Bisson-class destroyer

The Bisson class consisted of six destroyers built for the French Navy during the 1910s. One ship was lost during the First World War, but the others survived to be scrapped afterwards.

A profile view of Bisson in harbor
Class overview
Name: Bisson class
Operators:  French Navy
Preceded by: Bouclier class
Succeeded by: Enseigne Roux class
Built: 1911–1914
In commission: 1912–1934
Completed: 6
Lost: 1
Scrapped: 5
General characteristics (as built)
Type: Destroyer
Displacement: 756–791 t (744–779 long tons)
Length: 78.1 m (256 ft 3 in) (p/p)
Beam: 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in)
Draft: 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 steam turbines
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range: 1,950 nmi (3,610 km; 2,240 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement: 80–83
Armament:

Design and description

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]

The ships were powered by a pair of 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). The ships carried 164 tonnes (161 long tons) of fuel oil which gave 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]

Ships
"Assault on the Panayoti. Heroic act of Bisson", circa 1838

The class is named in tribute to the French Admiral Hippolyte Bisson who sacrificed himself aboard the ship Panayoti in 1827 during the Greek War of Independence.

NameBuilderLaunchedFate
Bisson Arsenal de Toulon12 September 1912Struck, June 1933
Renaudin 20 March 1913Torpedoed and sunk by U-6 off Durazzo, 18 March 1916
Commandant Lucas 11 July 1914Struck, June 1933
Protet Arsenal de Rochefort15 October 1913Struck, 1933
Mangini Schneider et Cie, Chalon-sur-Saône31 March 1913Struck, 1934
Magon Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne, Nantes19 April 1913Struck, 16 February 1926

Service history

The class served primarily in the Mediterranean Sea during the First World War, with Bisson sinking the Austrian submarine U-3 on 13 August 1915 and Renaudin being sunk by U-6 in return.[1]

References
  1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 203
  2. Couhat, p. 111

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.
  • Osborne, Eric W. (2005). Destroyers – An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 1-85109-479-2.
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