French Navy Ships by Type, 1816-1859
Ships of the Line
Frigates
Corvettes
Avisos
Gunboats
Small
Miscellaneous
Transports
Introduction: The French Navy, 1816-1859
List of the French Navy in 1816
Shipfinder
(Use this page to find ships whose names you know.)
Ships of the Line
Sail ships of the line (1st class, 120 guns)
Improved OCEAN class (1819-54); VALMY (1847); BRETAGNE class (cancelled 1852)
Sail ships of the line (2nd class, 100 guns)
HERCULE class (1836-54)
Sail ships of the line (3rd class, 80-90 guns)
INDOMPTABLE class (80, 1818-31); SUFFREN class (90, 1829-54); TOURVILLE class (90, converted 1852)
Sail ships of the line (4th class, 74 guns)
TEMERAIRE class (1818-31); LA TOUR D'AUVERGNE (cancelled 1852)
Converted screw ships of the line (1st class)
MONTEBELLO (1852); SOUVERAIN (1854); LOUIS XIV (1857); VILLE DE PARIS (1858)
Fast screw ship of the line (1st class)
BRETAGNE (1855)
Converted screw ships of the line (2nd class, 1852-54)
AUSTERLITZ (1852); FLEURUS class (1853-54); ULM (1854); PRINCE JEROME class (1853-54)
Converted screw ships of the line (2nd class, 1857-58)
TAGE class (1857); TURENNE (1858)
Converted fast screw ship of the line (2nd class)
EYLAU (1856)
Fast screw ships of the line (3rd class)
NAPOLEON class (1850-64)
Converted screw ships of the line (3rd class, 1851-53)
CHARLEMAGNE (1851); JEAN BART (1852); TOURVILLE class (1853)
Converted screw ships of the line (3rd class, 1856-59)
BRESLAW class (1856); DONAWERTH class (1857); DUGUESCLIN class (1858-59); FONTENOY (1858)
Converted fast screw ships of the line (3rd class)
ALEXANDRE (1857); MASSENA class (1860)
Fast screw ships of the line (70 guns)
SEBASTOPOL class (cancelled 1858)
Floating batteries
PROTECTEUR class (cancelled 1848); DEVASTATION class (1855); REMPART class (cancelled 1861)
Frigates
Converted sail frigates (1st class, 58 guns)
Razeed 74-gun ships (1821-33)
Sail frigates (1st class, 60 guns, 1825-47)
SURVEILLANTE class (1825-41); IPHIGENIE (1827); TERPSICHORE (1827); DIDON class (1828-47); URANIE (1832)
Sail frigates (1st class, 60 guns, 1847-48)
PERSEVERANTE (1847); VENGEANCE class (1848)
Sail frigates (2nd class, 58 guns)
JEANNE D'ARC class (1820-21); CLORINDE (1821); VESTALE class (1822-25); MARIE THERESE class (1823)
Sail frigates (2nd class, 52 guns)
ARTEMISE class (1828-42); POURSUIVANTE class (1844-47); NEMESIS class (1846-47); ALCESTE class (1837-46)
Sail frigates (2nd class, 50 guns)
AMAZONE class (1853); ASTREE class (converted 1856-58); MAGICIENNE class (converted 1858)
Sail frigates (3rd class, 44 guns)
VENUS class (1816-21); PENELOPE (I) class (1816-23)
Sail frigates (3rd class, 46 guns)
PENELOPE (II) class (1840-47); HELIOPOLIS class (1836-47)
Sail frigates (3rd class, 40 guns)
PSYCHE class (1844-51); ALGERIE (1848); CERES (converted 1857); RESOLUE (1863)
Paddle frigates (450 nhp)
INFERNAL (1843); GOMER class (1841); SANE (1847); CAFFARELLI (1847)
Paddle frigates (450 nhp, converted packets)
Converted Packets (1842-44)
Paddle frigates (540-650 nhp)
DESCARTES (540 nhp, 1844); VAUBAN (540 nhp, 1845); MOGADOR (650 nhp, 1848)
Fast screw frigates (1st class)
IMPERATRICE EUGENIE class (1856-57); IMPETUEUSE class (1856)
Converted screw frigates (1st class)
RENOMMEE (1858); SEMIRAMIS (1861); PALLAS (1860); VICTOIRE (1861); GUERRIERE (1860)
Converted screw frigates (2nd class, 1856-58)
DANAE (1856); ZENOBIE (ca. 1858); BELLONE (1858); PANDORE (ca. 1858)
Converted screw frigates (2nd class, 1859-69)
MAGICIENNE class (1861-62); HERMIONE class (1860-61); ASTREE (1859); CIRCE class (1860-69)
Mixed-propulsion screw frigate (3rd class)
POMONE (1845)
Fast screw frigate (650 nhp)
ISLY (1849)
Converted screw frigates (3rd class)
CLORINDE (1857); ARMORIQUE (1862); RESOLUE (1872)
Corvettes
Sail spardeck corvettes (26-28 guns)
ESPERANCE (26 guns, 1817); POMONE class (28 guns, 1821-22)
Sail spardeck corvettes (32 guns)
HEROINE (1830); ARIANE class (1830-37); THISBE (1830); CORNALINE class (1834)
Sail spardeck corvettes (30 guns)
BAYONNAISE class (1846-49); ARTEMISE class (1846-49); GALATEE class (1845-49); CONSTANTINE (1851); AVENTURE class (1852-70)
Sail corvettes (24 guns)
CREOLE class (1829-34); NAIADE (1830); BLONDE (1832); FAVORITE class (1829-32)
Converted sail corvettes (28 guns)
Razeed 44-gun frigates (1833-41)
Converted sail corvettes (24 and 14 guns)
Converted transports (reclas. 1845)
Paddle spardeck corvette (1st class, 320 nhp)
CUVIER (1842)
Paddle corvettes (1st class, 320 nhp)
PRONY (1847); COLBERT (1848)
Paddle corvettes (1st class, 400 nhp)
CATINAT (1851); BERTHOLLET (1850)
Paddle corvettes (2nd class, 220 nhp, 1838-43)
VELOCE class (1838-41); PHOQUE class (converted packets, 1842); ELAN class (converted packets, 1843); ARCHIMEDE (1842)
Paddle corvettes (2nd class, 220 nhp, 1844-49)
CASSINI (1845); TITAN (1844); NEWTON (1848); LABORIEUX (1848); SOUFFLEUR (1849)
Paddle corvettes (2nd class, 300 nhp)
COLIGNY (1850); EUMENIDE (1848); GORGONE (1848); TANGER class (1849-51)
Screw corvette (1st class, 320 nhp)
COMTE D'EU (1846)
Screw corvettes (1st class, 400 nhp, 1850-53)
ROLAND (1850); PHLEGETON class (1852-53)
Screw spardeck corvettes (1st class, 400 nhp)
D'ASSAS (1854); DU CHAYLA (1855)
Screw corvettes (1st class, 400 nhp, 1861)
DUPLEIX (1861); COSMAO (1861)
Screw corvettes (2nd class, 220-260 nhp)
CHAPTAL (220 nhp, 1845); CATON (260 nhp, 1847)
Avisos
Sail corvette-avisos (18 guns)
DILIGENTE class (1823-29)
Sail brigs (18 guns, 1822-24)
DRAGON class (1822-24)
Sail brigs (20 guns)
CYGNE class (1825-33)
Sail corvette-avisos (20 guns)
CAMILLE class (1830-38)
Captured sail corvette-aviso (16 guns)
IGUALA (captured 1838)
Sail brigs (18 guns, 1842-63)
GENIE class (1842-63); OLIVIER (1844); MERCURE (1842); ABEILLE (1844)
Sail brigs (14 guns)
FAUNE (1847); CHASSEUR (1848); ENTREPRENANT (1849); OBLIGADO (1850)
Sail schooner-brigs (16 guns)
GAZELLE class (1822-41)
Sail brig-avisos (10 guns)
AGILE (1843); ROSSIGNOL (1843); PANDOUR (1843); LEGER (1844)
Sail brig-avisos (6 guns)
ZEPHYR class (1848); FABERT class (1848); RUSE class (1848)
Paddle avisos (1st class, 160 nhp, early)
NAGEUR class (1827-28)
Paddle avisos (1st class, 160 nhp, 1829-40)
SPHINX class (1829-39); TENARE (1840)
Paddle avisos (1st class, acquired)
ECLAIREUR class (acquired 1833)
Paddle avisos (1st class, 160 nhp, 1844-46)
BRANDON (1846); NARVAL class (1844); SOLON (1846)
Paddle avisos (1st class, 180 nhp)
DAUPHIN class (1846-47); PETREL (1846); REQUIN (1847)
Paddle avisos (1st class, 200 nhp, 1847-48)
MOUETTE (1847); HERON (1847); GOELAND (1848); PHENIX (1848); ECLAIREUR class (1847-48)
Paddle aviso (1st class, 200 nhp, 1849)
MILAN (1849)
Paddle avisos (1st class, ex postal)
SESOSTRIS (acquired 1851); ANTILOPE (acquired 1855); CHAMOIS (acquired 1855)
Paddle aviso (1st class, 160 nhp, 1859)
CASABIANCA (1859)
Paddle avisos (2nd class, early)
COUREUR class (80 nhp, 1823); BRASIER (100 nhp, 1833)
Paddle aviso (2nd class, acquired)
VILLE DU HAVRE (acquired 1828)
Paddle avisos (2nd class, 80 nhp)
FLAMBEAU (1837); GALIBI (1841); VOYAGEUR (1841); ALECTON (1843)
Paddle aviso (2nd class, 120 nhp, 1842)
COMTE D'EU (VEDETTE) (1842)
Paddle avisos (2nd class, 100 nhp, 1846-48)
ANACREON (1846); AVERNE (1848)
Paddle avisos (2nd class, 120 nhp, 1849-51)
DAIM class (1849); GALILEE class (1850-51)
Paddle aviso (2nd class, ex postal)
AJACCIO (acquired 1850)
Paddle avisos (2nd class, 100 nhp, 1858)
ABEILLE class (1858)
Screw avisos (1st class, 200 nhp)
LUCIFER class (1853); AIGLE (1853)
Screw avisos (1st class, 250 nhp)
MONGE (1859); FORBIN (1859); FORFAIT (1859); CASSARD (1859)
Screw avisos (2nd class, 120 nhp, 1846-48)
SALAMANDRE (1847); PASSE PARTOUT (1846); PELICAN (1847); ARIEL (1848)
Mixed-propulsion corvette-avisos (120 nhp)
BICHE (1848); SENTINELLE (1848)
Screw avisos (2nd class, ex postal)
CORSE (acquired 1850); FAON (acquired 1855)
Screw avisos (2nd class, 120 nhp, 1852-59)
MARCEAU class (1852); BOUGAINVILLE (1859)
Screw avisos (2nd class, 150 nhp)
PREGENT class (1857); SURCOUF class (1858); D'ESTAING class (1859-60); LAMOTTE-PICQUET class (1859-63)
Gunboats
Screw gunboats (1st class)
ALARME class (1855); COMETE (1859)
Screw gunboats (2nd class)
POUDRE class (1855); DECIDEE class (1862-63); KENNEY class (1863-64); DILIGENTE (1864); ASPIC class (1866)
Small
Sail gun-brigs (4-8 guns)
ALSACIENNE class gun-brigs (8 guns, 1823-24); TACTIQUE class gun-brigs (4 guns, 1839-44)
Large sail schooners (6 guns)
IRIS class large schooners (1818-44)
Sail mortar vessels
VESUVE class (1825-28); BOMBE class (1855)
Small colonial paddle avisos (early)
VOYAGEUR class (32 nhp, 1819); CAROLINE (50 nhp, 1823); SERPENT (40 nhp, 1826); AFRICAIN (40 nhp, 1832)
Small paddle avisos
REQUIN (32 nhp, 1828); REMORQUEUR (40 nhp, 1832); RAMEUR (60 nhp, 1831); RAPIDE (60 nhp, 1841)
Small colonial paddle avisos (60 nhp, 1836-43)
COURSIER (1836); EREBE (1837); ERIDAN (1843)
Small paddle avisos (acquired)
CHACAL class (acquired 1844); RUBIS (acquired 1844); LIAMONE class (acquired 1844)
Small colonial paddle avisos (30-40 nhp)
SERPENT class (30 nhp, 1843); SERPENT class (30 nhp, 1852-54); GRAND BASSAM class (40 nhp, 1852-53)
Small colonial paddle avisos (20-25 nhp)
GUET N'DAR (20 nhp, 1848); OYAPOCK (20 nhp, 1852); AKBA class (20 nhp, 1854); ECONOME class (25 nhp, 1855); CROCODILE class (20 nhp, 1858); ARCHER class (20 nhp, 1859)
Small colonial paddle avisos (60 nhp, 1852-58)
MARABOUT (1852); DIALMATH class (1855); AFRICAIN class (1858)
Small screw avisos
PINGOUIN (colonial, 30 nhp, 1844); RODEUR class (60 nhp, 1855); LABOURDONNAYE (colonial, 35 nhp, 1856)
Miscellaneous
Screw gun launches
ALERTE class (1855); No.1 class (1859); No.11 (1859); No.12 class (sectional, 1860-61)
Screw sectional floating batteries
No.1 class (1859); No.6 class (1864)
Screw armored gunboat (acquired)
TORTUE (acquired 1862)
Transports
Sail corvettes de charge (large transports)
MEUSE class (800 tons, 1825-45); MOSELLE class (800 tons, 1848)
Sail gabarres (small transports)
PREVOYANTE class (380 tons, 1834-43); PERDRIX class (600 tons, 1840-41); Miscellaneous (925-300 tons, 1817-42)
Screw transports (large)
LOIRE class (1200 tons, 1855); SEINE (1200 tons, 1856); JURA class (1200 tons, 1858-59); ALLIER class (1200 tons, 1861-63); SARTHE class (1200 tons, 1862-68); EUROPEEN (2350 tons, 1859); WESER (2500 tons, 1859); JAPON (2300 tons, 1859)
Screw transports (small)
ZELEE (200 tons, 1853); LOIRET class (300 tons, 1856); ADOUR class (900 tons, 1856); SEVRE class (900 tons, 1857); MOSELLE (900 tons, 1859)
Copyright © Stephen S. Roberts 2004-2015.