"Jean Bart"

Les Géants de la République

        Richelieu / Jean Bart  / Surcouf 

low detail version: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3682722741

Good afternoon, friends. Continuing with the French ship pack, I present to you the “Jean Bart.” Now, without further delay, let’s meet this grumpy Frenchman

Jean Bart: Le Gardien de Casablanca

Construction of the ship began in 1936 at the Saint-Nazaire shipyards as the second battleship of the Richelieu class. However, in 1940 Germany invaded France during the Battle of France. The Jean Bart was still unfinished, and the French feared it would fall into German hands.

In a desperate move, the ship was completed just enough to sail and escaped the harbor only hours before German forces arrived. With only one 380 mm main turret installed, it sailed to the port of Casablanca in Morocco.

In 1942, during the Allied invasion of North Africa known as Operation Torch, the ship took part in the Naval Battle of Casablanca. Despite being incomplete, it opened fire on the American fleet, which included the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59).

Jean Bart was hit by heavy shells and later attacked by aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-4). Despite the damage, the ship did not sink and remained in Casablanca.

After the war, the battleship was finally completed and entered service in 1955. However, the era of battleships was already coming to an end. Jean Bart served for several more years in the French Navy before being retired in the early 1960s.

Today it is remembered as one of the last great French battleships and the defender of Casablanca.

Technical Specifications

Type: Battleship Class: Richelieu-class

Displacement

~37,850 tons (standard)

~48,000 tons (full load)

Length

247.9 m (813 ft)

Beam

33 m (108 ft)

Draft

~9.9 m (32 ft)

Propulsion

4 Parsons steam turbines

6 boilers

Power: ~155,000 hp

Top speed: ~32 knots (≈59 km/h / 36 mph)

Armament

Main Battery

8 × 380 mm (15 in) guns

2 quadruple turrets (both located forward)

Secondary Battery

9 × 152 mm guns in 3 triple turrets

Anti-Aircraft Armament

12 × 100 mm guns

28 × 57 mm guns

20 × 20 mm guns

(AA armament was modernized several times after the war)

Armor

Belt: ~330 mm

Deck: up to ~170 mm

Turrets: up to ~430 mm

Barbettes: ~405 mm

Controls:

Main Battery – FA1 Secondary Battery – FA2

Others things

Once again, I have to thank “August Kramer” for his flags

This stubborn beast was suggested by the user “LittleMikey0928.” Thanks for introducing me to this beast of steel, and I hope you like the result :D

Well, that’s all, captains. Before I go, I want to talk to you about the “Surcouf.” I mentioned earlier that it might take longer than usual to arrive, BUT a new collaborator has arrived at the shipyard and will help with its construction. So that naval oddity will arrive much sooner than expected. Now, with nothing more to say: good luck in these treacherous waters :D