French 1st and 2nd Class Gunboats, 1859-1882: Photo Gallery

Click on a photo to prompt a larger view of the same image.

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.

Aspic class (on list 1867)

Scorpion or Frelon

Scorpion or Frelon (2nd class gunboats) at Lorient in August 1866 during trials. (Photo: Shipscribe collection)

Frelon or Scorpion

Frelon or Scorpion (2nd class gunboat) at Lorient in August 1866 during trials. (Photo: Shipscribe collection)

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.

Chacal class (on list 1868)

Hyène

Hyène (1st class gunboat), probably at Toulon. (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-74810)

Oriflamme

Oriflamme (1st class gunboat) at Rochefort in 1884. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-619)

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.

Crocodile class (1874)

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 Photo Archive NH-74992)

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)

Aspic and Capricorne classes (1879-1880)

Vipère

Vipère (1st class gunboat, Aspic class) at Rochefort in 1882. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-1121)

Capricorne

Capricorne (1st class gunboat) at Algiers. (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-74994)

Sagittaire

Sagittaire (1st class gunboat, Capricorne class) at Rochefort in 1885. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-777)

Lion and Gabès classes (1882)

Lion

Lion (1st class gunboat). (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-74993)

Scorpion

Scorpion (1st class gunboat, Lion class) on the Charente in 1895. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-812)

Comète

Comète (1st class gunboat, Lion class). (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-66026)

Métèore

Métèore (1st class gunboat, Lion class) on the Charente in 1894. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-561)

Gabès

Gabès (1st class gunboat) on the Charente in 1884. Note the crew furling the foresail. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-447)