Descartes and Pascal had a nominal displacement of about 4,005 tons, though that exact figure is doubtful for either ship in service. Sixteen water-tube boilers fed two triple-expansion engines for a nominal 19 knots and a range of 5,500 nautical miles at 10 knots. Four 164.7 mm guns looked impressive, but the central-battery arrangement put only about two on a broadside, alongside ten 100 mm guns and lighter weapons. With limited deck armour, the ships compare poorly even with British second-class protected cruisers, which helps explain the French debate over whether they deserved first- or second-class status.
Chapter · 18:32-21:28
Descartes-class armament, machinery, and protection
The class specifications reveal a fast, long-ranged cruiser whose heavy guns did not compensate fully for a weak broadside and light protection.