As a battleship, Bouvet was well-armed for the role. Her primary guns were 2 x 305mm /45 caliber Modele 1893 main guns fitted as a pair of single-gunned circular, low-profile turrets - one mounted fore and the other aft. The primary battery was directly supported through 2 x 274mm /45 caliber Modele 1893 series guns which were also fitted as a pair of single-gunned turrets - these found at midships and arranged as one to port and one to starboard (this sort of "mixed" primary battery was consistent of pre-dreadnought types which is partly what made HMS Dreadnought so revolutionary in naval history). Secondary armament included 8 x 138mm /45 caliber Modele 1888 guns surrounding the superstructure, these weapons fitted in eight single-gunned turrets. Additional firepower came from 8 x 100mm guns and 12 x 3-pounder guns. As was the case with many turn-of-the-century warships and those appearing thereafter, Bouvet was outfitted with a pair of 450mm (18") torpedo tubes.
Commissioned in 1898, Bouvet was originally assigned to the French Mediterranean Squadron before being relocated for service with the Northern Squadron as a successor for FS Devastation. She was involved in a collision with Gaulois in January of 1903 but both ships survived to assist in humanitarian efforts concerning the eruption of Mt Vesuvius during April of 1906. She joined the French fleet in Mediterranean waters for 1908. During 1913, she underwent a refit to keep her a viable system for the coming years - this proved the case with many outmoded pre-dreadnoughts of the period.
When world war broke out in Europe during the summer of 1914, pre-dreadnought warships were forced to continue service despite their generally obsolete status in many navies. Bouvet was used in convoy protection during the early-going but her most notable action was in the Dardanelles during March of 1915. The Dardanelles was a narrow strait networking the Aegean with the Sea of Marmara and her guns were used against Turkish shoreline positions protected in forts. Bouvet was struck several times by return fire but it was not until she struck an unseen naval mine that her troubles began. The resulting damage was so severe that Bouvet went under in a short two minutes along with 660 of her 710-strong crew. The minefield finally became apparent to the Allies when two British warships followed to the bottom and a third was damaged. Because of the threat posed by the minefield, the bombardment was called off and preparations were made for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign that followed.
Bouvet was declared sunk on March 18th, 1915, bringing an end to her short wartime career.
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