French destroyer Commandant Lucas

Commandant Lucas (LA, second from left) and sister ship Protet (OT, left) at anchor in Toulon, 1926
History
France
NameCommandant Lucas
BuilderArsenal de Toulon
Laid downFebruary 1912
Launched11 July 1914
Completed1914
StrickenJune 1933
General characteristics
Class and typeBisson-class destroyer
Displacement756–791 t (744–779 long tons)
Length78.1 m (256 ft 3 in) (p/p)
Beam8.6 m (28 ft 3 in)
Draft3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 steam turbines
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range1,950 nmi (3,610 km; 2,240 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement80–83
Armament

Commandant Lucas was one of six Bisson-class destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1910s.

Design and description

Sister ship Bisson in harbor

The Bisson class were enlarged versions of the preceding Bouclier class built to a more standardized design. The ships had a length between perpendiculars of 78.1 meters (256 ft 3 in), a beam of 8.6 meters (28 ft 3 in), and a draft of 3.1 meters (10 ft 2 in).[1] Designed to displace 850–880 metric tons (837–866 long tons),[2] they displaced 756–791 t (744–779 long tons) at normal load. Their crew numbered 80–83 men.[1]

Commandant Lucas was powered by a pair of Breguet steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by four Indret water-tube boilers. The engines were designed to produce 15,000 shaft horsepower (11,000 kW) which was intended to give the ships a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). During her sea trials, Commandant Lucas reached a speed of 30.02 knots (55.60 km/h; 34.55 mph).[2] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,450 nautical miles (2,690 km; 1,670 mi) at cruising speeds of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[1]

The primary armament of the Bisson-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.[2]

Construction and career

Commandant Lucas was ordered from the Arsenal de Toulon and was launched on 11 July 1914. The ship was completed later that year.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gardiner & Gray, p. 203
  2. ^ a b c d Couhat, p. 111

Bibliography

  • Couhat, Jean Labayle (1974). French Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0445-5.
  • Freivogel, Zvonimir (2019). The Great War in the Adriatic Sea 1914–1918. Zagreb: Despot Infinitus. ISBN 978-953-8218-40-8.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Prévoteaux, Gérard (2017). La marine française dans la Grande guerre: les combattants oubliés: Tome I 1914–1915 [The French Navy during the Great War: The Forgotten Combatants, Book I 1914–1915]. Collection Navires & Histoire des Marines du Mond. Vol. 23. Le Vigen, France: Éditions Lela presse. ISBN 978-2-37468-000-2.
  • Prévoteaux, Gérard (2017). La marine française dans la Grande guerre: les combattants oubliés: Tome II 1916–1918 [The French Navy during the Great War: The Forgotten Combatants, Book II 1916–1918]. Collection Navires & Histoire des Marines du Mond. Vol. 27. Le Vigen, France: Éditions Lela presse. ISBN 978-2-37468-001-9.
  • Roberts, Stephen S. (2021). French Warships in the Age of Steam 1859–1914: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5267-4533-0.