Jeune Ecole
Encyclopedia
The Jeune École was a strategic naval concept developed during the 19th century. It advocated the use of small, powerfully equipped units to combat a larger battleship
fleet, and commerce raiders capable of ending the trade of the rival nation. The idea was developed among French
naval theorists: the French government had the second largest navy of the time, and the theorists desired to counteract the strength of the British
Royal Navy
which was the largest.
, who invented explosive shell
guns for warships during the 1820s. He advocated the use of these powerful guns on numerous small steam warship
s that could destroy much larger battleships.
Later, the French Navy
developed the concept more elaborately as it experimented with torpedo
es and torpedo boat
s. The French Navy became one of the strongest proponents of this combat system by the end of the 19th century. The naval successes of the French Navy against China
during the Sino-French War
of 1883–85 also tended to validate the potential of torpedo boats against conventional navies.
France was also very active in the development of a submarine
fleet, again trying to rely on technical development to compensate for British numerical superiority of battleships. By the beginning of the 20th century, France was "undoubtedly the first navy to have an effective submarine force".
Counter measures against the Jeune École system consisted largely of destroyer
s, designed to deter and destroy small torpedo units (in French, "destroyer" is contre-torpilleur), the first of which was the Destructor.
The other constitutive part of the Jeune École concept consisted of planning to raid the commercial ships of the enemy so as to curtail its trade and economy, again a tactic designed especially against Great Britain.
Raiding ships, such as the Dupuy de Lôme were designed for this role. Dupuy de Lôme, an armored cruiser
, laid down during 1888, was capable of 23 kts, and designed to raid enemy commerce ships during extended forays afloat.
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
fleet, and commerce raiders capable of ending the trade of the rival nation. The idea was developed among French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
naval theorists: the French government had the second largest navy of the time, and the theorists desired to counteract the strength of the British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
which was the largest.
Small units against battleships
One of the first proponents of the Jeune École was the artillery general Henri-Joseph PaixhansHenri-Joseph Paixhans
Henri-Joseph Paixhans was a French artillery officer of the beginning of the 19th century.Henri-Joseph Paixhans graduated from the École Polytechnique...
, who invented explosive shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
guns for warships during the 1820s. He advocated the use of these powerful guns on numerous small steam warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s that could destroy much larger battleships.
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
developed the concept more elaborately as it experimented with torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es and torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s. The French Navy became one of the strongest proponents of this combat system by the end of the 19th century. The naval successes of the French Navy against China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
during the Sino-French War
Sino-French War
The Sino–French War was a limited conflict fought between August 1884 and April 1885 to decide whether France should replace China in control of Tonkin . As the French achieved their war aims, they are usually considered to have won the war...
of 1883–85 also tended to validate the potential of torpedo boats against conventional navies.
France was also very active in the development of a submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
fleet, again trying to rely on technical development to compensate for British numerical superiority of battleships. By the beginning of the 20th century, France was "undoubtedly the first navy to have an effective submarine force".
Counter measures against the Jeune École system consisted largely of destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s, designed to deter and destroy small torpedo units (in French, "destroyer" is contre-torpilleur), the first of which was the Destructor.
Commerce raiders
Raiding ships, such as the Dupuy de Lôme were designed for this role. Dupuy de Lôme, an armored cruiser
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...
, laid down during 1888, was capable of 23 kts, and designed to raid enemy commerce ships during extended forays afloat.
Influences
The Jeune École was particularly influential on the development of smaller navies during the 19th century, particularly as they tried to compensate for weaknesses in battleships.External links
- Net-Centric before its time: The Jeune École and Its Lessons for Today Erik J. Dahl US Naval War College Review, Autumn 2005, Vol. 58, No. 4