Hoche Turret Barbette
Ship. A "one Off" ship which combined Turret and barbette
guns. The Hoche was originally designed as a sister ship to the Magenta.
The Hoche was built at Lorient and laid down in June 1881 and launched September
1886, and completed in 1890. she was given the nickname of "Grand
Hotel" due to the towering superstructure. The ship suffered
from poor stability and in 1898 se went in for major alterations to
the superstructure and also at the same time she was re boilered. with 16
belleville boilers and VTE engines. the Hoche was finally sunk as
a target on the 25th November 1913.
Displacement:
10,820 tons. Speed: 16,.5 knots. Crew 611 Armament: Two 13.4
inch/28 cal. M1881. two 10.8 inch/28 cal. 1881, Eighteen 5.5 inch
M1881. (this was latter altered to twelve QFC) ten 3 pdr, ten
1 pdr revolvers./ with another four 9 pdr later added. The 15 inch
torpedo tubes (AW)