The Voltaire was a French battleship (the so-called predrednot or pre-dreadnought), the keel of which was laid in 1907, launched in January 1909, and entered service in the French Marine Nationale in August 1911. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 144.9 m, width 25.8 m, and the actual full displacement - about 19,700 tons. The ship's maximum speed was up to 19 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 4 305 mm guns in two twin turrets, and the secondary armament was: 12 240 mm guns, 16 75 mm guns, 10 47 mm guns and 2 450 mm torpedo tubes. . The ship was built at the shipyard in La Seyne-sur-Mer.
Voltaire was the fifth of six Danton-class battleships. Units of this type were built in response to the rapid expansion of the German navy at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. In the course of design and construction, the experience from the Battle of Tsushima was taken into account, which resulted in, for example, extensive medium-caliber artillery and an emphasis on speed and maneuverability of units. Battleships of this type, however, were outclassed in terms of armor and main artillery by modern British and German dreadnoughts. In the period 1911-1914, Voltaire operated in the Mediterranean basin, taking part in maneuvers and sea shows. It also served in this reservoir during the First World War. In the years 1914-1916 he took a very active part in blocking the Austro-Hungarian fleet in the Adriatic Sea. In December 1916, he went to Athens, along with other units, due to political tension over Greece joining the war on the side of the Entente. Until April 1918, he was stationed at the base in Mudros. In May of the same year, he returned to the base in Toulon. During the period 1927-1937 it was used as a training unit and during World War II the Voltaire was used as a target ship. His de facto wreckage was scrapped in 1950.