View source for Dévastation-class ironclad

{{Use shortened footnotes|date=December 2022}}
{{distinguish|text=the British [[Devastation-class ironclad]]s or the 1850s [[Dévastation-class ironclad floating battery|Dévastation-class ironclad floating batteries]]}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:French ironclad Courbet NH 90010.jpg
|Ship caption=''Courbet'' in [[Toulon]], probably in the early 1890s
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''Dévastation'' class
|Builders=
|Operators={{Navy|France}}
|Class before={{ship|French ironclad|Redoutable||2}}
|Class after={{ship|French ironclad|Amiral Duperré||2}}
|Built range=1875-1886
|In commission range=1882-1922
|Total ships completed=2
|Total ships scrapped=2
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption={{efn|Figures are for ''Dévastation''; ''Courbet'' differed in several respects}}
|Ship class=[[Central battery ship]]
|Ship displacement={{cvt|10450|LT|t|lk=on}}
|Ship length={{cvt|100.52|m|ftin}} ([[length overall|loa]])
|Ship beam={{cvt|21.26|m|ftin}}
|Ship draft={{cvt|8.08–8.23|m|ftin}}
|Ship propulsion=
*2 × [[compound steam engine]]s
*2 × [[screw propeller]]s
|Ship power=
*12 × [[fire-tube boiler]]s
*{{convert|8300|ihp|lk=on}}
|Ship speed={{cvt|15|to|15.5|kn}}
|Ship range={{cvt|3100|nmi|lk=in}} at {{cvt|10|kn}}
|Ship complement=689 men
|Ship armament=
* 4 × {{cvt|340|mm|1}} guns
* 4 × {{cvt|274.4|mm}} guns
* 6 × {{cvt|138.6|mm|order=flip}} guns
* 8 × {{cvt|37|mm}} [[Hotchkiss revolver cannon]]
* 5 × {{cvt|356|mm|0}} [[torpedo tube]]s
|Ship armor=
*[[Belt armor|Belt]]: {{cvt|7|to|15|in|order=flip|0}}
*[[Casemate]]: {{cvt|9.5|in|mm|0|order=flip}}
*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{cvt|2.4|in|mm|0|order=flip}}
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''''Dévastation''-class ironclads''' were a [[Ship class|class]] of [[ironclad]] [[battleship]]s that were laid down as part of the 1872 programme.  They were a development of the 1876 ironclad {{Ship|French ironclad|Redoutable||2}}.  The class consisted of ''Dévastation'' and ''Courbet''.

==Design==
[[File:French ironclad Redoutable NH 74893.jpeg|thumb|left|{{ship|French ironclad|Redoutable||2}}, which provided the basis of the ''Dévastation'' class]]

The ''Dévastation''-class ironclads were authorized under the naval construction Program of 1872, which began with the ironclad {{ship|French ironclad|Redoutable||2}} that year. Shortly thereafter, Italy began work on the very large {{sclass|Duilio|ironclad|1}}s in the early 1870s, but the French initially ignored the development and instead chose to base the design for its next ironclad on that of ''Redoutable''. The new ship was to be enlarged significantly to incorporate a more powerful armament.{{sfn|Campbell|pp=289–290}}{{sfn|Ropp|p=72}} The design for the new ships was prepared in early 1875 by [[Louis de Bussy]], who had also designed ''Redoutable''; he originally intended to arm the new ship with four {{cvt|320|mm|1}} guns and two {{cvt|274.4|mm}} guns, the former in a central [[casemate]] and the latter in open [[barbette]]s above the casemate.{{sfn|Roberts|p=45}} 

The {{lang|fr|[[Conseil des travaux]]}} (Board of Construction) examined his initial proposal on 16 March 1875, and made several requests for changes. These included changes to the arrangement of some of the guns, an extension of the armor [[deck (ship)|deck]] for the entire length of the ship, and the addition of a second [[propeller]]. De Bussy submitted his revised design on 4 January 1876; he had been forced to reduce the thickness of the [[belt armor]] from {{cvt|400|mm|1}} to {{cvt|380|mm}} to offset the weight of the longer armor deck.{{sfn|Roberts|p=45}} 

The [[List of naval ministers of France|naval minister]], [[Léon Martin Fourichon]], approved the design on 11 May, and authorized the construction of two ships, ''Dévastation'' and ''Foudroyant'', which was subsequently renamed ''Courbet'' in 1885, which were the largest [[central battery ship]]s ever built by any navy. The navy continued to make changes to the design; the 320&nbsp;mm guns were replaced with {{cvt|340|mm|1}} weapons, and two more 274.4&nbsp;mm guns were added as [[chase gun|chase weapons]].{{sfn|Roberts|p=45}} They are sometimes called the ''Courbet'' class, as she had begun construction first, though ''Dévastation'' was [[ship launching|launched]] and completed earlier.{{sfn|Campbell|p=290}}

===Characteristics and machinery===
[[File:Dévastation-class plan and profile.png|thumb|Plan and profile drawing of the ''Dévastation'' class and the similar {{ship|French ironclad|Redoutable||2}}]]

The ships of the ''Dévastation'' class were {{cvt|94.44|m|ftin}} [[long between perpendiculars]], {{cvt|96.39|m|ftin}} [[long at the waterline]], and {{cvt|100.52|m|ftin}} [[long overall]]. They had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{cvt|21.26|m|ftin}} and a [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{cvt|7.8|to|8.23|m|ftin}}. They [[displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{cvt|10450|LT|t}}. As was standard for French [[capital ship]]s of the period, they had a pronounced [[naval ram|ram bow]] and [[tumblehome]] sides. Their [[hull (watercraft)|hulls]] were of mixed iron and steel construction. They were fitted with three pole masts equipped with [[spotting top]]s for their [[main battery]] guns. Steering was controlled with a single [[rudder]], though the ships proved to be difficult to maneuver. The crew varied between 689 and 721&nbsp;officers and enlisted men.{{sfn|Campbell|p=290}}{{sfn|Roberts|pp=45, 47}}

Their propulsion machinery consisted of two [[compound steam engine]]s of the [[Arthur Woolf|Woolf]] pattern, with steam provided by twelve coal-burning [[fire-tube boiler]]s, which were ducted into a pair of [[funnel (ship)|funnels]] placed side-by-side [[amidships]]. Their engines were rated to produce {{convert|6000|ihp|lk=on}} for a top speed of {{cvt|15|to|15.5|kn}}. On her initial trials in 1882, ''Dévastation'' reached {{cvt|8350|ihp}} for {{convert|15.17|kn}}. The ships carried {{cvt|574|t|LT|order=flip}} of coal, which provided a cruising radius of {{convert|3100|nmi|lk=in}} at an economical speed of {{convert|10|kn}}. To supplement the steam engines, ''Dévastation'' was equipped with a three-masted [[full-ship rig]], though this was quickly reduced to a [[barque rig]]. ''Courbet'', meanwhile, received a three-masted [[schooner]] rig.{{sfn|Campbell|p=290}}{{sfn|Roberts|pp=45–47}}

===Armament and armor===
The ships' main battery consisted of four 340&nbsp;mm guns mounted in a central, armored casemate. Two guns could fire ahead on a limited arc and two could fire astern. The guns carried aboard ''Dévastation'' were 18-[[caliber (artillery)|caliber]] M1875 models, while ''Courbet'' received longer 21-caliber M1881 variants. These were supported by a [[secondary armament|secondary battery]] four 274.4&nbsp;mm guns; ''Dévastation''{{'}}s were 18-caliber M1870 weapons and ''Courbet''{{'}}s were slightly longer 19.75-caliber M1875 pieces. One was in the bow under the [[forecastle]], two were in open barbette mounts on the upper deck amidships, and the fourth was on the upper deck at the stern.{{sfn|Roberts|p=47}}

They were also armed with a tertiary battery of six {{cvt|138.6|mm}} guns, 21-caliber M1870M type aboard ''Dévastation'' and 30-caliber M1881 [[breech-loading guns]] aboard ''Courbet''. A pair was carried forward of the main battery, one gun per broadside, and the remaining four were astern, two per broadside. For defense against [[torpedo boat]]s, ''Dévastation'' carried eight {{cvt|37|mm}} 1-pounder [[Hotchkiss revolver cannon]], all in individual mounts, while ''Courbet'' was completed with eighteen of the guns. ''Courbet'' also carried a pair of {{cvt|65|mm}} landing guns for use ashore, and a {{cvt|47|mm}} revolver cannon for one of her steam [[Pinnace (ship's boat)|pinnace]]s. Their armament was rounded out with four {{cvt|356|mm|0}} [[torpedo tube]]s in above-water launchers for ''Dévastation'' and five of the tubes for ''Courbet''. The former's tubes were above water, two per broadside, while ''Courbet'' carried two of hers in the bow, one on each broadside, and the fifth in the stern, all above water.{{sfn|Roberts|p=47}}

The ships were protected with [[wrought iron]] armor; their belt extended for the entire length of the hull, and from {{cvt|1.95|m}} below the [[waterline]] to {{cvt|0.85|m}} above. Amidships, it was {{cvt|380|mm}} thick, where it protected the ship's ammunition [[magazine (artillery)|magazines]] and propulsion machinery spaces, Forward, it was reduced to {{cvt|220|mm}}, and aft, it was reduced to {{cvt|300|mm|1}}. The armored casemate for the main battery were {{cvt|9.5|in|mm|0|order=flip}} thick. On either end of the battery, an armor deck protected the ship's internal spaces; it was {{cvt|60|mm}} thick layered on {{cvt|20|mm}} deck plating. It was connected to the upper edge of the armor belt.{{sfn|Campbell|p=290}}{{sfn|Roberts|p=47}}

===Modifications===
[[File:Dévastation-class ironclad as modernized.jpg|thumb|Plan and profile drawing of the ''Dévastation'' as modernized]]

Both ships were modernized several times throughout their careers. ''Dévastation'' had her main battery guns replaced with four {{cvt|320|mm|1}} 20-caliber M1875–81 guns, and an additional four 47&nbsp;mm revolver cannon and two 37&nbsp;mm revolvers were added. Her armament was altered again in 1896, a pair of {{cvt|65|mm}} [[quick-firing gun]]s were added, the 47&nbsp;mm revolvers were replaced with six single-barrel 47&nbsp;mm quick-firing guns, and the number of 37&nbsp;mm revolver cannon was increased to twenty. In 1901, ''Dévastation'' had a new, armored conning tower installed in place of the original light structure. The new tower had {{cvt|80|mm}} of armor plate on the sides. At the same time, her propulsion system was replaced with new vertical [[triple-expansion steam engine]]s and twelve [[Belleville boiler]]s of the [[water-tube boiler|water-tube]] type. Work on the ship was finished in 1902.{{sfn|Roberts|p=47}}

In 1894, ''Courbet''{{'}}s light armament was revised to include eighteen {{cvt|65|mm}} guns and seven 37&nbsp;mm revolver cannon. More extensive work was carried out in 1897, when the ship received a new, larger conning tower with 80&nbsp;mm of armor plate. The light guns that had been present in her upper fighting tops were removed, as were the two forward torpedo tubes. In addition, the [[gun shield]]s fitted to the barbette guns were replaced with vertical armor plates on the front. The ship also received new fire-tube boilers to replace the worn-out boilers. The Navy had intended to completely rearm the ship, but a change in naval ministers led to a shift in priorities, so the alterations to the main and secondary batteries were deferred. Additional work was carried out between September 1899 and December 1900. Her existing masts and [[bowsprit]] were removed, and two larger [[military mast]]s with two fighting tops apiece were installed in their place. Her 270&nbsp;mm guns were removed; the bow position received a 138.6&nbsp;mm 30-caliber M1881/84 gun, while the three barbette positions had 240&nbsp;mm 40-caliber M1893 guns. Her light battery was revised again slightly, to sixteen of the 47&nbsp;mm guns, eight 37&nbsp;mm revolvers, and two [[QF 1-pounder pom-pom|37&nbsp;mm guns]].{{sfn|Roberts|pp=47–48}}

==Ships==
''Courbet'' was originally named ''Foudroyant'' ("Lightning"), but on 25 June 1885, she was renamed to honor Admiral [[Amédée Courbet]],{{sfn|Roberts|p=48}} who had died of [[cholera]] after leading French naval forces through much of the [[Sino-French War]].{{sfn|Wright|p=249}}

{| class="wikitable"
!Name!!Builder{{sfn|Roberts|p=47}}!!Authorized{{sfn|Roberts|p=47}}!!Laid down{{sfn|Roberts|p=47}}!!Launched{{sfn|Roberts|p=47}}!!Completed{{sfn|Roberts|p=47}}
|-
|{{Ship|French ironclad|Dévastation||2}}
| [[Arsenal de Lorient]]
| 1876
| 20 December 1875
| 19 August 1879
| 15 July 1882
|-
|{{Ship|French ironclad|Courbet||2}}
| [[Arsenal de Toulon]]
| 1875
| 19 July 1875
| 27 April 1882
| 20 October 1886
|-
| N
| None
| 1876
| colspan="3" | Re-ordered as {{ship|French ironclad|Amiral Duperré||2}}
|}

==Service history==
[[File:French ironclad Dévastation NH 64397.jpg|thumb|''Dévastation'' later in her career]]

==Footnotes==
=== Notes ===
{{Notelist
| notes =
}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|20em}}

==References==
* {{cite book
  | last = Campbell
  | first = N. J. M.
  | chapter = France
  | pages = 283–333
  | editor1-last = Gardiner
  | editor1-first = Robert
  | year = 1979
  | title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905
  | publisher = Conway Maritime Press
  | location = London
  | isbn = 978-0-85177-133-5
  | ref = {{sfnRef|Campbell}}
  | url-access = registration
  | url = https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_l2e2
  }}
* {{cite book
  |last=Roberts
  |first=Stephen
  |title=French Warships in the Age of Steam 1859–1914
  |year=2021
  |location=Barnsley
  |publisher=Seaforth
  |isbn=978-1-5267-4533-0
  |ref={{sfnref|Roberts}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Ropp
  | first = Theodore
  | authorlink=Theodore Ropp
  | title = The Development of a Modern Navy: French Naval Policy, 1871–1904
  | editor-last = Roberts
  | editor-first = Stephen S.
  | year = 1987
  | location = Annapolis
  | publisher = Naval Institute Press
  | isbn = 978-0-87021-141-6
  |ref={{sfnRef|Ropp}}
  }}
* {{cite journal
  |last=Wright
  |first=Christopher
  |year=2021
  |title=The Deployment of the French Station Battleship Turenne, 1885–1890
  |journal=Warship International
  |publisher=International Naval Research Organization
  |location=Toledo
  |volume=58
  |issue=3
  |pages=248–250
  |issn=0043-0374
  |ref={{sfnRef|Wright}}
  }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
  |last=Saibène
  |first=Marc
  |title=Les Cuirasses Redoutable, Dévastation, Courbet, Programme de 1872
  |language=fr
  |trans-title=The Battleships Redoutable, Dévastation, Courbet, and the Program of 1872
  |publisher=Marine Édition
  |isbn=978-2-909675-16-9
  }}

{{Dévastation class ironclads}}
{{French ironclads}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devastation class ironclad}}
[[Category:Dévastation-class ironclads| ]]
[[Category:Ships built in France]]
[[Category:Ship classes of the French Navy]]