DEVASTATION. FOUDROYANT. REDOUBTABLE.

Armored belt and redoubt. Ram bow and dome stern. The belt of the Redoubtable encircles the water-line to the height of the main-deck beams, curving down forward over the point of the ram; that of the other two ships stops short of the curve of the counter in an armored bulkhead, the lower edge being carried on by an armored deck to protect the steering-gear. The sides forward and abaft the redoubt are given a rank tumble home, the redoubt rising straight to the spar-deck, thus giving clear fore-and-aft and beam fire from the main-deck battery. A heavy gun is mounted in barbette on top of the redoubt, each side, having a clear firing angle of 180°; the gun-slide alone is protected by armor, while a musket-proof shield is mounted on the forward part of the slide, as protection to the crew. On the spar-deck is carried a battery of light rifles in broadside.

TRIDENT. FRIEDLAND.

Armored belt and casemate. Ram bow and dome stern. The belt encircles the water-line to the height of the main-deck beams. The casemate rises to the height of the spar-deck beams. At the forward end of the casemate, on each side, a barbette unarmored half-turret is built, being simply a projecting shelf for mounting a heavy gun. The sides from the main-deck up forward are given a sharp tumble home to permit clear forward fire; while aft the spar-deck rail is placed inboard about three feet, leaving a clear fire aft, giving the part of the spar-deck outside the rail the appearance of a continuous channel-piece. The turret guns are only protected by a light musket-proof shelter, rising above the slide. There is a light battery of broadside rifles on the spar-deck, a bow-gun working in one port under the forecastle, and a similar stern-gun. There is no forward or after fire from the main-deck battery.

COLBERT.

Of the same type as the Friedland, except that in place of the barbette half-turrets there are armored breastworks for the protection of a heavy bow and a heavy stern-gun on the spar-deck.

RICHELIEU. MARENGO. OCEAN. SUFFREN.

Armored belt and casemate, with four armored barbette turrets. Ram bow, straight stern. The belt encircles the water-line, coming to but not covering the ram, which is a solid bronze casting. The barbette turrets are just over the corners of the casemate, projecting nearly half their diameter clear of the side for fore-and-aft fire. The side is not broken in or given a tumble home, as the muzzles of the turret guns are above the spar-deck rail. The Richelieu has twin screws, the others single ones. There is no fore-and-aft fire from the casemate. Light spar-deck broadside battery. Armored commander’s lookout.

BAYARD. TURENNE. LA GALLISSONNIERE. TRIOMPHANTE. VICTORIEUSE. VAUBAN.

Second-rate sea-going iron-clads. Armored belt and casemate and two barbette turrets. The belt encircles the water-line to the height of the main-deck beams, the casemate carrying the armor to the spar-deck. The barbette turrets are over the forward corners of the casemate. Ram bow and dome stern. Light spar-deck broadside battery. Bow-gun working in a single port under the forecastle.

GLOIRE. COURONNE. FLANDRE. PROVENCE. HEROINE GAULOISE. GUYENNE.  MAGNANIME. SAVOIE. REVANCHE. SURVEILLANTE. VALEUREUSE.

Broadside iron-clad frigates, completely armored. These vessels belong to the earliest type, and, with the exception of the Couronne and Heroine, they have wooden hulls. The armor extends from about three feet below the water-line to the spar-deck beams. Armored conning towers are placed abaft the main-mast. Originally built for a large battery of light smooth-bores, the height of the main-deck presents the full outfit of a heavy battery.

BELLIQUEUSE. ALMA. JEANNE D’ARC. THETIS.  ARMIDE. ATALANTE. MONTCALM. REINE BLANCHE.

Second-class cruising iron-clads. Armor belt and casemate, and four barbette turrets. The belt comes to the main-deck beams all around, the casemate carrying it up to the spar-deck. The turrets are at the corners of the casemates. In some of these vessels the after turrets were left off, it being found that the hull was overweighted when it was attempted to put heavier guns aboard than the ships were originally intended to carry.

TONNERRE. FULMINANT. FURIEUX. TEMPETE.  TONNANT. VENGEUR.

Single-turreted, casemated monitors for coast defence. These vessels are heavily armored at the water-line; the single turret is very large, in order to bring the two guns in it well apart, to gain clear fire aft on each side of the superstructure. This turret is on the forward third of the hull, and it, as well as the superstructure aft, is surrounded by a breastwork that does not come out to the side. On top of the turret is a barbette commander’s lookout. Forward the deck rises into a short forecastle, just abaft of which is an armored casemate giving ingress into the crew’s quarters. The superstructure abaft the turret is musket-proof, of a width just sufficient to permit the guns to get stern-fire. The upper part expands into a flying deck, with a low musket-proof shield, and corner stands for Hotchkiss machine-guns.

TIGRE. BELIER. CERBERE. BOULEDOGUE.

Monitor rams. These vessels have a low freeboard, the single turret being on the forward third of the hull, surrounded by a casemate, which also covers the lower part of the smoke-stack. A superstructure rises forward and aft of the turret and is semi-cylindrical, curving at the ends in such a manner as to give no foothold on any part. The turret is surmounted by a barbette lookout. The hulls are of wood and heavily strengthened at the ram. Double screws.

TAUREAU.

Similar to the above, with the exception that the turret is fixed and has four ports for bow and beam fire.

ONONDAGA.

Double-turreted American monitor; laminated plating, low freeboard, no casemate.

ROCHAMBEAU.

Casemated iron-clad (late Dunderberg). Ram bow, low freeboard, and rectangular casemate, with sloping sides giving fore-and-aft and beam fire.

EMBUSCADE. PROTECTRICE. IMPRENABLE. REFUGE.  IMPLACABLE. OPINIATRE.

Armored floating batteries. Low freeboard forward and abaft, with rectangular casemates having perpendicular sides, and giving fore-and-aft and beam fire. Light draft.

CAIMAN. INDOMPTABLE. TERRIBLE.

Coast-defence vessels; type not known, but presumably citadel ships of a displacement not less than 12,000 tons. The battery of this type is six 13¼-inch guns. They are evidently intended as more powerful vessels than either the Inflexible or Duilio.

FRENCH UNARMORED FLEET.
(Rapid Cruisers.)

• A = Length between Perpendiculars.
• B = Breadth of Beam.
• C = Maximum Draft.
• D = Displacement.
• E = Construction Material.

• F = Indicated Horse-power.
• G = Maximum Speed.
• H = Date of Launch.

FRENCH UNARMORED FLEET—(CONTINUED.)

DUQUESNE. TOURVILLE.

Iron frigates, sheathed with wood and coppered. Strengthened bows for ramming, with heavy bronze rams. Three half-turrets or platforms on each side of the spar-deck, projecting clear of the side to give clear fore-and-aft fire. Bow-gun working in a single port under the forecastle. Pilot-house and chart-room on a bridge forward of the smoke-stacks. Boats carried on a gallows-frame between the smoke-stacks. Fine lines, heavy shoulder; the bow-frames are given a flare out from the main-deck up, to give a full forecastle for working the bow-gun. Single screw, full sail-power. Gun-deck, broadside battery, fourteen 5½-inch rifles. Spar-deck battery, seven 7½-inch rifles. Bow-fire, three 7½-inch; beam-fire, nine 5½-inch (two guns can be shifted on the gun-deck, so as to give nine for a broadside), three 7½-inch; stern-fire, two 7½-inch. Two sets of engines and boilers, placed one abaft the other for protection. Between the forward turrets on the spar-deck are the wash-rooms and water-closets, giving the appearance of a fourth half-turret. Maximum speed at sea for 24 hours, 16½ knots.

DUGUAY TROUIN.

Iron corvette, sheathed with wood and coppered. Strengthened bow for ramming, with heavy bronze ram. Four half-turrets, similar to those of the Tourville. Bow-gun working under the forecastle in a single port. Single screw, full sail-power. All the battery carried on the spar-deck, leaving a clear, roomy main-deck. Stern-gun mounted in barbette on a centre-pivot carriage. Bow-fire, two 7¼-inch, one 5½-inch; beam-fire, two 7¼-inch, three 5½-inch; stern fire, two 7¼-inch, one 5½-inch.

VILLARS CLASS (seventeen in number).

Second-class wooden corvettes, with strengthened ram bow. Two light bow-guns firing through recessed ports, giving bow and beam fire. (In some cases the guns are on the forecastle, in others underneath.) Stern-gun mounted on a centre-pivot carriage in barbette. Midship guns of heavy calibre, the deck being carried out slightly, to give them an extreme firing angle.

ECLAIREUR CLASS (two in number).

Third-class composite corvettes, with strengthened ram bow. Bow pivot-gun mounted on the forecastle: stern-pivot in barbette; six guns in broadside.

LANCIER CLASS (eight in number).

Avisos, or fourth-class corvettes, composite, with strengthened ram bows. Four rifled-guns mounted on centre-pivot carriages in the midship line of the vessel. Drop-rail abreast the main-deck guns.

LYNX CLASS (seven in number).

First-class composite gun-boats, with strengthened ram bows. Light, centre-pivoting rifled bow and stern-guns, and one heavy rifled, centre-pivot gun amidships firing in barbette.

FARCY CLASS (twenty-seven in number).

Second-class iron gun-boats. These vessels are more nearly large launches, built with ram bows to give them good displacement. One heavy gun is mounted in the bow, the slope of the bow from the ram up being carried up to form a musket-proof shield, permitting the gun to fire through an embrasure.[2]

MYTHO CLASS (four in number).

First-class iron troop-ships, similar in general to the English troopers of the Serapis class. Capacity for berthing 1700 men with all the camp equipage.

DRAC CLASS (four in number).

Light cavalry transports. These vessels are composite built and may serve either as transports or gun-boats, as they carry a battery of two light and two heavy centre-pivoting rifles. They are used for the transportation of cavalry horses, artillery, and stores.

BIEVRE CLASS (four in number).

Light, fast iron transports, similar in general to the Drac class.

FRENCH GENERAL-SERVICE FLEET.
(Old-Type Steam Cruisers.)

• A = Displacement.
• B = Indicated Horse-power.
• C = Guns.
• D = Construction Material.
• E = Date of Launch.