Armada: Gascogne

Welcome aboard Gascogne, Captain!

This French battleship was set to become the fourth modern battleship of the Marine Nationale by the mid-1940s—intended as an adequate response to the new Italian Littorio-class battleships. However, the disastrous beginning of World War II for France, and the German occupation of the nation’s shipyards prevented the ship from even being laid down. Nevertheless, the project for this battleship has been brought to life in all of its glory in World of Warships, meaning that you can now assume command of one of the most powerful ships under the French flag.
https://youtu.be/0PN6WKaD-uo

In the second half of the 1930s, the political situation in Europe was quickly deteriorating. Germany and Italy were building modern battleships: Bismarck and Littorio, respectively. In these circumstances, the French Navy was soon to be at a disadvantage, having only two Richelieu-class battleships. They required additional modern ships.

Work on the project for two new battleships began in December 1937, and was planned to be part of the 1938 program—they set out to improve the Richelieu class. Two main variants of the design were developed. In June 1938, a decision was made to lay down one ship according to variant A, and another according to variant B. That second ship was to be named Gascogne.


In the second half of the 1930s, naming three battleships after prominent historical figures contradicted the tradition of the 20th century French Navy. Battleships were typically named after provinces and cities, and cruisers—after famous people. One theory suggests that this battleship was named Gascogne because of that being the home province of François Darlan, the Chief of Staff of the French Navy.

The construction of Gascogne was planned to start in August 1939. However, France didn't have the available shipbuilding capacity to construct a ship of her size. Richelieu was launched in January 1939, and Clemenceau (variant A of the new battleships) was laid down on the vacant stocks the very same day.

Project B had been in development since December 1937. Clemenceau was to be built according to the project as well, but a one-year delay would be required in laying down the first of the new battleships, so as to finish the design documentation. Admiral Darlan ordered several layout variants to be prepared with different arrangements of their primary and secondary armament turrets. Eventually, Project B3 ter was selected, with two quadruple main battery turrets—one on the bow and one on the aft end; and two superfiring turrets with dual-purpose 152 mm guns on the bow, and an additional one aft of the main superstructure. The engineers working on the project had to sacrifice one of the two aircraft catapults, and move the remaining one to the stern as it didn't allow for the installation of anti-aircraft armament amidships.

The Gascogne project was very well received by the Navy's General Staff and in June 1939, the guns and armor for the new ship were ordered. The schedule for her construction was originally as follows: she was to be laid down in summer 1940, launched in spring 1942, and commissioned in June 1944.

However, in June 1940, the French shipyards were occupied by German troops. By that time, only 6% of all construction materials had been prepared. Germans declared them spoils of war, and the question of building Gascogne was never raised again.



In World of Warships, battleship Gascogne is presented the way she might have been built early in the war.

Main Battery: eight 380 mm/45 Modèle 1935 guns in two quadruple turrets. Gascogne's main battery turrets are the same as those on Richelieu, only located differently.

Secondary Battery: nine 152 mm/55 Modèle 1930 dual-purpose guns in three triple mounts; and sixteen 100 mm/45 Modèle 1933 dual-purpose guns in eight twin mounts.

Anti-aircraft armament: sixteen 37 mm Modèle 1933 semi-automatic cannons in eight twin mounts; sixteen 37 mm ACAD Modèle 1935 automatic cannons in eight twin mounts; and eighteen 25 mm Hotchkiss Modèle 1939 cannons. The ACAD Modèle 1935 automatic cannons were supposed to completely replace the outdated Modèle 1933 in the French Navy. However, by the time France capitulated in 1940, the development of this gun hadn’t been completed yet, and only several test units existed. That's why the ship in our game carries same-caliber cannons of different types.

• Priority Target
  
• Adrenaline Rush
  
• Superintendent
  
• Fire Prevention

• Priority Target
  
• Expert Marksman
  
• Adrenaline Rush
  
• Superintendent
  
• Basics of Survivability
  
• Concealment Expert
  
• Fire Prevention

• Main Armaments Modification 1
  
• Damage Control System Modification 1
  
• AA Guns Modification 1
  
• Damage Control System Modification 2
  
• Concealment System Modification 1

Battleship Gascogne carries an impressive array of consumables. In addition to the standard Damage Control Party, you can choose between improving your anti-aircraft defenses by mounting the Fighter consumable, or increasing your firing range by installing the Spotting Aircraft consumable. But the main zest of this ship lies in the Engine Boost consumable that increases her maximum speed by 8% for three minutes, and in the improved version of Repair Party with a shorter cooldown time.



VIII Gascogne can be called a battleship with the makings of a cruiser: she combines powerful armor and a protected citadel with Engine Boost. When used, this consumable provides the French ship good acceleration dynamics and allows her to speed up to 34.7 knots. Gascogne has secondary guns with a long firing range, and enthusiasts of close quarters brawls can further improve this feature with the help of upgrades and Commander skills.

The battleship comes with 380 mm main guns that have a firing range of up to 23.8 km. With armor protection such as hers, Gascogne can boldly counter hostiles and is able to confidently withstand enemy fire. AA defenses, however, are not the strongest point of this ship. When facing airborne threats, you need to be cautious and act in coordination with allies equipped with powerful AA artillery.

• Eight 380 mm guns in two turrets mounted fore and aft. Gascogne's range of fire without Spotting Aircraft is 23.8 km—very impressive for Tier VIII.
  
• The reload time of the Repair Party consumable is half that of the majority of battleships. For Repair Party II, it's only 40 seconds.
  
• Quite reliable armor protection on her sides and a protected citadel compensate for her modest HP pool.
  
• The ability to use the Engine Boost consumable.
  
• Extra credits per battle and 50% more XP provided by the camouflage.

• VIII Gascogne 
   
• 1x Port slot