Jean Bart was a French battleship and the second completed ship of the successful Richelieu class, also becoming one of the last battleships in active service.
Jean Bart: A Premium Battleship for France at Rank VI
At a glance:
- Two turrets with four 380 mm guns in the bow of the ship
- Effective and numerous auxiliary armament
- Decent mobility
- Jean Bart (Rank VI, France)
- Premium account for 30 days
- 3000 Golden Eagles
- Pre-order bonus: unique title “Glorious Corsair”
- Pre-order bonus: unique decal “Great Coat of Arms of Jean Bart”
- 79.99
- Store
The battleship Jean Bart was the second completed ship of the French Richelieu class. Laid down in 1936, she was built using advanced modular technology, but by the time of the German advance in 1940, she was in a state of disrepair. In this critical situation, the French command decided to put the ship to sea at any cost, and on June 19th 1940, despite technical problems and air attacks, the unfinished battleship reached Casablanca under her own power. In North Africa, work to bring the battleship to combat readiness continued at an accelerated pace.
By the fall of 1942, the first main battery turret was commissioned. In November 1942, during the Allied landings in Morocco, Jean Bart, despite its incompleteness and immobility, engaged the US Navy, suffering several hits from 406 mm shells and heavy damage from aerial bombs. Nevertheless, the battleship’s guns continued to fire until the end of French resistance.
After the war, Jean Bart’s fate remained the subject of much debate, but ultimately, she was completed as a battleship, taking into account post-war experience. Jean Bart entered service in 1949 and underwent a major modernization in 1955. In 1956, she participated in the Suez Crisis, but her 380 mm guns were rarely used due to fears of mass casualties. In 1957, the battleship was decommissioned and used as a floating barracks until 1970. She was scrapped later the same year.
Introducing Jean Bart!
Today we’re taking a look at Jean Bart, the third and final member in War Thunder of the French Richelieu-class battleship series, coming in the next major update. Pre-orders for this premium ship start today. Jean Bart will come to the game in the 1955 fit and will offer signature combat capabilities as well as new armament. Let’s take a look!
Let’s start with the main battery. Jean Bart retains the unusual layout of her main armament: eight 380 mm guns mounted in two elevated turrets on the forward deck, forward of the superstructure. This is a key feature of the Richelieu battleships, and while it takes some getting used to as the ship cannot fire rearward, it does allow you to fire a full salvo of main battery guns without turning the hull broadside toward the enemy. The magazines hold two types of armor-piercing shells and a high-explosive fragmentation shell, all with good performance for their caliber. However, the reload speed is slightly higher than that of her sister ships. With a Ace crew, you’ll get a whopping two shots per minute.
The auxiliary caliber guns are the same as those on Richelieu — nine 152 mm guns — but the secondary armament is unique for its class: 24 x 100 mm general-purpose guns in twin mounts, reinforced by 28 x 57 mm anti-aircraft guns. A solid argument against aircraft and small boats!
Interesting: Jean Bart became France’s last battleship and the last battleship officially commissioned in the world.
Jean Bart also inherits the excellent maneuverability of her class, capable of reaching speeds of just over 30 knots (56 km/h) and rivaling even some battlecruisers. The ship’s armor and overall survivability are also characteristic of the Richelieu class; she’s fairly well protected and can survive long periods of fire from cruisers, but the best battleships with the largest calibers will be the most dangerous adversaries for Jean Bart. Pick your fights wisely!
That’s it for this one! A truly iconic example of 20th-century naval warfare, the battleship Jean Bart is available today as a pre-order pack, along with unique in-game bonuses. Take the helm of one of history’s last battleships, coming to the game in the next major update!
Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
