FS Richelieu (1935-1967)
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| Missing image CuirasseRichelieu.jpg Battleship Richelieu | |
| Career | Missing image Frajack.png French Navy Ensign - Missing image Flag_of_Free_France_1940-1944.gif Free French Naval Forces Ensign |
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| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | October 1935 |
| Launched: | January 1939 |
| Commissioned: | Spring 1940 |
| Decommissioned: | 1967 |
| Fate: | scrapped |
| Struck: | 1968 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 48 000 t |
| Length: | 247.90 m |
| Beam: | 35 m |
| Draught: | 9.70 m |
| Propulsion: | four Parsons geared turbines, 150 000 HP |
| Speed: | 30 knots |
| Range: | 8,500 nautical miles |
| Complement: | 70 officers, 1550 men |
| Armament: | 2 x 4 380mm/15 in main guns (bow) 3 x 3 152mm/6 in secondary (aft) |
| Shielding | 343 mm hull, 50 to 170 mm decks and 445 mm turrets |
| Planes | Three flying boats, two catapults. |
| Motto: | |
The Richelieu was a French battleship of World War II named for the seventeenth century statesman Cardinal Richelieu.
Derived from the Strasbourg class, Richelieu and Jean Bart (plus unfinished Clemenceau) were designed to counter the threat of the Italian Navy. Their speed, shielding, armament and overall technology were state of the art. The turret arrangement for the main battery of eight 380 mm guns was somewhat unusual, with two 4-gun turrets located forward, enabling all the main armiement to fire at the bow.
The keel was laid in October 1935 in Brest. Richelieu was launched in January 1939 and the first sea trials were done in the spring of 1940.
After the French defeat in June of 1940 she hastily left Brest to escape the advancing German forces and went to Dakar in the summer of 1940. There she was attacked by Swordfish torpedo planes from the British carrier Hermes on July 8 1940 and as a result of a torpedo hit her starboard propulsion shaft was disabled. At the time, the British were anxious not to let the French navy, under orders from Vichy France, to turn to the Axis Powers. She fought against the British and Free France naval forces in Dakar, where she was immobilised for repairs from the air attack. Gunnery duel occurred between Richelieu and British battleships HMS Barham and HMS Resolution, who had to retire. Richelieu was further damaged in the battle when a defective 380mm shell put her n°2 main gun out of order.
When French Africa went to the Allies, Richelieu sailed to New York for refitting. Notable modifications were done to the anti-air armament. A special factory had to be assembled to provide ammunition of the appropriate calliber for Richelieu 's main artillery. Afterward, Richelieu fought in the Pacific War on the Allies side. She eventually was present in the Bay of Tokyo during the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.
After the War, Richelieu served in the Indochina War, and in the Suez Crisis. She was de-commissioned in 1967 and scrapped in 1968.
The Richelieu type, with their 380mm main artillery, was the most powerful battleship class ever built in France.
See also
- Génération Cuirassé (http://membres.lycos.fr/generationcuirrasse/richelieu.htm) (in French). Notably, a number of significant photographs.
- Extensive description of Richelieu's combat service (http://www.warship.get.net.pl/Francja/Battleships/1940_Richelieu_class/_Richelieu_history.html)
- warship.get.net.pl (http://www.warship.get.net.pl/Francja/Battleships/1940_Richelieu_class/_Richelieu_photos.html) a number of photographsno:«Richelieu»