Étincelle-class gunboat

The Étincelle-class gunboat was a class of twelve gunboats built for the French Navy in 1855, used in the Crimean War.[1]

Portrait of Flèche
Class overview
NameÉtincelle class
Operators French Navy
Completed12
General characteristics [1]
TypeGunboat
Tons burthen350 tonnes
Length43.9 m (144 ft 0 in)
Beam7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Draught3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
  • Sail
  • Creusot steam engine
Complement78
Armament
  • 4 × 50-pounder guns
  • 20 × riffled guns
ArmourTimber

Design

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The Étincelle class was designed around a wooden hull and a steam and sail propulsion. They carried 50-pounder guns and an assortment of smaller riffled pieces.

Ships

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Name Ship builder Launched Fate
Aigrette Le Havre 1855 Lost after an accidental rupture of the engine off Antivari on 17 August 1859[2]
Alarme Toulon 1855 Sold for breaking 1871[3]
Avalanche Le Havre 1855 Sold for breaking 1866[4]
Dragonne Le Havre 1855 Sold for breaking 1867[5]
Éclair Nantes 1855 Sold for breaking 1872[6]
Étincelle Cherbourg 1855 Lost in the Mozambique Channel in March 1862, probably due to a typhoon[7]
Flamme Brest 1855 Sold for breaking 1872[8]
Flèche Toulon 1855 Sold for breaking 1882[1]
Fulminante Le Havre 1855 Sold for breaking 1879[9]
Fusée Toulon 1855 Sold for breaking 1868[10]
Grenade Brest 1855 Sold for breaking 1871[11]
Mitraille Toulon 1855 Sold for breaking 1868[12]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Roche, vol.1, p.203
  2. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.27
  3. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.29
  4. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.59
  5. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.156
  6. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.165
  7. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.184
  8. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.202
  9. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.216
  10. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.218
  11. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.232
  12. ^ Roche, vol.1, p.311

References

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  • Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. p. 203. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.