Ironclad Barbette Ship: Terrible Class
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:42 am
French Terrible Class Ironclad Barbette Battleship Requin pictured off Portsmouth in 1892....They were built as part of a fleet plan started in 1872, which by the late 1870s had been directed against a strengthening Italian fleet. The ships were intended for coastal operations, and as such had a shallow draft and a low freeboard, which greatly hampered their seakeeping and thus reduced their ability to be usefully employed outside of coastal operations after entering service. Armament consisted of a pair of 16.5 inch guns in individual barbettes, the largest-caliber gun ever mounted on a French capital ship. Requin was laid down in 1878 and was completed in 1887.
Unlike her sister ships that served in the Mediterranean Fleet, Requin spent her early career in the Northern Squadron in the English Channel. In 1891, the unit was sent to visit Britain and Russia. She was withdrawn from service in 1896 to be modernized with new armament, propulsion system, and armour. Work was completed in 1901 and the next year she returned to service as a Guard Ship based in Cherbourg. She was the only member of the Class to see action during World War I, during which she was stationed in the Suez Canal to defend the waterway against attacks from the Ottoman Empire. She helped to repel an attack in February 1915, but saw little activity thereafter. She was ultimately broken up in 1920.
Unlike her sister ships that served in the Mediterranean Fleet, Requin spent her early career in the Northern Squadron in the English Channel. In 1891, the unit was sent to visit Britain and Russia. She was withdrawn from service in 1896 to be modernized with new armament, propulsion system, and armour. Work was completed in 1901 and the next year she returned to service as a Guard Ship based in Cherbourg. She was the only member of the Class to see action during World War I, during which she was stationed in the Suez Canal to defend the waterway against attacks from the Ottoman Empire. She helped to repel an attack in February 1915, but saw little activity thereafter. She was ultimately broken up in 1920.