Navy Archives - Page 18 of 20 - Destination's Journey

French Battleship Vergniaud

Vergniaud was a French semi-dreadnought battleship of the Danton-class. Launched on 12 April 1910, she was commissioned into the Marine Nationale on 18 December 1911.

On 16 August 1914, Voltaire 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, Vergniaud was laid up in reserve, but found to be in poor condition. Stripped of armament, she was used as a target ship. She was listed for disposal in 1927 and sold for scrap in 1928.

French Battleship Voltaire

Voltaire was a French semi-dreadnought battleship of the Danton-class. Launched on 16 January 1909, she was commissioned into the Marine Nationale on 1 August 1911.

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. On 10 October 1918, while returning to Mudros following an overhaul, she was torpedoed by the German U-boat UB-48. Although struck by two torpedoes, she was able to make temporary repairs at Mudros and then sail to Bizerte for permanent repairs.

She was modernised post-war from 1922 to 1925, being used as a training ship from 1927. She was condemned in 1937 and scuttled in Quiberon Bay (France) on 31 May 1938 for long-term use as a target. The wreck was sold in December 1949 and broken up from March 1950 onwards.

Voltaire in Toulon — Voltaire being launched

Dutch Aircraft Carrier Karel Doorman QH1

HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1

Karel Doorman QH1 was an escort carrier of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Previously HMS Nairana of the British Royal Navy, she was transferred to the Netherlands after World War Two. As part of the re-occupation of the Netherlands East Indies, the Karel Doorman ferried 15 Fairey Firefly fighters of 860 Squadron to Soerabaja along with freight and supplies.

On the return journey, the Karel Doorman transported a Japanese Aichi E13A and a Kawanishi N1K1 back to the Netherlands for evaluation.

Karel Doorman was used to evaluate the operation of Auster light aircraft and Sikorsky S-51 helicopters from an aircraft carrier. In 1948 she was returned to the UK and converted to a merchantman Port Victor. She was scrapped in 1971.

She was replaced in service by HNLMS Karel Doorman R-81 a Colossus-class aircraft carrier.