French destroyer Hussard

Hussard was one of seven Spahi-class destroyers built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

History
France
Name: Hussard
Namesake: Hussar
Builder: Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes
Launched: 30 April 1912
Completed: August 1912
Stricken: March 1922
General characteristics
Class and type: Spahi-class destroyer
Displacement: 530–550 t (522–541 long tons)
Length: 65.8 m (215 ft 11 in) (p/p)
Beam: 6.6 m (21 ft 8 in)
Draft: 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 triple-expansion steam engines
Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range: 1,000–1,200 nmi (1,900–2,200 km; 1,200–1,400 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 77–79
Armament:

Design and description

The Spahi-class was over 50 percent larger than the preceding Branlebas class to match the increase in size of foreign destroyers.[1] Hussard had an length between perpendiculars of 65.8 meters (215 ft 11 in), a beam of 6.6 meters (21 ft 8 in),[2] and a draft of 2.4 meters (7 ft 10 in). The ships displaced 530–550 metric tons (522–541 long tons) at deep load. Their crew numbered 77–79 officers and men.[1]

Hussard was powered by two triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by four du Temple boilers. The engines were designed to produce 7,500 indicated horsepower (5,600 kW) which was intended to give the Spahi class a speed of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph). During her sea trials, Hussard reached a speed of 29.8 knots (55.2 km/h; 34.3 mph). The ships carried enough coal to give them a range of 1,000–1,200 nautical miles (1,900–2,200 km; 1,200–1,400 mi) at a cruising speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[3]

The primary armament of the Spahi-class ships consisted of six 65-millimeter (2.6 in) Modèle 1902 guns in single mounts, one each fore and aft of the superstructure and the others were distributed amidships. They were also fitted with three 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes. One of these was in a fixed mount in the bow and the other two were on single rotating mounts amidships.[1]

Construction and career

Hussard was ordered from Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire and was launched at their shipyard in Nantes on 12 September 1908. She was completed in September 1911.[4]

References
  1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 202
  2. Couhat, p. 95
  3. Couhat, pp. 95–96
  4. Couhat, p. 96

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.

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