Smaller Avisos (Screw and Paddle), 1859-1882: Photo Gallery
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ScrewIn 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.
Class: Actif (on list 1861)
Actif (Screw 2nd class aviso through 1868, then bâtiment de flottille. To screw flotilla aviso 1874, later screw 2nd class aviso.) (Page 118 in book.) (Photo: NHHC NH 74848)
Class: Elan (1878)
Élan (Screw flotilla aviso, later screw 2nd class aviso) departing the basin at Paimpol. (Photo: Postcard by Renault, Paimpol)
Class: Volage (1881)
Volage (Screw flotilla aviso, later screw 2nd class aviso) on the Charente in 1881. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 12.12.2021 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_1123)
Class: Chimère (1881)
Chimère (Screw flotilla aviso, later screw 2nd class aviso) on the Charente in 1893. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 13.2.2022 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_138)
Paddle
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.
Class: Alecton (1860)
Castor (Paddle 2nd class aviso, later flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso) on the Charente in 1861. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 22.8.2021 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_122)
Class: Travailleur (1864)
Travailleur (Paddle 1st class aviso, later flotilla aviso, later paddle 1st class aviso) on the Charente in 1882. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 13.9.2021 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_860)
Class: Unknown (1868)
Mystery ship in Senegal, photographed in 1868-69. She resembles the later Cigale which measured about 40 meters and had a vertical bow. 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: Facebook by Vladimir Yakubov on 20.3.2025)
Class: Unknown (1868)
Mystery 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: Facebook by V. Yakubov on 20.3.2025)
Class: Cigale (1878)
Cigale (Paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso) in 1885. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 8.3.2022 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_139)
Class: Écureuil (1880)
Écureuil (Paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso) in 1888. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 3.10.2021 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_265)
Class: Pluvier (1881)
Pluvier (Paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso). (Photo: C.-É. Hocquard in his album Le Tonquin, vues photographiques, 1883-1886)
Class: Pluvier (1881)
Alouette (Paddle flotilla aviso, 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 NH 75910 detail)
Class: Vigilant (1882)
Vigilant (Paddle flotilla aviso, later 1st class paddle aviso) in 1884. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 4.8.2021 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_1119)
Class: Héron (1882)
Goëland (Paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso). (Photo: Postcard by H. Laurent, Port-Louis)
Class: Héron (1882)
Héron (Paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso) in 1883. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 14.11.2021 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_490)
Class: Mésange (1882)
Mésange (Paddle flotilla aviso, later 2nd class paddle aviso) in 1892. (Photo: Faceboook by A. Myatishkin on 29.8.2021 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_557)