French armored cruiser Leon Gambetta (1901)

The "Leon Gambetta" was a French Navy armored cruiser of 12,400 tons of the "Leon Gambetta" class. It was launched October 26, 1901 at the Arsenal de Brest.

Early history

While on steam trial in December 1903 she struck an unknown pinnacle of rock off Black Rock Islands near Brest in fog and suffered considerable damage. The "Gambettas" were larger than previous armored cruisers of the class, but they lacked the heavier firepower. They also were vulnerable to underwater attacks.Repairs were not complete until mid-1904.

inking

On the night of 27th April 1915, Central Mediterranean, when 15 miles south of Cape Santa Maria di Leuca, SE tip of Italy in the Ionian Sea (c 39.30’N, 18.15’E) she was torpedoed twice by Austrian submarine U-5. "Léon Gambetta" was part of the French Fleet based at Malta blockading the Austrian Navy in the Adriatic, usually from a position south of the Strait of Otranto. At this time the blockade line was moved further north because of expected Austrian naval activity - the Allies were negotiating with the Italians which shortly led to them declaring war on Austria-Hungary. In spite of the growing threat from Austrian and now German U-boats in the Mediterranean, the armored cruiser was patrolling unescorted at a reported seven knots on a clear, calm night just to the south of the Otranto Straits when she was hit by the Austrian Hungarian U-boat U-5. "Léon Gambetta" sank in just 10 minutes. Out of 821 men on board, 684 including Rear Admiral Victor Baptistin Senes (May 31, 1857- April 27,1915), commander of the 2nd Light Division were lost along with all commissioned officers. There were 137 survivors. The French cruiser patrol line was moved south to the longitude of Cephalonia, western Greece. Other sources place her loss 20 miles off Cape Leuca.

References

*Chesneau, Roger, Eugène M. Koleśnik, and N. J. M. Campbell. "Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860-1905." New York: Mayflower Books, 1979.

*Moore, John Evelyn. "Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I." New York: Military Press, 1990.

*"FRENCH WARSHIP LAUNCHED.; The Leon Gambetta to be One of a Hundred Fighting Vessels France Is to Build." NYT October 27, 1901, Wednesday Page 4, http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9807E4D91130E132A25754C2A9669D946097D6CF

*"HOW HE SANK A CRUISER.; Submarine Captain Describes the Destruction of the Leon Gambetta." NYT May 1, 1915, Saturday Page 2, http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9906E4D9123FE233A25752C0A9639C946496D6CF

*"REPORTS CRUISER ASHORE.; Delayed Bulletin Says the Leon Gambetta Was Beached." NYT April 29, 1915, Thursday, Page 2,http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9401E1DA1539E333A2575AC2A9629C946496D6CF

*"ADMIRAL SENES LOST ABOARD THE GAMBETTA; French Ministry Reports Him Among the Victims -- Italians Bury Dead With Honors." NYT April 30, 1915, Friday, Page 1, http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A04E7D9123FE233A25753C3A9629C946496D6CF

*"136 OF CREW SAVED.; But All the Officers of the Gambetta Perished at Their Posts." NYT April 29, 1915, Thursday, Page 2,http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9501E1DA1539E333A2575AC2A9629C946496D6CF

*"FRENCH WARSHIP SUNK; 552 PERISH; Cruiser Leon Gambetta Blown Up by an Austrian Submarine in Strait of Otranto. ALL HER OFFICERS LOST Italian Vessels Rescue 162 of Warship's 714 Men -- Surprise Attack at Night. TRAGEDY SEEN FROM SHORE Submarine Believed to Have Traveled 300 Miles to Strike Vessel Guarding Adriatic Outlet." NYT April 29, 1915, Thursday, Page 1,http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B06E1DA1539E333A2575AC2A9629C946496D6CF

*"DESTROYER AIDED ATTACK.; German Vessel Said to Have Fired on the Leon Gambetta." Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES. NYT April 29, 1915, Thursday, Page 2, http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C00E1DA1539E333A2575AC2A9629C946496D6CF

*"VIENNA CONFIRMS DISASTER.; Lieutenant von Trapp in Command of Submarine That Sank the Cruiser. FRENCH WARSHIP SUNK; 552 PERISH." NYT April 29, 1915, Thursday, Page 1, http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9406E1DA1539E333A2575AC2A9629C946496D6CF