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French 1st and 2nd Class Gunboats: Photo Gallery

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2nd class gunboats, 1861-1867

In fleet lists as Canonnières de 2e classe 1859, to Canonnières transformées en bâtiments de flottille, 2e catégorie 1880, Canonnières de flottille, 2e catégorie 1883, and Canonnières 1884.

Class: Aspic (on list 1867)
2nd class gunboats Scorpion or Frelon
Scorpion or Frelon (2nd class gunboats) at Lorient in August 1866 during trials. (Photo: Shipscribe)
Class: Aspic (1867)
2nd class gunboat Frelon or Scorpion
Frelon or Scorpion (2nd class gunboat) at Lorient in August 1866 during trials. (Photo: Shipscribe)


1st class gunboats, 1868

In fleet lists as Canonnières de 1re classe 1859, to Canonnières transformées en bâtiments de flottille, 1re catégorie 1880, Canonnières de flottille, 1re catégorie 1883, and Canonnières 1884.

Class: Chacal (1868)
1st class gunboat Hyène
Hyène (1st class gunboat), probably at Toulon. (Photo: NHHC NH 74810)
Class: Chacal (1868)
1st class gunboat Oriflamme
Oriflamme (1st class gunboat) at Rochefort in 1884. (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 19.3.2022 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_619)
Class: Chacal (1868)
1st class gunboat Fanfare
Fanfare (1st class gunboat) in early 1883 before Ké So, Tonkin, the residence of the French Catholic bishop, with the newly-built basilica behind the ship. On 26-27 April 1883 Fanfare helped capture Nam Dinh in the Red River Delta. (Drawing: L'Illustration, 2 June 1883, page 349)


1st class gunboats, 1874-1882

In fleet lists as Canonnières de 1re classe 1859, to Canonnières de stations 1880 and Canonnières 1884.

Class: Crocodile (1874)
1st class gunboat Lionne
Lionne (1st class gunboat) at Algiers on 26 December 1886 after being re-rigged with two masts instead of three. This class had "inverted" bows resembling ram bows. (Photo: NHHC NH 74992)
Class: Crocodile (1874)
1st class gunboat Lynx
Lynx (1st class gunboat). The French captured the walled citadel of Haï-Duong in the Red River Delta in Tonkin on 13 August 1883. Lynx is shown here with the gun launch Carabine (No. 13) saving the tenuous French position from an assault by the Black Flag Army on 17 November 1883. (Drawing: from L'Illustration, 16.2.1884, page 100)
Class: Aspic (1879)
1st class gunboat Vipère
Vipère (1st class gunboat) at Rochefort in 1882. (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 8.5.2022 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_1121)
Class: Capricorne (1880)
1st class gunboat Capricorne
Capricorne (1st class gunboat) at Algiers. (Photo: NHHC NH 74994)
Class: Capricorne (1880)
1st class gunboat Sagittaire
Sagittaire (1st class gunboat) at Rochefort in 1885. (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 3.4.2022 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_777)
Class: Lion (1882)
1st class gunboat Lion
Lion (1st class gunboat). (Photo: NHHC NH 74993)
Class: Lion (1882)
1st class gunboat Scorpion
Scorpion (1st class gunboat) on the Charente in 1895. (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 5.1.2023 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_812)
Class: Lion (1882)
1st class gunboat Comète
Comète (1st class gunboat). (Photo: NHHC NH 66026)
Class: Lion (1882)
1st class gunboat Métèore
Métèore (1st class gunboat) on the Charente in 1894. (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 19.12.2021 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_561)
Class: Gabès (1882)
1st class gunboat Gabès
Gabès (1st class gunboat) on the Charente in 1884. Note the crew furling the foresail. (Photo: Facebook by Andrey Myatishkin on 21.11.20212 and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR_5_G_447)