 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2021) |
 Hallebarde departing Toulon
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Durandal class |
| Builders | Chantiers et Ateliers Augustin Normand, Le Havre |
| Operators |  French Navy |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Framée class |
| Built | 1899–1900 |
| In commission | 1899–1921 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Lost | 1 |
| Scrapped | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 301–311 t (296–306 long tons) |
| Length | 57.5 m (188 ft 8 in) o/a |
| Beam | 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) |
| Draft | 3.17 m (10 ft 5 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 triple-expansion steam engines |
| Speed | 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) |
| Range | 2,300 nmi (4,300 km; 2,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 52 |
| Armament |
|
The Durandal class was a group of four destroyers built for the French Navy between 1896 and 1900, used during the First World War. These vessels were France's first true destroyers rather than torpedo boats. Two units were launched in 1899 while another two followed in 1900. Another four destroyers of the similar Samsun class were laid down in 1906 and completed in 1907 for the Ottoman Navy, they also served in the First World War.
These vessels, which were an enlarged derivative of the previous Filibustier-class torpedo boats,[1] resembled the Havock class of Great Britain.[2] Its hull had a turtleback bow to reduce water resistance,[3] with two masts and two funnels. The ships were powered by two triple expansion engines fed by water tube boilers, giving a speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph), and were armed by two torpedo tubes (with two reload torpedoes carried on board[1]), a 65 mm (2.6 in) and six 47 mm (1.9 in) guns.[4]
The Durandal destroyers were laid down between 1896 and 1897 and completed between 1899 and 1900.[4] Espingole struck a rock in the Bay of Cavalaire-sur-Mer off the South of France on 4 February 1903, which caused the ship to sink.[5] The three remaining destroyers served through the First World War, operating in both the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. They were sold for scrap in 1921.[6]
- ^ a b Campbell, p. 323
- ^ Osborne, p. 39
- ^ Osborne, p. 186
- ^ a b Campbell, p. 326
- ^ "A French Destroyer Sunk: The Crew Saved". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 February 1903. p. 9. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ Roberts, p. 375