French Smaller Screw Avisos and Paddle Avisos, 1859-1882: Photo Gallery

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Smaller Screw Avisos

In fleet lists 1859 as Avisos de flottille à hélice, to Bâtiments de flottille à hélice 1865, Avisos de flottille 1874, Avisos de 2e/3e classe 1885, Avisos de station de 2e/3e classe 1891, and Avisos de 2e/3e classe 1892.

Actif (on list 1861)

Actif (French screw 2nd class aviso, later bâtiment de flottille, screw flotilla aviso, and screw 2nd class aviso). This ship was built to test an experimental British engine and also tested four types of boilers. (See page 118 in book.) (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-74848)

Élan (1878)

Élan (French screw flotilla aviso, later screw 2nd class aviso) departing the basin at Paimpol. (Photo: Postcard by Renault, Paimpol)

Volage (1881)

Volage (French screw flotilla aviso, later screw 2nd class aviso) on the Charente in 1881. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-1123)

Chimère (1881)

Chimère (French screw flotilla aviso, later screw 2nd class aviso) on the Charente in 1893. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-138)

Paddle Avisos

In fleet lists 1859 as Avisos de 1re & 2e classe à roues and Avisos de flottille à roues, most to Bâtiments de flottille à roues 1873, Avisos de flottille à roues 1874, Avisos de 1re/2e/3e classe 1885, Avisos de station de 1re/2e/3e classe 1891, and Avisos de 1re/2e/3e classe 1892.

Castor (on list 1860)

Castor (French paddle 2nd class aviso, Alecton class, later flotilla aviso and 2nd class paddle aviso) on the Charente in 1861. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-122)

Travailleur (1864)

Travailleur (French paddle 1st class aviso, later flotilla aviso, later paddle 1st class aviso) on the Charente in 1882. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-860)

Unknown in Senegal

Mystery French ship in Senegal, photographed in 1868-69. She resembles the later Cigale which had a vertical bow like this and measured about 40 meters. The navy's ships in Senegal in the late 1860s included Phaeton and Sphinx, which might have met this description. This ship may also have belonged to the Ministry of Colonies or a private owner. (Photo: Private digital collection )

Unknown in Senegal

Mystery French ship in Senegal. Another view taken at the same time. Note the shelter aft for deck passengers in both images. There is no ornamentation or side grating on the paddle box. The twin funnels and single mast are unusual for this type and unknown in the Navy. (Photo: Private digital collection )

Cigale (1878)

Cigale (French paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso) in 1885. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-139)

Écureuil (1880)

Écureuil (French paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso) in 1888. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-265)

Pluvier (1881)

Pluvier (French paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso). (Photo: C.-É. Hocquard in his album Le Tonquin, vues photographiques, 1883-1886)

Alouette (1881)

Alouette (French paddle flotilla aviso, Pluvier class, later 2nd class paddle aviso) during a visit to Saigon in March 1891 during the Eastern Journey of Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich (the future Czar Nicholas II). Behind Alouette is the Russian gunboat Mandjour. (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-75910 detail)

Vigilant (1882)

Vigilant (French paddle flotilla aviso, later 1st class paddle aviso) in 1884. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-1119)

Goëland (1882)

Goëland (French paddle flotilla aviso, Héron class, later 2nd class paddle aviso). (Photo: Postcard by H. Laurent, Port-Louis)

Héron (1882)

Héron (French paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso) in 1883. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-490)

Mésange (1882)

Mésange (French paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso) in 1892. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-557)