FAN Verdun & Savoy (BB-1916 & 1925 (1937-40-mod))
As part of Frances reparation package the French received one completed (Sachsen) Baden class battleship from Germany. The Sachsen was a useful addition to the French fleet and was inducted and renamed Verdun.
Displacement: 29,500 tons normal, 33,800 tons full load.
Dimensions: 620 x 101 x 30 feet
Machinery: 3 shaft, turbines, 50,000shp
Speed: 22 knots
Endurance: 8,000 nmi at 12 knots
Armour: 13.75" belt, 1.5" deck, 13.75"/7.1"/4.1" turrets
Armament:
8 x 16.5" (4x2)
16 x 5.9" (16x1)
4 x 3.4" AA (4x1)
Torpedoes: 6 x 500mm (6x1 underwater)
Crew: 1200 (1300 as flagship)
Above FAN Verdun as the ship was received in 1920. When compared to the
Lorraine class the French Navy was very glad to get the ship. What the ship also
did for the French Navy was to give them a superlative 16" gun that could be
copied and used for any Washington Treaty battleships that would be built in the
future.
The Verdun carried on in service as the ship was received through to 1935
when the ship was taken in hand for a rebuilding to bring the ship up to modern
standards. Like other ships of WW1 vintage the mid-30's gave the ships a new
life refurbishment. The ship between B and X turrets was completely stripped.
New propulsion systems, superstructures and deck armour were fitted in the space
provided while a new secondary armament and light AA armament were also fitted.
Displacement: 31,000 tons normal, 35,300 tons full load.
Dimensions: 620 x 101 x 30 feet
Machinery: 3 shaft, geared turbines, 74,000shp
Speed: 24 knots
Endurance: 8,000 nmi at 15 knots
Armour: 13.75" belt, 5.1" deck, 13.75"/7.1"/4.1" turrets
Armament:
8 x 16.5" (4x2)
16 x 5.1" (4x4)
8 x 37mm (4x2)
30 x 25mm (15x2)
Crew: 1200 (1300 as flagship)
Original Drawings and stats from when I gave the
French two of the Baden class, one completed and one uncompleted.
| Name/Date | Verdun 1919 | Savoy 1925 | Verdun 1937 | Savoy1940 |
| Displacement | 28,500 tons std | 33,800 tons full load | 31,000 tons std | 34,750 tons full load |
| Length | 591 ft | 591 ft | 618 ft | 618 ft |
| Breadth | 99 ft | 99 ft | 99 ft | 99 ft |
| Draught | 28 ft | 28 ft | 29 ft | 29 ft |
| Machinery | 3 shaft steam turbines, 35,000shp | 4 shaft steam turbines 34,000shp | 3 shaft steam turbines, 70,000shp | 4 shaft steam turbines, 70,000shp |
| Speed | 21 knots | 21 knots | 25 knots | 25 knots |
| Range | 5000 miles at 12 knots | 6500 miles at 12 knots | 5500 miles at 18 knots | 5500 miles at 18 knots |
| Armour | 13.8" side, 3.9" deck, 13.8" turrets | 13.8" side, 3.9" deck, 13" turrets | 13.8" side, 5.5" deck, 13.8" turrets | 13.8" side, 5.5" deck, 13" turrets |
| Armament | 8 x 15" (4x2) 16 x 5.9" (16x1) 8 x 3.5" (8x1)
|
12 x 13.4" (4x3) 12 x 5.5" (12x1) 12 x 75mm (12x1)
|
8 x 15" (4x2) 16 x 5.1" (2x4 4x2) 22 x 37mm (22x1) 12 x 25mm (6x2) |
12 x13.4" (4x3) 16x5.1" (2x4 4x2) 18 x 37mm (18x1) 36 x 25mm (18x2) |
| Aircraft | nil | nil | nil | nil |
| Torpedoes | nil | nil | nil | nil |
| Complement | 1360 | 1420 | 1475 | 1490 |
| Notes |
