France (1886-1908) The Milan is an important ship in the French cruiser development: She was both its first modern steam-only unprotected cruiser, would-be torpedo-cruiser and Bertin’s masterpiece as the world’s fastest warship in 1884. It impressed Jeune Ecole’s guru Admiral Aube that as minister of the Navy, ordered six follow-up cruisers, the Forbin and Troude … Read more
France. Barbette Ironclads: Terrible, Indomptable, Caiman, Requin. Built 1877-1888, service until 1918. The Terrible class were four French ironclad barbette ships of the late 1870s and early 1880s. These ships, with Indomptable, Caïman (small alligator), and Requin (shark), were initially designed to answer the Sachsen class in Germany and later the Italia class and their … Read more
Marine Nationale (1886-91), Protected cruisers. Troude, Lalande, Cosmao: Service until 1908-22 The Troude class were three light protected cruisers built in the 1880s for the Marine Nationale (French Navy), Troude, Lalande and Cosmao. All three from the same yard, F.C. de la Gironde at Bordeaux. Like the Forbin class built in parallel, they were ordered … Read more
France. Barbette Ironclads: Vauban, Duguesclin. Built 1877-1886, service until 1914 The Vauban class (in some publications Duguesclin class) were two ironclad barbette ships of the Marine Nationale commissioned in 1886. Largely based on the Amiral Duperré, they had the same general arrangement but scaled down due to their role as colonial ships. They also due … Read more
Marine Nationale (1886-94), Protected cruisers. Forbin, Surcouf, Coetlogon: service until 1905-21 The Forbin class were three light protected cruisers built in the 1880s for the French Navy, Forbin, Coëtlogon, and Surcouf, ordered as part of a fleet program as flotilla leaders for torpedo boats, armed with just four 138 mm (5.4 in) guns. Forbin remained … Read more
France. Barbette Ironclads: Bayard, Turenne. Built 1876-1882, service until 1904 The Bayard class were a class of barbette ironclads of the Marine Nationale built between 1876 and 1882, Bayard and Turenne. They derived from the Amiral Duperré, with the same general arrangement but were scaled down and mostly intended for overseas colonial stations. They retained … Read more
France. Central Battery 2nd class Ironclads: La Galissonière,f Victorieuse, Triomphante. Built 1868-80, service until 1905. The La Galissonnière class were a group of central battery ironclad warships built for the French Navy, started before the Franco-Prussian War and heavily modified postwar. They were designed as part of France’s continued naval expansion and modernization during the … Read more
Marine Nationale (1887-80), Protected cruiser, 1890-1910 Suchet was a protected cruiser ordered under Admiral Théophile Aube of jeune ecole fame, Minister of Marine at the time. He favoured a cruisers-first fleet and defensive array of torpedo boats. As for cruisers, they needed to be of various types and Suchet repeated the same recipes as Davout. … Read more
France. Barbette Ironclad Amiral Duperre. Built 1877-82, service until 1905 After the first steel-built ironclads, the Devastation class, which were still central battery ironclads, the Marine Nationale returned to the “near-turret” concept after the Ocean class with a central battery sporting four upper heavy guns in open barbettes. But she was specifically designed as a … Read more
France. Central Battery Ironclad Colbert, Trident Built 1870-78, service until 1900 The Colbert class were a pair armored frigates and central battery ironclad of the French Navy built in 1870-78. They were improved Richelieu authorized by the 1867 naval program, reverting to a single shaft for 14 knots for a displacement of 8,800 tonnes, originally … Read more
