Casque was one of a dozen Bouclier-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She was sold for scrap in 1927.

Sister ship Bouclier underway
History
France
Name	Casque
Namesake	Helmet
Builder	Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, Le Havre
Laid down	1909
Launched	25 August 1910
Completed	1911
Stricken	26 March 1926
Fate	Sold for scrap, 25 May 1927
General characteristics
Class and type	Bouclier-class destroyer
Displacement	720–756 t (709–744 long tons)
Length	72.3–78.3 m (237 ft 2 in – 256 ft 11 in) (o/a)
Beam	7.6–8 m (24 ft 11 in – 26 ft 3 in)
Draft	2.9–3.3 m (9 ft 6 in – 10 ft 10 in)
Installed power	4 water-tube boilers 13,000 shp (9,694 kW)
Propulsion	3 shafts; 3 steam turbines
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	1,200–1,600 nmi (2,200–3,000 km; 1,400–1,800 mi) at 12–14 knots (22–26 km/h; 14–16 mph)
Complement	80–83
Armament	2 × 100 mm (3.9 in) Mle 1893 guns 4 × 65 mm (2.6 in) Mle 1902 guns 2 × twin 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes

Design and description

The Bouclier class were designed to a general specification and varied significantly from each other in various ways.[1] Casque had an overall length of 74–78.3 meters (242 ft 9 in – 256 ft 11 in), a beam of 7.6–8 meters (24 ft 11 in – 26 ft 3 in), and a draft of 2.9–3.1 meters (9 ft 6 in – 10 ft 2 in). Designed to displace 800 metric tons (787 long tons), Casque displaced 720–756 t (709–744 long tons) at normal load. Their crew numbered 80–83 men.[1]

Casque was powered by three Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four water-tube boilers. The engines were designed to produce 13,000 shaft horsepower (9,700 kW) which was intended to give the ships a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). Casque handily exceed that speed, reaching 34.9 knots (64.6 km/h; 40.2 mph) during her sea trials. The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,200–1,600 nautical miles (2,200–3,000 km; 1,400–1,800 mi) at cruising speeds of 12–14 knots (22–26 km/h; 14–16 mph).[2]

The primary armament of the Bouclier-class ships consisted of two 100-millimeter (3.9 in) Modèle 1893 guns in single mounts, one each fore and aft of the superstructure, and four 65-millimeter (2.6 in) Modèle 1902 guns distributed amidships. They were also fitted with two twin mounts for 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes amidships.[1]

During World War I, a 45-millimeter (1.8 in) or 75-millimeter (3 in) anti-aircraft gun, two 8-millimeter (0.31 in) machine guns, and eight or ten Guiraud-type depth charges were added to the ships. The extra weight severely overloaded the ships and reduced their operational speed to around 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph).[1]

Construction and career

Casque was ordered from Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée and was launched from its La Seyne-sur-Mer shipyard on 25 August 1910. The ship was completed in 1911.[3]

References

Bibliography

• Couhat, Jean Labayle (1974). French Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0445-5.
• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
• Jourdan, John; Moulin, Jean (2015). "The Period 1939--1943". French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d'Escadre and Contre-Torpilleurs, 1922-1956. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Seaforth Publishing. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-84832-198-4.