Indochine Class Colonial Corvette
Stablock
Specifications
Class; Unprotected corvette
Displacement: 2,400 tons standard
Length: 88 meters, 92 meters between perpendiculars
Beam: 11.8 meters
Draught: 5.75meters
Propulsion: 6 coal fired boilers, 1 compound expansion steam engine, 1 screw 2,500 ihp total
Speed: 16 knots maximum
Range: 8,000 kilometers at 10 knots, sails for prolonged cruising
Armament:
x13 155mmL/27 breech loading barbette guns
x8 47mm/5 revolver guns.
Protection:
75mm barbette armor
light splinter protection
Complement: 294
Overview
Relatively small, but cheap, decently armed, with adequate protection, and a long radius of action, the Indochine-class corvette is the principal French ship responsible for operations in the colonies above the aviso level. Bridging the gap between the miniscule Empire-class, and the larger Strasbourg-class cruiser, the Indochine-class is principally configured for operations overseas, although it also maintains the capability for commerce raiding escort, and other light actions in conventional battle engagements.
Origin
During the 1870s the French Republic embarked on a massive colonial program. It undersaw huge expensions in Africa and Asia, extending French rule across large swathes of territory. While this obviously brought a great degree of prestige, new markets, and potential power to the French Republic, fundamentally altering long term goals, at the same time it also meant there was a great degree of new territory that had to be controlled and commitments secured. Not least of these was the navy's need to be able to exercise influence across the colonies. However, for this role its existing line up of ships was poorly suited, being composed of a large number of ships principally intended for operations in the line of battle, and with only a relatively small number of avisos, cruisers, and other small vessels suitable for service in the colonies - and with many of these being obsolete.
As a result, France decided that something was needed to correct this deficiency. Ultimately, this would be the Indochine-class. It incorporated a wide swathe of improvements, and was aimed to produce a relatively inexpensive ship that could be used for a wide variety of roles. Although not quite as revolutionary as ships like the Strasbourg-class, it still made a wide variety of improvements over previous ships that greatly improved capabilities.
General characteristics
The Indochine-class is an unarmored corvette (although commonly referred to as a cruiser, since it fulfills the role of one) is a French corvette intended to operate in the colonies and as a commerce raider. Unarmored, but long ranged and with an effective armament, it fulfills the vital colonial protection role, operating in secondary theatres and showing the flag of France across the world. It is equipped with sails and a forecastle, but also incorporates modern barbette armaments. It has a displacement of 2,400 tons, and a length of 88 meters, beam of 11.8 meters, and a draught of 5.75 meters. It is built of steel.
Armament
There were a variety of different proposals in regards to armament. A modified Strasbourg-class armament, packing 194mm instead of 240mm guns, was one. Another was to have traditional broadside armament. There was even a proposal to have a very large forward cannon, perhaps of the size of 320mm, and a small component of 130mm guns. All of these were rejected - the broadside cannons were too restricted in their firing arts, while the large 194mm or 320mm guns were larger than was actually needed for the majority of work in the colonies. Instead, a 155mm armament was adopted, in barbettes. There were 13 155mm guns, mounted with 6 to each side of the ship in barbettes, and a thirteenth in a frontal barbette mounted in the forecastle. This armament was perceived as striking a balance between the two levels. An armament of 13 155mm guns was perceived as providing an effective armament against a wide variety of threats, including lighter enemy ships and in the shore bombardment and support role. Each gun has 180 rounds of ammunition, sufficient for extended periods of firing.
Along with this, there are the typical 47mm revolvers that French ships tend to carry. The vessel has a full 8 of them, mounted both in the ship's masts, but also some on the deck. These 47mm revolver guns enable enemy torpedo boats to be engaged, as well as raking enemy ships, and other light targets. Although there was consideration for the installation of torpedoes, ultimately this was rejected, the ship's 155mm guns being viewed as more than sufficient for its mission.
Propulsion
Since the ship is a cruiser, it obviously incorporates sails. Sails are necessary for prolonged endurance in overseas missions, since it can't count on limited endurance steam engines for its missions. As a result the vessel has a full mast of sails, with three masts arranged for the ship with a full complement of sails. Although this does increase the crew complement and the ship's weight and displacement, it is necessary for the vessel to be able to efficiently complete its colonial missions.
In keeping with its attirude of low cost, the vessel also uses the standard compound expansion steam engines, not extending this to the more complex and expensive triple expansion engines. Although this marginally decreases overall speed, it is still sufficient for the majority of operations, and in the colonies endurance is more desirable than speed in the majority of operations. At a maximum speed, the ship can reach a speed of 16 knots, with 6 boilers providing 2,800 ihp. Like other vessels it has a retractible screw which improves speed under sail. A maximum range of 8,000 kilometers at 10 knots can be attained.
Protection
During its design process, the Indochine-class was viewed as a candidate for the being a protected cruiser. However, after examination, it was revealed that on the displacement wanted, a protected deck could simply not comply with the other systems and still give sufficient protection. As a result, it was dropped with reluctance. Since the vessel would principally be seeing service in the colonies, where threats were less pronounced, there was a perception that this would not be as important, and that the vessel could get away without an armored deck.
Instead, the primary defense of the ship is that it deploys a strong cellular design, sub-dividing the ship into many individual compartments. The effect of this is that even if an individual sections are compromised, it still has an amount of reserve flotation in other areas, an idea initially adopted on vessels like the Republique and Marianne classes. However, on the Indochine-class, it means that the vessel is able to sustain more battering than otherwise before it sinks. Besides this, its only protection is light spall protection, and its barbettes light armoring.
Fire control, command, and crew
Like most other ships below the Cruiser de Bataille-class, the Indochine-class doesn't include the conning towers and other protected command installations that larger ships have. Although it is a resilient vessel, it was ultimately decided that the armor protection in other areas, being limited, didn't justify an enclosing an efficiency decreasing conning tower. The ship relies simply on regular open, unarmored command bridges as a result.
Besides this, it also made reductions in the most expensive fire control equipment, without the rangefinders and complicated directors of larger vessels. It mostly relies on the older devices found on ships of the 1860s, although provisions were made for upgrades if so necessary. As a result the ship has decreased accuracy at long ranges although it is still mostly sufficient in other respects. The vessel also has three onboard search lights which give it plenty of capability for night illumination, with abilities to fight effective night battles.
Being a cruiser, there was naturally a large crew. It has one composed of 294 onboard people. While a large sum, this is also helpful for detachments in the Republic's colonies, and is naturally required for the operation of the sails and other manpower intensive systems.
Specifications
Class; Unprotected corvette
Displacement: 2,400 tons standard
Length: 88 meters, 92 meters between perpendiculars
Beam: 11.8 meters
Draught: 5.75meters
Propulsion: 6 coal fired boilers, 1 compound expansion steam engine, 1 screw 2,500 ihp total
Speed: 16 knots maximum
Range: 8,000 kilometers at 10 knots, sails for prolonged cruising
Armament:
x13 155mmL/27 breech loading barbette guns
x8 47mm/5 revolver guns.
Protection:
75mm barbette armor
light splinter protection
Complement: 294
Overview
Relatively small, but cheap, decently armed, with adequate protection, and a long radius of action, the Indochine-class corvette is the principal French ship responsible for operations in the colonies above the aviso level. Bridging the gap between the miniscule Empire-class, and the larger Strasbourg-class cruiser, the Indochine-class is principally configured for operations overseas, although it also maintains the capability for commerce raiding escort, and other light actions in conventional battle engagements.
Origin
During the 1870s the French Republic embarked on a massive colonial program. It undersaw huge expensions in Africa and Asia, extending French rule across large swathes of territory. While this obviously brought a great degree of prestige, new markets, and potential power to the French Republic, fundamentally altering long term goals, at the same time it also meant there was a great degree of new territory that had to be controlled and commitments secured. Not least of these was the navy's need to be able to exercise influence across the colonies. However, for this role its existing line up of ships was poorly suited, being composed of a large number of ships principally intended for operations in the line of battle, and with only a relatively small number of avisos, cruisers, and other small vessels suitable for service in the colonies - and with many of these being obsolete.
As a result, France decided that something was needed to correct this deficiency. Ultimately, this would be the Indochine-class. It incorporated a wide swathe of improvements, and was aimed to produce a relatively inexpensive ship that could be used for a wide variety of roles. Although not quite as revolutionary as ships like the Strasbourg-class, it still made a wide variety of improvements over previous ships that greatly improved capabilities.
General characteristics
The Indochine-class is an unarmored corvette (although commonly referred to as a cruiser, since it fulfills the role of one) is a French corvette intended to operate in the colonies and as a commerce raider. Unarmored, but long ranged and with an effective armament, it fulfills the vital colonial protection role, operating in secondary theatres and showing the flag of France across the world. It is equipped with sails and a forecastle, but also incorporates modern barbette armaments. It has a displacement of 2,400 tons, and a length of 88 meters, beam of 11.8 meters, and a draught of 5.75 meters. It is built of steel.
Armament
There were a variety of different proposals in regards to armament. A modified Strasbourg-class armament, packing 194mm instead of 240mm guns, was one. Another was to have traditional broadside armament. There was even a proposal to have a very large forward cannon, perhaps of the size of 320mm, and a small component of 130mm guns. All of these were rejected - the broadside cannons were too restricted in their firing arts, while the large 194mm or 320mm guns were larger than was actually needed for the majority of work in the colonies. Instead, a 155mm armament was adopted, in barbettes. There were 13 155mm guns, mounted with 6 to each side of the ship in barbettes, and a thirteenth in a frontal barbette mounted in the forecastle. This armament was perceived as striking a balance between the two levels. An armament of 13 155mm guns was perceived as providing an effective armament against a wide variety of threats, including lighter enemy ships and in the shore bombardment and support role. Each gun has 180 rounds of ammunition, sufficient for extended periods of firing.
Along with this, there are the typical 47mm revolvers that French ships tend to carry. The vessel has a full 8 of them, mounted both in the ship's masts, but also some on the deck. These 47mm revolver guns enable enemy torpedo boats to be engaged, as well as raking enemy ships, and other light targets. Although there was consideration for the installation of torpedoes, ultimately this was rejected, the ship's 155mm guns being viewed as more than sufficient for its mission.
Propulsion
Since the ship is a cruiser, it obviously incorporates sails. Sails are necessary for prolonged endurance in overseas missions, since it can't count on limited endurance steam engines for its missions. As a result the vessel has a full mast of sails, with three masts arranged for the ship with a full complement of sails. Although this does increase the crew complement and the ship's weight and displacement, it is necessary for the vessel to be able to efficiently complete its colonial missions.
In keeping with its attirude of low cost, the vessel also uses the standard compound expansion steam engines, not extending this to the more complex and expensive triple expansion engines. Although this marginally decreases overall speed, it is still sufficient for the majority of operations, and in the colonies endurance is more desirable than speed in the majority of operations. At a maximum speed, the ship can reach a speed of 16 knots, with 6 boilers providing 2,800 ihp. Like other vessels it has a retractible screw which improves speed under sail. A maximum range of 8,000 kilometers at 10 knots can be attained.
Protection
During its design process, the Indochine-class was viewed as a candidate for the being a protected cruiser. However, after examination, it was revealed that on the displacement wanted, a protected deck could simply not comply with the other systems and still give sufficient protection. As a result, it was dropped with reluctance. Since the vessel would principally be seeing service in the colonies, where threats were less pronounced, there was a perception that this would not be as important, and that the vessel could get away without an armored deck.
Instead, the primary defense of the ship is that it deploys a strong cellular design, sub-dividing the ship into many individual compartments. The effect of this is that even if an individual sections are compromised, it still has an amount of reserve flotation in other areas, an idea initially adopted on vessels like the Republique and Marianne classes. However, on the Indochine-class, it means that the vessel is able to sustain more battering than otherwise before it sinks. Besides this, its only protection is light spall protection, and its barbettes light armoring.
Fire control, command, and crew
Like most other ships below the Cruiser de Bataille-class, the Indochine-class doesn't include the conning towers and other protected command installations that larger ships have. Although it is a resilient vessel, it was ultimately decided that the armor protection in other areas, being limited, didn't justify an enclosing an efficiency decreasing conning tower. The ship relies simply on regular open, unarmored command bridges as a result.
Besides this, it also made reductions in the most expensive fire control equipment, without the rangefinders and complicated directors of larger vessels. It mostly relies on the older devices found on ships of the 1860s, although provisions were made for upgrades if so necessary. As a result the ship has decreased accuracy at long ranges although it is still mostly sufficient in other respects. The vessel also has three onboard search lights which give it plenty of capability for night illumination, with abilities to fight effective night battles.
Being a cruiser, there was naturally a large crew. It has one composed of 294 onboard people. While a large sum, this is also helpful for detachments in the Republic's colonies, and is naturally required for the operation of the sails and other manpower intensive systems.
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