french battlecruiser proposals years outbreak world war french_navy considered proposals battlecruisers navy issued specifications battlecruiser design complete capital ships built designs completed designs similar contemporary battleship designs specifically class introduced quadruple gun turret main battery adopted proposals called gun french dreadnoughts proposed powerful gun design studies complete french_navy authorize begin construction battlecruisers start war background naval law march french_navy called total force capital ships built technical branch subsequently issued set somewhat vague requirements battlecruiser designs requirements stipulated displacement metric tons long tons short tons speed knots mph armament guns crew officers enlisted men numerous proposals submitted technical branch evaluated prepared naval engineer overseeing construction class battleship second lieutenant student proposals design studies authorized ships built design went britain observe construction new class battleships lion class battlecruisers ships prompted decide french_navy ought build battlecruisers britain germany begun acquiring prove useful fast division french fleet decided proposed ship need speed mph retain advantage foreign battleships latest estimated speeds mph need armor main battery powerful fight line battle limitations weight imposed design restricted armor possible traditional french practice entire ship impossible characteristics battlecruiser design called displacement long tons short tons hull meters long perpendiculars beam waterline average draft forward aft hull lines ships proved highly efficient tank tests design process extreme weight main battery turrets bow stern hull strengthened handle strain strong longitudinal incorporated inner outer skins hull reinforce ships expected metacentric height comparable class ship officers enlisted men ships equipped sets steam turbines rated shaft horsepower powered coal fired belleville boilers propeller shaft connected high pressure turbine medium pressure geared turbine low pressure turbine forward steaming direct drive turbine steaming reverse ships speed knots ships supplied long tons short tons coal long tons short tons fuel oil oil firing maximum speed ships cruised nautical miles mph range increased nmi economical mph range grew nmi ships main armament composed modèle guns quadruple turrets contemporary french battleships class turret placed forward placed superfiring pair centerline guns range rate fire rounds minute shells kilogram armor piercing rounds fired muzzle velocity meters second secondary battery modèle guns mounted casemates planned defense torpedo boats guns fired shell muzzle velocity armament rounded torpedo tubes diameter submerged ships hulls armor protecting main armored belt amidships main battery turrets thick lower armored deck thick armor plating sloped sides guns protected steel armor ships equipped thick torpedo bulkhead designs students submit design studies fast capital ship class given displacement long tons short tons limit size officers opted design fast slow battleships exception lieutenant chose instead create design battlecruiser drew pair designs evaluated june saw ships forming fast division battle fleet capable enemy squadron design required heavy armament armor permit ships engage battleships project characteristics battlecruiser design built displacement long tons short tons hull meters long waterline beam waterline average draft ships equipped sets direct drive turbines rated shaft horsepower powered double ended belleville boilers burned coal oil ships speed knots mph ships supplied long tons short tons coal long tons short tons fuel oil ships cruised nautical miles mph fuel additional hours combat speeds ships main armament composed modèle guns quadruple turrets contemporary french battleships class turrets placed centerline end ship secondary battery modèle guns mounted casemates planned defense torpedo boats guns equipped armament rounded torpedo tubes submerged ships hulls main armored belt amidships thick slightly thinner belt class battleships rest ship armor similar class project characteristics second battlecruiser design built displacement design heavier weight increased main battery offset reduction armor protection secondary guns improved performance ship propulsion system hull meters long waterline beam waterline average draft engine systems considered direct drive turbines rated shp geared turbines rated shp steam provided eighteen belleville boilers burned coal oil oil fired ships speed knots mph variant knots second ships supplied fuel design radius action ships main armament composed guns quadruple turrets turrets placed centerline end ship gun fired kilogram shell capable penetrating armor plate range secondary battery defense torpedo boats consisted guns new semi automatic design mounted casemates guns installed carried torpedo tubes submerged ships hulls ships armor system identical design
French battlecruiser proposals