Léon Gambetta-class cruiser

The Léon Gambetta class was a class of armoured cruisers of the French Navy which were commissioned in 1903. They were named after the notable French Republican statesmen. The Ministry of the Navy, from 1902 to 1905, Camille Pelletan, by giving these names to the French armoured cruisers, wished to honor Republican statesmen, philosophers or historians, such as Waldeck-Rousseau, Jules Michelet, Ernest Renan, or Edgar Quinet, as the officers of the French Navy (so called La Royale) were reputed to have rather Royalist sympathies. Under his authority, and for the same reason, six battleships were given names as République, Patrie, Démocratie, Justice, Liberté, or Vérité.

Description and History



 * FRENCH CRUISER Léon Gambetta was torpedoed and sunk in 1915.
 * FRENCH CRUISER Jules Ferry served until 1927.
 * FRENCH CRUISER Victor Hugo until 1928.