Military Archives - Page 33 of 39 - Destination's Journey

French Battleship Diderot

Diderot was a French semi-dreadnought battleship of the Danton-class. Launched on 19 April 1909, she was commissioned into the Marine Nationale on 1 August 1911.

On 16 August 1914, Diderot participated in the Battle of Antivari along with a large Fleet of British and French ships. She participated in the sinking of the Austro-Hungarian protected cruiser Zenta.

For the remainder of the First World War, she helped blockade the Straits of Otranto and the Dardanelles to prevent German, Austro-Hungarian and Turkish warships from breaking out into the Mediterranean.

Post-war, Diderot was modernised from 1923 – 25 after which she was used as a training ship. She was condemned in 1936 and sold for scrap.

French Battleship Danton

The lead ship of her class, Danton was a semi-dreadnought of the French Navy. She was launched on 4 July 1909 and commissioned on 1 June 1911. On the outbreak of the First World War, Danton was used to escort troop ships from North Africa to Europe, as the German battle cruiser Goeben and light cruiser Breslau were operating in the Mediterranean.

Along with here five sister ships, Danton was used to blockade the Austro-Hungarian and Turkish fleets, to prevent them breaking out into the Mediterranean. On 19 March 1917, while returning from a refit in Toulon, she was sunk by U-64 35 km south-west of Sardinia. Of the 1,102 men onboard, 296 were lost.

French Battleship Condorcet

Condorcet was a French semi-dreadnought battleship of the Danton-class. Launched on 20 April 1909, she was commissioned into the Marine Nationale on 25 July 1911.

On 16 August 1914, Condorcet participated in the Battle of Antivari along with a large Fleet of British and French ships. She participated in the sinking of the Austro-Hungarian protected cruiser Zenta.

Post-war, Condorcet was modernised from 1923 – 25 after which she was used as a training ship. From 1931 Condorcet was converted into an accommodation hulk. When the Germans invaded Vichy France in November 1942 she was captured intact and used as accommodation from Kriegsmarine sailors. In August 1944 she was badly damaged by Allied bombing and subsequently scuttled by the Germans. Salvaged in September 1945, she was sold and broken up.