Danton Class Battleship (1909)

Fire Control

The first French class of battleships with coincidence rangefinders and stepper motor order transmitters similar to those of Barr and Stroud as designed. Otherwise organisation was as in previous ships. Later the P.C. was fitted with a Le Prieur Fire Control Table (assume M1916) during WWI.

Rangefinders

Barr & Stroud 9ft devices either side of the bridge. Turrets had 4.5ft devices.

Bearing Indicators

Possibly fitted late in WWI.

Directors

The notion of director did not exist for these ships, although ranges may have been transmitted automatically late in WWI. Fire was directed by the commander in the blockhouse.

Gunnery Control

The ship's guns were organized in 3 groups:

1. Fore and aft turrets
2. Starboard turrets
3. Port turrets

Local Control in Turrets

Each turret could operate as an independent section if required, being equipped with a rangefinder, range tables and possibly a portable range clock.

Transmitting Stations - Post Central

There was one TS for the ship, passing orders for range using Lecomte-Aubry (L.A.) stepper motor transmitters for range and the Germain hydraulic system for other functions. Some ships may have used the more advanced L.A. system for other gunnery data late WWI.

Le Prieur tables would have been fitted from 1916 onwards.

Other Notes

Last ships to use French Electric turrets.