Navies of the world

by Edward W. Very

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.

VILLARS.

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.

ECLAIREUR.

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.