French Navy Deployment, English Channel 1914 (original) (raw)

French Navy Deployment, Cruisers and Destroyers 1914

Contributed by Doug Thompson (doug_thompson@adg.ardemgaz.com),with his own comments interspersed.

It is painfully obvious that I have less information on French light craft (inculding submarines) than any other category.

Here's the vague list of what I have down to destroyers (ie DD), starting with torpedo cruisers (FL). Also, a list member says the protected cruiser Lavoiser was at Cherbourg in August, 1914. This could give us a firm position on every French cruiser.

I have no information on which destroyers are in which flotillas, unless they happen to be flotilla leaders. Most of the destroyers here are simply sorted between the English Channel and the Mediterranean. "Mainly in Channel" and other such quotes are from Conway's.

Any information on assignments to units would be appreciated, as would any information at all on the "orphans."

Sources: Conway's 1906-1921
Conway's 1860 to 1905
Halpern's Naval War in the Mediterranean

FL: Fondre-- Seaplane carrier in the Mediterranean

Dunois-- Channel as flag of 2nd Destroyer Squadron
La Hire-- Gunnery school ship that never left Toulon harbor.

Casabianca-- Minelayer in the Mediterranean
Cassini-- Ditto
D'Iberville-- Penang

DD: BISSON CLASS-- All in the Mediterranean
Bisson
Renaudin
Commandant Lucas
Protet
Mangini
Magon

BOUCLIER CLASS-- All in the Mediterranean except "Francis Garnier"
Bouclier (flag, 1st DD Squadron)
Bontefeu
Casque
Cimeterre
Dague
Faulx
Fourche
Capitaine Mehl
Commandant Bory
Commandant Rivere
Dehorter
Francis Garnier-- English Channel

CHASSEUR CLASS-- All in the Mediterranean
Chasseur
Janissaire
Fantassin
Cavelier

VOLTIGEUR CLASS-- (orphans)
Voltigeur-- not known: experimental DD based on Spahi-class hull.
Tirailleur-- ditto

SPAHI CLASS-- All in the Mediterranean
Spahi
Hussard
Carabiner
Lansquenet
Mameluk
Enseigne Henry
Aspirant Heber

BRAULEBAS CLASS-- 2/10 known
Fanfare-- Adriatic
Glaive-- Channel

(orphans)
Braulebas-- Aug. 22, 1915: in action in the Channel
Etendard-- not known
Fanion-- "mainly at Brest"
Gabion-- not known
Oriflamme-- Aug. 22, 1915: in action in the Channel
Poignard-- not known
Sabretache-- not known
Sape-- not known

CLAYMORE CLASS-- 9/12 known
Carquois-- Channel
Claymore-- Channel
Fleuret-- Channel
Hache-- ML duties in
Massue-- ML duties in Mediterranean
Mortier-- Mediterranean
Obusier-- Channel
Trident-- Mediterranean
Tromblon-- Channel

(orphans)
Cognee-- "mainly Adriatic"
Pierrier-- not known
Stylet-- not known

ARQUEBUSE CLASS-- 18/20 known
Arc-- 2nd SS Flotilla
Arquebuse-- Channel
Baliste-- Mediterranean
Belier-- Channel, 2nd Light Squadron
Bombard-- ditto
Carabine-- Mediterranean
Catapulte-- Channel, 2nd Light Squadron
Epieu-- Channel
Francisque-- Channel
Fronde-- laid up in reserve in Saigon until commissioned in 1915.
Harpon-- Channel
Javeline-- Channel
Mousquet-- Penang
Mousqueton-- Mediterranean
Pistolet-- Mediterranean
Sabre-- 1st SS Flotilla, Mediterranean
Sagaie-- Channel

(orphans)
Arbulete-- In the Mediterranean in 1917
Sarbacane-- in Brindizi in 1916.

PETUISANE CLASS 2/4 known
Escopette-- Channel
Pertuisane-- Channel

(orphans)
Flamberge-- Mediterranean from 1915
Rapiere-- Transfered from 3rd DD Flottilla in the north to Bizerta, but when?

FRAMEE CLASS 0/3 known
(orphans)
Epee-- Mediterranean, but when?
Pique-- Brindizi, 1916-1917
Yatagan-- Fishery protection, Channel in 1916.

DURANDAL CLASS 2/3 known
Durandal-- Channel
Fauconneau-- 1st SS Flotilla

(orphan)
Hallbarde-- 1st SS Flotilla, but when?

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Last Updated: 10 February, 1999.