French Transports, 1859-1882: Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Horse Transports: Sarthe class (on list 1861)
Horse Transports in fleet lists 1859 as Transports écuries, the Sarthe class becoming Grands transports in 1880 and Transports de 2e classe in 1885.
Sarthe class
Sarthe class (Horse transport) at Brest alongside the decommissioned transport Marne. Probably photographed by Émile Mage. (Photo: Wikimedia from Musée Bretagne FLMjo134339, inv. 2013-4-2)
Aveyron
Aveyron (Horse transport, Sarthe class). This ship was wrecked in a storm off Cape Guardafui on 21 August 1884. (Drawing: L'Illustration, 6 September 1884, p. 156)
Creuse
Creuse (Horse transport, Sarthe class) in the floating drydock at Saigon. She served until 1891. (Photo: Private digital collection)
Transports: Européen (2350 tons, 1860) and Charente (1000 tons, 1861) classes
Transports in fleet lists 1859 as Transports differentiated by tonnage. The 900-ton transports and Bièvre became Transports de matériel in 1874, Transports pour le matériel et le service des stations in 1880, and Transports de 3e classe in 1885.
Européen
Européen (French 2350-ton transport) on the Charente in 1885. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-344)
Charente
Charente (French 1000-ton transport) after conversion to a cable layer in 1873. She remained on the Navy list but operated for the Ministry of the Interior. (Photo: Shipscribe collection)
Transports: Repeat Moselle (900 tons, 1863) class
Vienne or Isère
Vienne or Isère (French 900-ton transport, Repeat Moselle class) moored near the château at Brest. Both ships were employed in the service du littoral on the French coast. This location, often with a large collection of lighters, appears to have been used mainly for handling cargo until it was occupied by the stationary sail training ship Saône. (Photo: Wikimedia from Archives M&M Brest 2fi11596)
Vienne or Isère
Vienne or Isère (French 900-ton transport) headed downstream through the Pont National at Brest. Note the capstan in the roadway on the bridge manned by four men. One such team on each side could fully open the bridge in 20 minutes. The stern of Sâone is on the left. Amiral Duperré, in the background, lost her mainmast in 1899 and left Brest in November 1903. Vienne was lost that December. (Photo: Postcard, Wikimedia from Archives M&M Brest 3fi114-086)
Transports: Bièvre (1000 tons, 1871) and Caravane (900 tons, 1871) classes
Bièvre
Bièvre (French 1000-ton transport). (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-30)
Caravane
Caravane (French 900-ton transport) loading a large object as cargo at Rochefort. Note the unusual shape of her bow. (Photo: Private digital collection and Wikimedia from SHD Rochefort MR-5-G-85)
Colonial Transports: Annamite and Mytho classes (1873)
Colonial transports in fleet lists 1873 as Transports pour les colonies, to Grands transport 1880, Transports de 1re classe 1885, and Transports 1909.
Annamite
Annamite (French colonial transport). She was the only one of this type with wooden hull planking and some wooden frames. (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-66058 from Farenholt collection)
Annamite
Annamite (French colonial transport). She became a barracks hulk in 1896. (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-66058 from Farenholt collection)
Mytho
Mytho (French colonial transport). Ordered with Annamite but built with a mostly iron hull. (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-66085 from Farenholt collection)
Mytho
Mytho (French colonial transport) at Algiers ca. 1908. (Photo: Private digital collection)
Bretagne ex Mytho
Bretagne, ex Mytho (French training ship). Renamed and replaced Bretagne, ex Fontenoy, as school for apprentice seamen and boys at Brest 1910 (engines removed but boilers retained). Renamed Armorique 1913. (Photo: Postcard)
Colonial Transports: Tonquin class (1877)
Tonquin
Tonquin (French colonial transport). (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-74899 from ONI album of French warships)
Shamrock
Shamrock (French colonial transport, Tonquin class) at Toulon ca. 1895. The ship astern may be Courbet or Dévastation. She was damaged in 1908 and was hulked. (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-66090 from Farenholt collection)
Duguay-Trouin ex Tonquin
Duguay-Trouin, ex Tonquin (French training ship) passing under the transbordeur bridge in the Charente bound for Rochefort. She was renamed and became seagoing training ship for midshipmen in 1900, replacing Iphigénie. Hospital ship 1914-1922. Renamed Moselle 1922 and hulked. (Photo: Postcard)
Colonial Transports: Bien-Hoa (1879) and Nive (1881) classes
Bien-Hoa
Bien-Hoa (French colonial transport). She was used as a hospital ship 1915-1922. (Photo: Postcard)
Vinh-Long
Vinh-Long (French colonial transport, Bien-Hoa class). (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-66101 from Farenholt collection)
Vinh-Long
Vinh-Long (French colonial transport). Converted to a hospital ship in 1916, she burned in the Sea of Marmara on 16 December 1924 with many on board being rescued by USS Bainbridge (DD-246). (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-74924 from ONI album of French warships)
Nive
Nive (French colonial transport). She was wrecked near Casablanca in 1907. (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-74896 from ONI album of French warships)
Gironde
Gironde (French colonial transport, Nive class). (Photo: NHHC Photo Archive NH-74877 from ONI album of French warships)
Tourville ex Gironde
Tourville, ex Gironde (French training ship). Replaced Couronne as gunnery training ship at Toulon and renamed Tourville 1909. To harbor service and renamed Rhin 1924. (Photo: Postcard by E.L.D., forummarine.forumactif.com)