Marius BAR (Toulon 1862-1930) "Voltaire - Turbine-powered battleship - French Navy". Silver photographic print on albumen paper Signed and titled in the plate and numbered "283". Titled and captioned "Voltaire - Cuirassé à tourelles - Marine militaire française" at the edge of the frame 22 x 56.5 cm The Voltaire was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the French Navy, belonging to the Danton class, built at the beginning of the XXᵉ century just before the new "dreadnought" battleships revolutionised naval warfare. During the First World War, the Voltaire served mainly with the French squadron in the Mediterranean. On 10 October 1918, it was torpedoed by the German submarine SM U-48. Despite heavy damage, the crew managed to save the ship, which made it to port for repairs. After the war, pre-dreadnought battleships quickly became obsolete in the face of modern battleships. The Voltaire was withdrawn from service in the 1920s and finally demolished in 1938. The Voltaire represents the last generation of French battleships designed before the dreadnought revolution. She served mainly in the Mediterranean during the First World War and survived a torpedo before being withdrawn from service between the wars.