Modern ships of war

by Sir Edward J. Reed; Edward Simpson

The French navy further comprises thirteen armor-plated cruisers, of which four have lately been dropped out of some official lists. Of the remaining nine, four are modern vessels, and all of about equal size and power. These are the Duguesclin, Vauban, Bayard, and Turenne; but of these, while the first two are built of steel, the last two are built of wood, with iron topsides, as are all the remaining five vessels of this class. The subjoined table will indicate the inferior character of most of the vessels of this type:

Table B.—FRENCH ARMORED CRUISERS.

Name of Ship.	Displace- ment.	Indicated Horse-power.	Speed.	Length.	Breadth.	Draught of Water.	Maximum Thickness of Armor.	Heaviest Guns carried.
	Tons.		Knots.	Feet.	Feet.	Feet.	Inches
Bayard	5900	4560	14.5	266	57.2	23 3	10	4 of 16 tons.
Duguesclin	5900	4000	14	266	57.2	23.3	10	4 ” 16 ”
Turenne	5900	4250	14.2	266	57.2	23.3	10	4 ” 16 ”
Vauban	5900	4000	14	266	57.2	23.3	10	4 ” 16 ”
La Galissonière	4700	2370	13	256	49	23	6	6 ” 16 ”
Triomphante	4700	2400	12.8	256	49	23	6	6 ” 16 ”
Victorieuse	4600	2210	12.7	256	49	23	6	6 ” 16 ”
Reine Blanche	3620	1860	11.8	230	46.2	21.8	6	6 ” 8 ”
Thetis	3620	1860	12	230	46.2	21.8	6	6 ” 8 ”

Of the above ships it may be remarked that the Thetis and Reine Blanche have been nearly twenty years afloat, the Galissonière was launched in 1872, the Victorieuse in 1875, and the Triomphante in 1877. The remainder of the nine, as previously stated, are modern vessels, the Duguesclin being not yet completed. The Duguesclin and her sister ships are of the Duperré type, much reduced in dimensions.

There are nine completed coast-guard iron-clads and eight armored gun-boats in the French navy, as follows:

Table C.—FRENCH IRON-CLAD COAST-GUARD VESSELS.

Name of Ship.	Displace- ment.	Speed.	Maximum Armor.	Principal Guns.
	Tons.	Knots.	Inches.	No.	Tons.
Fulminant	5600	13.22	13	2	28
Tonnerre	5700	14	13	2	28
Tempête	4523	12	13	2	28
Vengeur	4523	10.8	13	2	48
Bélier	3600	12.3	8.5	2	16
Bouledogue	3800	12.25	8.5	2	16
Cerbère	3800	11.4	8.5	2	16
Taureau	2700	13	6	1	23
Tigre	3500	13.5	8.5	2	16

Table D.—FRENCH IRON-CLAD GUN-BOATS.

Name of Ship.		Displace- ment.	Speed.	Maximum Armor.	Principal Guns.
		Tons.	Knots.	Inches.	No.	Tons.
	{ Achéron	1639	13	8	1	28
First	{ Cocyte	1639	13	8	1	28
Class.	{ Phlegéton	1639	13	8	1	28
	{ Styx	1639	13	8	1	28
	{ Flamme	1045	13	8	1	16
Second	{ Fusée	1045	13	8	1	16
Class.	{ Mitraille	1045	13	8	1	16
	{ Grenade	1045	13	8	1	16