Lewin of Greenwich Naval History & Forum

Dupleix Class Armoured Cruiser Kléber pictured at the Jamestown Exposition Naval Review,Jamestown Virginia on June 12th 1907.

Lead Ship, Armoured Cruiser Dupleix pictured on launch day on April 28th 1900 at Arsenal de Rochefort, fitting out in 1902 and on sea trials in 1903..... Designed for overseas service and armed with eight 6.5 inch guns, the Class were smaller and less powerfully armed than their predecessors. Completed in 1903, Dupleix was initially assigned to the Atlantic Division (Division de l'Atlantique) as its flagship. She spent 1906 to 1909 in reserve before she was sent to the Far East in 1910, again serving as a flagship...When World War I began in August 1914, the Cruiser was still in the Far East. Before she was transferred to the Eastern Mediterranean in May 1915, Dupleix spent most of her time on escort duty in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Over the next year, she was tasked to blockade the Aegean coast of Ottoman Turkey. To help protect Allied shipping from German Commerce Raiders, she was transferred to French West Africa in mid-1916 and remained there until October 1917 when she returned to France to be placed in reserve. Dupleix was decommissioned in 1919 and was sold for scrap in 1922.

Lead Ship, Armoured Cruiser Dupleix pictured on speed trials off Arsenal de Rochefort c1903.

Lead Ship, Armoured Cruiser Dupleix pictured fitting out at Arsenal de Rochefort in 1903.

Lead Ship, Armoured Cruiser Dupleix pictured under construction and fitting out at Arsenal de Rochefort in 1899/90.