French merchant shipping in time of war from German raiders, specifically the Deutschland class panzerschiffe. The Le Dunkerque was launched in 1935 and commissioned in 1937, while Le Strasbourg was commissioned in 1938. They were both deployed in the Atlantic at the start of World War II, where they took part in operations to catch and destroy the Deutschland and Graf Spee. This was precisely the type of hunt they had been designed for. In April 1940, one month before the German Invasion of France, they were both transferred to the Mediterranean Theater and they moored in the naval base of Mers-el-Kebir.
When France surrendered to Germany and the pro-German Vichy Government was set up, Great Britain demanded the total surrender of the French Fleet. When the Vichy Government rejected this demand, the Royal Navy attacked the French Fleet in the Mediterranean. As a result, Dunkerque was first hit and damaged by British 380-mm guns; then she would be further damaged in an air attack. However, Dunkerque was repaired and, in November 1942, she returned to Toulon, where she joined her sister Strasbourg. Shortly after her arrival, both ships were scuttled on November 27, 1942, but Strasbourg would be later recovered and repaired by the Italian Navy only to be sunk during an Allied air raid on August 18, 1944.
Technical Description
The propulsion system of the Dunkerque class battleship consisted of four Parsons geared turbines, which were fed by six boilers. These turbines drove four shafts, generating a total of 112,500 sHP. The ships had a high speed (29.5 knots) and heavy armament of eight 13-in (330-mm) main guns, which were mounted in two quadruple turrets located on fore deck but 90 feet apart to avoid them being put out of action by a single hit. Within the turrets, the guns were mounted in pairs, with each pair elevating together to a maximum of 35°, at which they had a range of 38 km (32,800 yards). The ships belt were protected by 240-mm thick armor. The main mast and bridge was located amid ship, while the exhaust funnel was situated behind the main mast.
Specifications
Type: battleship
Displacement: 26,500 tons; 35,500 tons (full-loaded)
Length: 214.5 m (703.8 ft)
Beam: 31.1 m (103 ft)
Draft: 9.6 m (31.5 ft)
Propulsion: four Parsons geared steam turbines, with four shafts and six boilers.
Maximum Speed: 29.5 knots
Range: 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km)
Complement: 1,400 sailors and officers
Armament: eight 330-mm (13-inch) naval guns; sixteen 130-mm (5.1-inch) guns.
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| Above, the Le Dunkerque battleship in 1939. |
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| The Strasbourg in the Mediterranean in April 1940. |
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| The Le Dunkerque in 1938. |