700-14 BOUVET, 1900 - FRENCH BATTLESHIP

Bouvet was a French battleship (the so-called pre-dreadnought) from the beginning of the 20th century and the days of the First World War. The keel for this unit was laid in 1893, the launch took place in 1896, and the entry into service in the Marine Nationale - in 1898. The total length of the ship was 117.8 meters and a width of 21.4 meters. The displacement was around 12,000 tons and the maximum speed was around 18 knots. The deck armament, at the time of launching, consisted of: 2 305 mm guns, 2 274 mm guns or 8 138 mm guns. Bouvet was one of five battleships built for the French Marine Nationale as a response to the Royal Sovereign-class ships entering service with the British Navy at the time. Compared to their counterparts across the Channel, the French battleships had similar armor and top speed, but weaker main armament. Bouvet was built in the shipyards at Lorient. Before the outbreak of World War I, the unit served primarily in the Mediterranean Sea. At the time of the outbreak of this armed conflict, the ship was covering allied convoys from North Africa to the French metropolis. Bouvet was sunk during the Dardanelles' Operation on March 18, 1915.