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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I invite you to discover an iconic ship of the French naval forces during the First World War: the Jurien de la Gravière.
This protected cruiser was the last of its class to enter service in the French Navy, marking the end of an era in French cruiser design. Laid down in 1897 at the Lorient arsenal, it was only able to enter active service in 1903 with the North Atlantic Squadron, delayed by numerous boiler and engine problems.
Once repaired, the Jurien de la Gravière undertook its first international missions. It was sent to the United States to represent France during the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase, a symbol of the historical ties between the two nations. Shortly afterward, the ship carried out a diplomatic mission to Haiti, where it served as a demonstration of strength and diplomacy following attacks on the French consulate. In 1907, after several years of service, the ship was placed in reserve. It returned to service in 1911 and joined the Mediterranean Fleet, where it participated in numerous representational missions abroad, notably in the Eastern Mediterranean and Greece.
At the outbreak of the First World War, the Jurien de la Gravière was quickly mobilized. It joined the fleet in the southern Adriatic Sea and participated in the Battle of Antivari, one of the first naval engagements of the conflict in this region. During a pursuit of the German torpedo boat Ulan, the ship unfortunately did not have the chance to catch it, but this operation illustrates the active commitment of French cruisers to maritime surveillance and control. Subsequently, the Jurien de la Gravière was regularly assigned escort missions throughout the Mediterranean, protecting French and Allied ships and ensuring the safety of troop transports from North Africa to France, playing a crucial role in military logistics.
Towards the end of the war, the ship participated in a major strategic operation: the blockade of Athens, aimed at forcing King Constantine I to abdicate and commit Greece to the Allied side.
After the war, the Jurien de la Gravière was assigned to the Syrian Division, continuing its missions to maintain a French presence in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. It returned to France in 1920, was decommissioned the following year, and sold for scrap, bringing to a close a distinguished career spanning nearly two decades.
The ship is named in honor of Edmond Jurien de la Gravière, born in Brest. This French admiral and writer served under both the Republic and the Empire. President of the Academy of Sciences, he was a member of the French Academy. He was the son of Pierre Roch Jurien de la Gravière, also an admiral in the French Navy.
Characteristics
Length : 137.00 m
Width : 15.00 m
Draught : 6.30 m
Mass : 5.600 tons
The ship is propelled by three triple-expansion engines, each driving a propeller, and powered by a total of 24 Du Temple boilers, providing a total power output of 17,400 hp. This allows the ship to reach a maximum speed of 22.9 knots and a range of 6,150 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots.
Its crew consists of 463 sailors.
Weapons
This ship boasts a particularly impressive armament for its time, enabling it to engage all types of targets. This armament was widespread throughout the French fleet at the time of its construction, but by the time of the First World War, particularly the main caliber, it was becoming obsolete.
Guns :
- 8 x 164mm/45 Mle1893
- 10 x 1 QF 47mm Hotchkiss
- 6 x 1 QF 37mm Hotchkiss
Other :
- 2 x 145mm Torpedo tubes
In-game, this ship would be a particularly interesting addition to the French tree, providing a unique vessel whose combat capabilities, although not significant due to the low caliber of its guns, remain interesting, making it a particularly interesting ship to add to the high seas tree.
Sources
- - JURIEN de la GRAVIERE Croiseur | Service historique de la Défense
- JURIEN-DE-LA-GRAVIERE, croiseur : Rapport d’essais. Photo. | Service historique de la Défense
- ImagesDéfense - Toulon. Le croiseur Jurien de la Gravière. [légende d’origine]
- ImagesDéfense - Toulon. Le “Jurien de la Gravière”, croiseur de 1er ordre, rentre au bassin pour y être vérifié et réparé. [légende d’origine]
- ImagesDéfense - Le Pirée (Grèce). Les navires de guerre alliés dans le port. A droite, le Jurien de la Gravière. [légende d’origine]
- https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b6929958h.item
- Protected Cruiser Jurien de la Gravière (1899)
- * JURIEN DE LA GRAVIÈRE (1903/1921)
- JURIEN DE LA GRAVIERE - Croiseur - Forum PAGES 14-18