French aviso Béthune
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 Sister ship Tahure in 1939 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Béthune |
| Builder | Chantiers et Ateliers de Provence, Port-de-Bouc |
| Laid down | 1919 |
| Launched | 1921 |
| Completed | 1922 |
| Out of service | 1934 |
| Fate | Sold to be broken up |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Displacement | 850 long tons (864 t) standard |
| Length | 74.9 m (245 ft 9 in) o/a |
| Beam | 8.7 m (28 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power | Guyot du Temple boilers 3,000 shp (2,200 kW) |
| Propulsion | Parsons steam turbines, 2 shafts |
| Speed | 18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h) |
| Range | 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) |
| Complement | 103 |
| Armament |
|
Béthune was an aviso of the Arras class, also known as the Amiens class, ordered by the French Navy at the end of the First World War. Designed as fast escorts, the ships had a primary armament of two 138.6-millimetre (5 in) guns and depth charges. Launched in 1921, the vessel was initially deployed to Toulon and, in 1923, joined the Escadre de Méditerranée (Mediterranean Squadron). In 1925, the aviso served as part of a blockade of Morocco during the Rif War. The ship spent the remaining time supporting French interests in the area, including serving the forces in the Levant and visiting ports in the Mediterranean Sea, including Bastia, Beirut, Bizerte, Istanbul, Port Said. Béthune was sold to be broken up in 1934.
Béthune was a member of the Arras or Amiens class, a class of thirty fast avisos or sloops, designed to serves as escort ships, ordered under the 1916 and 1917 French Navy construction plans. The ships were similar in layout to three-island merchant ships with a high bow, which meant that they sailed well in high seas, keeping their crew dry. They were considered roomy and comfortable ships, although the weight of their armament and superstructure meant that they rolled heavily.[1] Béthune was the twenty-second member of the class.[2]
The aviso had a length of 72 m (236 ft 2.6 in) between perpendiculars and 74.9 m (245 ft 8.8 in) overall, with a beam of 8.7 m (28 ft 6.5 in) and draught of 3.2 m (10 ft 6.0 in). Normal displacement was 850 long tons (860 t). Power was provided by two Guyot du Temple water-tube boilers feeding two sets of Parsons geared steam turbines rated at5,000 shaft horsepower (3,700 kW), driving two shafts and exhausting through two funnels. Design speed was 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph), and a total of 200 long tons (200 t) of coal was carried, which gave a design range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph).[1][3] The ship had a complement of four officers and 99 other crew.[4]
Béthune had a main armament consisting of two single 138.6-millimetre (5 in) 55 calibre Modèle 1910 guns.[4] Each could typically fire a 39.5-kilogram (87 lb) shell at a rate of five or six rounds per minute.[5] They were mounted on the centreline, one forward and the other aft of the superstructure.[6] A steel shield was added to the guns in 1928.[1] A single 75 mm (3 in) 62.5 calibre anti-aircraft gun and four 8 mm (0.31 in) 80 calibre Modèle 1914 Hotchkiss machine guns were also carried.[4] The anti-aircraft gun was derived from a 1897 field gun and could typically fire a 7.4-kilogram (16 lb) shrapnel shell at a rate of 20 rounds per minute.[7] For anti-submarine warfare, the aviso was fitted with two throwers for twenty depth charges.[4]
