Forbin class Cruiser (1888)

Marine Nationale (1886-94), Protected cruisers.
Forbin, Surcouf, Coetlogon: service until 1905-21

The Forbin class were three light protected cruisers built in the 1880s for the French Navy, Forbin, Coëtlogon, and Surcouf, ordered as part of a fleet program as flotilla leaders for torpedo boats, armed with just four 138 mm (5.4 in) guns. Forbin remained in the Mediterranean Reserve Squadron, Surcouf was in the Northern Squadron (Atlantic fleet). Coëtlogon’s numerous machinery problems delayed her completion so by entering service in 1894, she joined Surcouf in the Northern Squadron, but all three ships ended in reserve by 1901. Coëtlogon was discarded in 1906, Forbin converted into a collier in 1913, BU 1919. Surcouf was still around in World War I, sent as station ship in the Gulf of Guinea, sold for scrap in 1921.

Design of the class

Design Development

The Marine Nationale in 1878 sensed its unprotected cruisers and avisos usabled as fleet scouts were now obsolescent, between a low speed of 12-14 knots and weak armament and absence og any protection. From 1879 already, the Conseil des Travaux (Council of Works) requested designs for protected and fast cruisers averaging 2,000 long tons (2,032 t) displacement, usable as scouts for the main battle fleet as as torpedo boats leaders. Famous naval engineer Louis-Émile Bertin advocated for these since 1875, and was ultimately granted to build a prototype, the Milan. The Navy like certain aspects of it and would ask Bertin to be developed further, in whtat became the Forbin class protected cruisers.

Milan, designed as a prototype by Bertin, which inspired the Forbin class

At the time, the Marine Nationale was practically “owned” by ideas of the Jeune École doctrine. It professed a stop in construction of battleship, seen as stoo costly for the new budget-stricken situation post-1871. The idea was to combined cruisers and torpedo boats in a purely defensive role of French shore while sending armoured cruiser to prey on merchant shipping. This was popular French naval circles and easier to vote and finance, so ultimately relatively popular to politicians as well while maintaining work (and thus free from social troubles) in many yards.

Forbin preliminary design in 1886, showing four masts and only two main guns in sponsons forward, and three 47 mm guns, two at the prow, one at the stern. Note as narrow was the deck. Agility was probably mediocre as best combined with the small single axial rudder aft. cdts: secretproject.co.uk

In early 1886, Jeune École’s prominent figure aside admiral Aube, Gabriel Charmes, published “La réforme de la Marine” (Reform of the Navy), calling for small commerce raiding cruisers armed with just two 138.6 mm (5.46 in) guns to only sink merchant vessels while beign capable of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), to escape any stronger opponent. Admiral Théophile Aube, which ultimately became Naval Minister embraced the idea and requested on 1 February 1886 such design to De Bussy, Inspector General of Naval Engineering. De Bussy submitted specifications like a speed of no less than 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph), range 2,400 nautical miles at 10 knots and two 138.6 mm guns as well as protection consisting only in a 40 mm (1.6 in) curved armor deck. De Bussy prepared a more detailed design which Aube approved on 20 March. Three were allocated to the 1887 budget.

The first two were Forbin and Surcouf, built in government shipyards. However for the third, to be named Troude, Aube issued requirements to be prepared in February by private shipyards in a competition. Five yards answered on 30 April 1886. Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde was selected as the winner. However changes were were such Troude became her own class. In between by 1887 and extraordinary budget was passed for three more small cruisers. One was ordered as a follow-up of the Forbin, named Coëtlogon on the same De Bussy design. However as typical for the time, with government changes as the Forbin-class went on, the design was altered. They obtained five torpedo tubes, one inthe stern cancelled on 23 June 1887. Forbin was completed in 1888 but at the time her battery was juged insufficient and she gained an another pair of main guns. The second followed up and the last was completed after many delays.

About the names:

Forbin was named after an admiral, Claude, comte de Forbin-Gardanne (1656), notably made famous for his adventures in Asia, as governor of Bangkok and general in the Siamese army, provateer war with Jean Bart against Britain and command of a squadron in the War of Spanish Succession.
Surcouf was named the Briton Robert Surcouf, most successful French privateer (1773-1823) and epic campaigns notably in the far east and Idian Ocean.
Coëtlogon was named after anoher Briton, Alain Emmanuel de Coëtlogon, Marshal of France (1646-1730) famous for his naval actions at the Battle of Solebay in the Nine Years’ War, Battle of Beachy Head, War of the Spanish Succession, Battle of Cap de la Roque, and Battle of Vélez-Málaga.

Hull and general design

The Forbin class were very different from other protected cruisers we saw in prvious posts. They measured 95 m (311 ft 8 in) long at the waterline, 96.1 m (315 ft 3 in) long overall, but this was combined with a beam of 9.33 m (30 ft 7 in) giving them a 1/10 ratio, and an average draft of 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in), up to 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in) aft when fully loaded.

They displaced 1,857 t (1,828 long tons; 2,047 short tons) after completion. What was peculiar was their narrow waist, which when combined with a pronounced tumblehome shape and long plough ram bow (not reinforced and intended for ramming attacks) give them a very preculiar appearance. Their actual deck was very narrow given the beam, already limited, was furher reduced by their tumblehome, design to give them extra stability. The hulls sections were pear-shaped for most of the lenght. Her superstructure were minimal as well with just a small bridge structure and no conning tower. The crew amounted to 209 officers and enlisted men and they were served by six boats and cutters under davits.

Powerplant

The stern of Forbin, note the pronounced tumblehome.

One important aspect, combined with the narrow hull, ideal to accompany torpedo boats, was the propulsion system. It was designed as a pair of horizontal, 2-cylinder compound steam engines. They drove two 4-bladed bronze fixed pitch screw propellers. These engines were fed by a total of six coal-burning fire-tube boilers, ducted into two funnels raked and far apart. This machinery wasdesigned for a rating of 6,200 indicated horsepower (4,600 kW) as calculated, for a top speed of 20 knots. On speed trials they exceeded this by only a narrow margin at 20.33 and 20.64 knots (37.65 and 38.23 km/h; 23.40 and 23.75 mph) from 5,918 to 6,208 ihp (4,413 to 4,629 kW).

Coal storage represented 200 t (200 long tons; 220 short tons) in normal load, but in waretime or for crossings, it could be pushed to 298 t (293 long tons; 328 short tons) at full load, enough to steam over 2,395 nautical miles (4,436 km; 2,756 mi) at the cruise speed of 10 knots. To supplement these engines, they had initially a generously fitted four-masted schooner rig. Forbin had it, but soon the sails proved to have limited use in trials, did not gave the performances expected, so instead it was reduced early on to a three-masted schooner rig, a conifiguration also adopted for the two others. This rigging was opposed by Emile Bertin, which previously fought to have them not installed on his Milan. This sail arrangement still represented 412.27 m2 (4,437.6 sq ft).

Protection

The poorest of all the Forbin’s features: Armor protection comprised a curved armor deck 40 mm (1.6 in) thick in wrought iron, sloping down to offer to the sides a substitute of armour, and was around 50 mm. Above the deck the hull, courtesy of Bertin, was sub-divided into a multitude of watertight compartments filled notably wit cork in order to control flooding and maintain buoyancy, but they could be filled with coal of need be. Below the deck, above the engine and boiler rooms there was an additional 7 mm (0.28 in) anti-splinter deck. All guns exposed on deck had gun shields, probably between 3 and 10 mm, later removed.

Armament

The ships were lightly armed. Initially they had onlt two 138 mm (5.4 in) 30-caliber M1881 guns three 47 mm (1.9 in) M1885 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns and four 37 mm (1.5 in) 1-pounder Hotchkiss revolver cannon plus torpedo tubes. However this was changed early in their career.

Main battery: 4x 138 mm (5.4 in) 30-caliber M1881

It soon appeared two main guns was quite limited for their size and so they were fitted wit two more. These were weaker caliber than the usual 150 mm or 6-inches general fitted on cruisers of her size, but their role was only to lead torpedo boats and repel enemy’s scouts.
These four 138 mm (5.4 in) 30-caliber M1881 guns were posted on individual pivot mounts in sponsons on the upper deck, two per broadside. Forbin was the only one completed with just two and obtaned the other two in her trials period. Her sisters had them from the start. The sponsons proved to be weakly constructed and suffered in heavy seas, so Coëtlogon, completed later,n had them better built as a result.
No data for the 138 mm M1881. If taking the specs of the M1893, were are already off the mark as they derived from the brand new QF M1884 and M1891. The M1884 replaced the M1881 as quik firing guns at the first major refit.
Specs M1884:
Gun weight with mount 3,250 kgs, 4,158,2 mm barrel 42 grooves, 4 372 mm total, 30 cal.
Shells HE 138,6 mm 30 kg. 4 rpm, 590 m/sec. velocity, c15,000 m max range.

Light battery:

For close-range defense against torpedo boats, the Forbin class hadd three 47 mm (1.9 in) M1885 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns, and four 37 mm (1.5 in) 1-pounder Hotchkiss revolver cannon.

47 mm (1.9 in) M1885 3-pdr

Fixed QF 47 × 376 mm R 3 kg (6.6 lb) full/1.5 kg (3.3 lb) shell
47 mm (1.9 in). The gun used a Vertical sliding-wedge breech for 30 rpm
Muzzle velocity 571 m/s (1,870 ft/s), range 5.9 km (3.7 mi) at +20°.

37 mm (1.9 in) M1882 1-pdr

5-barrelled gatling style revolver cannons. These four guns were tailored to be pintle-mounted and transferred on wheeled undercarriages both for landing parties and to be relocated over the deck. They had gravity-fed 8-rounds magazines each with 18 pounds (8 kg) shells. 68 rounds per minute and accuracy range of 2,000 yards (1,800 m).

Torpedo Tubes:
The Forbins had four 356 mm (14 in) torpedo tubes in the hull, all above the waterline. Two tubes in the bow, the other two were on the broadside. They were of the same model developed at that caliber by Whitehead. However these tubes were gradually removed in several refits. In addition they could received rails in order to carry and lay 150 naval mines.

Modernization

Forbin saw the addition while in construction of a second pair of guns to strengthen her combat power compared to foreign designs, and in initial trials in 1889, her original rigging was replaced by a simpler schooner rig. In 1892–1893, she was in refit. Her rigging was further reduced with both the main mast and bowsprit removed but she kept her fore and mizzenmasts, which were also moved closer together. The main battery changed for quick firing versions of the same guns, and the light armament was augmented to five 47 mm guns, three 37 mm guns, and four 37 mm revolver cannon to deal with enemy torpedo boats, as leaders. In 1896, the two forward torpedo tubes were removed and the light gun shields. She was in refit again in 1905, with all 37 mm guns removed for a uniform light armament, with nine 47 mm guns. Two 37 mm guns were kept with mounts ideal to be placed on her steamers to support landing parties and her remaining torpedo tubes removed, followed by her remaining sails in 1897.

Surcouf also went through several refits and modernizations.
-1893: Main battery converted to M1881/84 QF, five 47 mm guns, three 37 mm guns, four 37 mm revolver.
-1896, two fwd TTs removed, and shields for the light guns.
-1905–1906: All 37 mm guns ad TTs removed, seven 47 mm guns added and two 37 mm with undercarriages. Sailing rig removed. Boilers modified for mixed coal/oil firing.
-1916: 2x 47 mm AA guns installed on her foredeck. 1x 47 mm, 2x 37 mm guns sent to Kamerun.
-1917: Disarmed altogether, converted as depot ship for submarines.

Forbin class initially had a four-masted sailing rig, simplified at completion and same main battery. She ended completed with a schooner rig and four main guns. She was refitted for her armament in 1889-1890, in her initial testing, rigging removed from October 1892, and propulsion system replaced. 1892–1893 refit: Rigging further reduced (removal main mast, bowsprit, kept fore and mizzenmasts, closer together). Main battery quick firing, same light armament as above.

No profile yet.

⚙ Forbin class specifications
Displacement	1,857 t (1,828 long tons; 2,047 short tons)
Dimensions	96.1 x 9.33 x 4.5 m (315 ft 3 in x 30 ft 7 in x 14 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts compound steam engines, 6× fire-tube boilers: 6,200 ihp (4,600 kW)
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range	2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Armament	4× 138.6 mm (5.46 in), 3× 47 mm (1.9 in), 4× 37 mm (1.5 in) Hotchkiss, 4× 356 mm (14 in) TTs
Protection	Deck: 40 mm (1.6 in)
Crew	209

Career of the Forbin class Cruisers

Forbin (1888)

Forbin was registered on the list (planned) in January 1886, ordered on 7 April, the keel was laid down at the Arsenal de Rochefort in May 1886 and launched on 14 January 1888, commissioned for sea trials on 15 November, first in class. She was completed with two 138 mm guns as planned (see below). Trials were completed by early 1889, she was commissioned on 1 February but remained in Rochefort and departed on 22 December for Toulon and the Mediterranean Squadron.

By 1893, Forbin was in the Reserve Squadron, alternating six months in active service for maneuvers, refreshing her part time crew’s skills and at anchor with a skeleton crew the remaining six months. She had exercises with ironclads and the cruisers Tage, Sfax, Davout, and Condor, such as the fleet maneuvers on 9 to 16 July 1894 between shooting practice, blockade simulation, scouting operations, all in the western Mediterranean. However the high seas TBs she led, Audacieux and Mousquetaire collided. Forbin had the former under tow back to Toulon. The season ended on 3 August.
The same routine repeated in 1895 with Sfax and Milan, with manoeuvers on 1-27 July, this time as part in “Fleet C” (hostile Italian fleet) intended to attack “Fleet A” and “Fleet B”, which were superior only when combined. Forbin remained in the Reserve Squadron in 1896 and 1897 and in between was modernized at Rochefort (see above). One major addition was the replacement of her boilers by Niclausse-type water-tube boilers so to used mixed coal and oil. She saw little service post 1899. By January 1901, Forbin and both sisters were now in the reserve fleet. On 14 April 1901, there was an accidental propellant fire aboard due to Poudre B while at sea between Rochefort and Brest while stowing ammunition. Five men died but this did not detonated the magazines. Other men were found nearly asphyxiated nearby. No data for 1902-1905.

She was attached to the Reserve Division, Northern Squadron in 1906 with three armored cruiser and was in the fleet maneuvers from 6 July, combining both Northern and Mediterranean Squadrons off Algiers and the western Mediterranean. The combined Sqn also reached Toulon and Marseille and ended operations on 4 August. Forbin was present at the 1907 fleet maneuvers again with combined Squadrons off French Morocco from 2 to 20 July. She remained active with the Northern Squadron in 1908, now a cruiser for with eight armored cruisers and four protected cruisers.

No data for 1909-1910. In 1911, Forbin was reassigned to the Moroccan Naval Division until 27 September, until relieved by Lavoisier. She was decommissioned on 1 November, condemned on 20 March 1912 but reactivated to return to Morocco with Lavoisier from September. But on 9 April 1913 she was converted as a storage hulk in Rochefort, struck from the register on 27 November and siarmed. In WWI she still used as such but on 28 April 1917 her propulsion system was removed to to accomodate more coal bunkers for a total of 1,250 t (1,230 long tons; 1,380 short tons), with eight cranes fitted for transferring coal. On 1 February 1918, the tug Utrech towed her to operate as such in Corfu, the French fleet’s primary naval base. She was to be towed back to France on 14 July 1919 but instead the tug Byzantion brought her Piraeus, when she was sold to be BU there in 1921.

Surcouf

Surcouf was ordered on 7 April 1886, laid down at the Arsenal de Cherbourg on 4 October 1886, launched on 9 October 1888, commissioned for sea trials on 27 November 1899 and in full commission on 10 October 1890, assigned to the Northern Squadron until 1893. She served alongside the ironclads Requin and Victorieuse, coastal defense ship Furieux, cruiser Alger. She took part in annual training exercises to test the French coastal defense system on 15-29 July 1893. It showed the coastal defense system in the Channel was not complete.
Same routine in 1894 and 1895 with a partial commission four months per year. Her unit copprised the Furieux, Requin, Victorieuse, and Suffren, Latouche-Tréville, Jean Bart and her sister Coëtlogon. For the 1895 annual maneoeuvers from 1 July she took on naval reservists from Cherbourg and saw two phases, a simulated amphibious assault in Quiberon Bay, and blockade of Rochefort and Cherbourg until 23 July.

By 1896, she was placed in the 2nd category reserve, maintained with a skeleton crew to be rapidly mobilized in case of war. In 1897 she took part in large-scale maneuvers with the Northern Squadron from July. She was tasked to intercept the coastal defense ship Bouvines, from Cherbourg to Brest on 15-16 July. She proved unable to intercept her before she reached Brest. Next she was in Quiberon Bay from 18 to 21 July with Sfax and Tage making a hostile fleet from the Mediterranean Sea into the Atlantic coast. Surcouf successfully intercepted the cruisers.

Surcouf was reactivated in 1898 still with the Northern Squadron (ironclad Hoche, 4 coastal defense ships, 2 armored cruisers and Friant). The annual maneuvers in July-August were in three phases: 9 torpedo boats led by Surcouf attempted a breaking through a blockade in Douarnenez Bay. This was a success. The second was an attack of Brest fortifications by the whole squadron, the third a simulated amphibious assault close to Douarnenez. In 1899 the squadron was completely reorganized. with six older ironclads, 2 armored cruisers, Catinat, and three smaller cruisers.
By January 1901, Surcouf was reduced again to the reserve fleet then reassigned in 1920 with the Northern Squadron for annual fleet maneuvers from 3 to 28 July, for joint maneuvers with the Mediterranean Squadron. The former was the “hostile force” entering the Mediterranean like a German squadron attempting to meet Italian allies. Later in 1902 she was detached to the French squadron in East Asia, joining five other protected cruisers. She went back to France in 1904, back to the Northern Squadron. Se remained 6 months with a reduced crew but in refit by November and December, she obtained new boilers and remained semi-active until 1908.
With World War I breaking out, Surcouf was allocated to the patrol squadron in Brest, and remained there until 1916. She was then transferred to the Gulf of Guinea to replace Friant. In 1917 she was sent to Gibraltar, disarmed in August and converted into a depot ship. She then was moved to act the same for submarines, based in French Morocco until 1919. In 1920, she was moved to Rochefort and converted as a coal hulk, struck on 4 April 1921, sold for BU on 10 May to M. Jaquart.

Coëtlogon

Work started on Coëtlogon when her keel wa slaid down at the Ateliers et Chantiers de Saint-Nazaire (Penhoët shipyard) and she was launched on 3 December 1888; commissioned for sea trials on 20 March 1890, conducted off Brest. Her propulsion system was however completely amiss, and was replaced entirely. On 18 January 1892, she entered the 3rd category reserve. On 5 March 1892, she was towed back to Saint-Nazaire for her enw engines, a work completed by mid-1893 so she started trials on 17 August 1893 and agains after more fixes and teaks by March 1894 but stopped due to excessive friction causing such vibrations her compasses were unusable. Trials were noted “acceptable” at last in June, and she managed to show 20.4 knots (37.8 km/h; 23.5 mph) on forced draft, entering full commission by August. Her sea trials resumed and were completed by 1894, she showed then 20.6 knots (38.2 km/h; 23.7 mph). Official acceptance with the Marine Naitonale was only on 31 August and full commission on 20 September 1894.
She was assigned to the Northern Squadron but in limuted commission, four months per year. She served with the coastal defense ship Furieux, ironclads Requin, Victorieuse, and Suffren, armored cruiser Latouche-Tréville, protected cruisers Jean Bart and her sister Surcouf. She took part in annual summer fleet maneuvers by 1 July 1895 in two phases, with a simulated amphibious assault in Quiberon Bay, and a blockade of Rochefort and Cherbourg, concluded on 23 July.

She remained there in 1895 and 1896 (6-26 manoeuvers off Brest, Rochefort, Cherbourg, and Lorient), when the force was divided into three divisions. Coëtlogon was assigned to the 3rd with the coastal defense ship Bouvines and armored cruiser Dupuy de Lôme, as the enemy squadron. On 20 August she was back in reserve at Lorient in limited commission. Her propulsion never stopped to be a pain in service, and the new propulsion system showed constant deficiencies. This was so bad that the maritime prefect at Lorient repurted to the naval minister on 15 January 1905

“this cruiser has always given rise to problems and it would be imprudent to rely on her now.”

As a result she was decommissioned on 1 June, struck from the naval register on 26 August, converted afterwards as an ammunition storage hulk at Lorient until sold on 9 April 1906, purchased by M. Guilhaumon and BU.