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