 The ships ' main armament was composed of eight 340mm / 45 Modèle 1912 guns in two quadruple turrets , the same as in the contemporary French battleships of the Normandie class . Both turrets were placed on the centerline , on either end of the ship . A secondary battery of twenty @-@ four 138 @.@ 6 mm Modèle 1910 guns mounted in casemates was planned for defense against torpedo boats . Four 47 mm ( 1 @.@ 9 in ) saluting guns were also to be equipped . The armament was rounded out by four 450 mm ( 18 in ) torpedo tubes , all submerged in the ships ' hulls . The main armored belt amidships was 280 mm ( 11 in ) thick , slightly thinner than the belt on the Normandie @-@ class battleships . The rest of the ship 's armor was very similar to that of the Normandie class . 
