- Yes
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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new ship from the early twentieth-century French fleet: the Jauréguiberry.
In the early 1890s, the French Admiralty launched an unconventional shipbuilding program known as the “fleet of samples” (flotte d’échantillon). The objective was to produce a series of five ships, each constructed at a different shipyard. Rather than imposing a detailed set of specifications, the Admiralty provided only a few fundamental requirements, particularly concerning the main armament and the type of armor to be used.
This approach was intended to give naval architects considerable freedom, allowing each shipyard to develop its own interpretation of the ideal warship while incorporating the latest advances and lessons from naval construction.
Designed by the shipyards at La Seyne-sur-Mer, the Jauréguiberry was the second vessel built as part of this experimental fleet. Ordered in 1891, she was launched in 1893 but did not enter service until 1897, following a lengthy and troubled period of trials.
Her testing was marred by several serious accidents, including a torpedo explosion inside one of her tubes and a boiler explosion. These incidents caused significant delays before the ship could finally be accepted into service with the French Navy.
Once commissioned, Jauréguiberry was assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron. She took part in regular fleet maneuvers and training exercises, while also occasionally being called upon for more unusual duties. Among these were missions transporting French officials to various ports for diplomatic and military meetings.
When the First World War broke out in 1914, Jauréguiberry was still in active service. She was initially tasked with escorting troop transports carrying men, equipment, and supplies from North Africa to mainland France, helping protect these vital lines of communication across the Mediterranean.
The ship was subsequently transferred to Port Said, where she became the flagship of French naval forces operating in the region. Her career then took her to the Eastern Mediterranean, as the Allied campaign against the Ottoman Empire intensified. In 1915, Jauréguiberry was sent to the Dardanelles as a reinforcement after several French warships had already been damaged during the campaign. There, she took part in supporting Allied operations and notably provided naval gunfire during the landings at Cape Helles, bombarding Ottoman positions in support of the troops ashore.
Following the end of the war, Jauréguiberry was recalled from Port Said and returned to France. She was subsequently decommissioned, bringing an end to her long and eventful career.
Characteristics
Length : 111.90 m
Width : 23.00 m
Draught : 8.45 m
Mass : 12,229 tons
The ship is powered by two triple-expansion engines generating 14,440 hp, fed by 24 boilers. This allows the Jauréguiberry to reach a top speed of 17.5 knots and gives it a range of 3,920 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots.
The crew consists of 597 sailors.
Armor
Like all cruisers of the era, the Jauréguiberry is exceptionally well-armored, featuring varying thicknesses of armor at strategic points across the ship.
- Waterline belt: 160 to 400 mm
- Upper belt: 120 to 170 mm
- Deck: 90 mm
- Turrets: 280 to 370 mm
- Conning tower: 250 mm
Weapons
The ship’s armament is particularly noteworthy; the intelligent distribution of the guns ensures that the majority of the weaponry remains available for use in most situations, particularly during a frontal assault.
Guns:
- 2 x 305mm Mle 1887 (single turrets, fore and aft)
- 2 x 274mm Mle 1887 (single turrets, one on each side)
- 4 x twin 138mm Mle 1893 (twin turrets, two on each side—fore and aft)
- 4 x 65mm Mle 1891
- 14 x 47mm Hotchkiss
Torpedoes:
- 6 x 450mm torpedo tubes.
In-game, this ship would be an interesting addition to the French tree, offering a relatively fast vessel with good armament and effective armor, enabling it to engage all types of targets.
Pictures
Sources
- Le Jauréguiberry (1893) n°904/1444 – La Seyne en 1900
- Marcophilie navale : Jauréguiberry
- * JAURÉGUIBERRY (1896/1930)
- Jaureguiberry. French battleship photos
- Jauréguiberry (1896) - WarHistory.org
- Blueprints > Ships > Ships (France) > NMF Jaureguiberry (Battleship) (1893)
- Le Jauréguiberry / 1:250 - Le forum en papier
